you radical fringe guys may want to look

[grumpyvette]

new big block CHEVY parts now make it potentiall possiable to have a 700 HP N/A engine that weights LESS than an IRON SMALL BLOCK

 

http://www.worldcastings.com/docs/05_cat_pg7.pdf

 

http://www.worldcastings.com/docs/05_cat_pg23.pdf

 

http://www.worldcastings.com/docs/05_cat_pg27.pdf

 

 

now it does not take much thought to figure out that an all aluminum BBC that weights LESS than an iron small block with 80cc chamber heads that flow 400cfm plus is slightly cheaper potential idea now, and with flat top pistons high compression combos are easy now

(11.2:1 with typical flat top pistons on a 496 stroker without a domed piston)

[Z-Dreamer]

Economical and Affordable are relative terms when appliied here...

 

Mark

[grumpyvette]

"Economical and Affordable are relative terms when appliied here..."

 

OH SO,VERY TRUE!

 

but I frequently see guys spend $8,000-$12,000 on a sbc without getting even close to the results in TQ/HP that a good BBC combo could have given them, and yeah! the engine compartment may not fit and youll need more mods!, but an all alumuinum BBC of lets say 540 cid with 700 plus hp/tq numbers N/A is one impressive goal thats really not hard to reach if your WALLET STOPS SCREAMING

[Mike kZ]

OK, I'll bite. So how much approx., would said 540/700 hp all in aluminum BBC cost?

[grumpyvette]

http://www.herbertperformance.com/performance/34.html

 

World Products Merlin-X Aluminum Blocks

Engine Block, Aluminum, 4-Bolt Mains, 4.490 in. Bore, 2-Piece Rear Main Seal, Chevy, Big Block, Tall Deck,Ea $3695 plus shipping

two heads, about $2700 complete

rotating assembly about $2000-$2500

cam/valvetrain, about $900- $1200

carb/intake about $700-$1200

bearings/rings $400

rockers/pushrods $550

aluminum water pump $150

valve covers $50

oil pan $376

oil pickup/pump $70

misc $1500

Id suspect youll run around $11000-$14000 depenging on what youll have currently lying around and what work you can do yourself.. and it could run far less, if you already have lots of bbc parts in the shop like I do keep in mind it costs almost the same to build a 572, 605, or 632 big block!

I know I could assembly it in that price range and Im reasonabluy sure WORLD PRODUCTS could do it even cheaper they currently sell a 540 engine for under $9000, swapping to a aluminum block/heads should cost less than $2400 -$3500 extra as the price differance falls under that for the parts

[Michael]

Pondering the price difference between the aftermarket aluminum block (about $4000, from what I’ve seen) and a stock cast-iron block... Even with torque-plate honing, align-boring and decking, the stock block comes to under $1000. Of course, it won’t go past 4.310 bore (typically), or accommodate beyond 4.25†stroke. But the price difference is still huge.

 

HOWEVER, the heads, cam, valvetrain, oil system, intake, exhaust, and so forth are essentially the same price, because they’re essentially the same parts! Those $2700 heads become $2100 heads, for example. Now the cumulative price difference isn't all that huge any more.

 

So, a 600 cubic inch all-aluminum, all-aftermarket BBC making 700 hp ends up around $15K, on the high end. But a stock short block, with the necessary machining, displacing only 460 cubic inches and making... 500 hp or so… ends up at around $8K, on the high end.

 

Here’s the quandary... in terms of dollar per horsepower, the stock-based option wins. But the all-aluminum, all-aftermarket option is so much more... satisfying!

[grumpyvette]

IM sure if you do a careful cost comparison youll find that an aluminum block and heads will cost you about $2500-$3000 more than a similar quality all iron engine combo that weights in at about 150-200-lbs heavier now on the surface that wasted money in many peoples eyes, but when you take into account the better quality finish,ease of porting,and less tendency to detonate at high compression ratios,ease of repair when damaged ,ability to be welded, far easier than cast iron, much better cooling, high quality steel cylinder sleeves, plus the weight savings make the extra costs much easier to accept

btw your compareing apples and oranges with a stock iron block vs a aftermarket aluminum block, an aftermarket iron block costs about $2200,VS the aluminum block at about $3700, thats a differance of about $1500, and well worth the cost differance IF YOU CAN USE THOSE ADVANTAGES

[jt1]

Grumpy, how's the quality of Motown stuff? Nobody around here seems to have any first hand experience with it. Have you used any on buildups you've done?

 

John

[Mike kZ]

Grumpy, would you happen to know the weight of the all aluminum BBC compared to an Iron block with aluminum heads SBC?

[grumpyvette]

"how's the quality of Motown stuff?"

 

on the blocks/heads Ive used the quality was fine! (generally BETTER than G.M. chevy)

 

the average all iron Chevy big block V8 685 lbs Mark IV

the average all iron Chevy small block V8 575 lbs

 

you save about 65 -70lbs with an aluminum block and about 40 lbs with aluminum heads, 20 or better with an aluminum intake and about 7-8 lbs with an aluminum water pump on a big block combo

so swapping to aluminum block,heads,intake and water pump could get you at or even below a iron sbc engine weight

 

 

 

http://www.team.net/sol/tech/engine.html