After market block

[sebgasseau]

Hi guys, im planning on building a sbc block or ls block and i'd like to know if you had 2500-3000$ what you would buy for bare block and why ( pros and cons )

[Craig W.]

I'd like to build an all-aluminum big block. Probably should have when I built my first 434 a few years back or when I redid it a couple years ago.

[John_Heard]

X2 on the Aluminum, I'd love to have a new Century haha.. Frankly there are few places to get that much weight out of the car in one chunk. If you're class racing you ought to consider it.

[Craig W.]

The deal I got on my Rocket block was too good to pass up so I never looked to hard into the aluminum side of things.

[sebgasseau]

so any brand suggestion for a block i could buy? don't think i'll go with aluminum since it's so expensive and it's gonna be a street/strip engine.

[Craig W.]

The Dart SHP blocks are pretty affordable when compared to machining a stock block and adding on things like splayed caps. About $1500-$1600 I think.

[Mike Peters]

If you're starting from scratch, you mentioned building an LS engine. I'd seriously consider Dart's "LS Next" block. It has many features that are improved over the factory design. The main difference is the Dart block gets rid of the block skirts that cause windage problems and the conventional 4 bolt main caps allow the block to be stronger in the main webbing area becasue there's no need for the block "windows" in this area to equalize pressure. Like I said, if you've got a blank sheet and are starting with nothing, this is one to seriously consider. Aftermarket LS heads flow like gangbusters!!!

[Bruce69Camaro]

As much as I hate to say this, I'm going with Mikey on this one and man I hate to say that!

Hi bro!

The guy that does my motor work uses dart blocks all the time with no issues at all.

[Mike Peters]

Of course you agree Brother Bruce. No use in fighting it.

Here's some info on the Dart LS Next block -

Will be available in an aluminum version too but, I doubt it, or any other aluminum block is going to come in under your $3000 budget -

http://www.dartheads.com/dart-news/ls-next-sneak-peeks/

[sebgasseau]

Thanks mike. I think i'll go with the dart then. Look to me like its a prefect choice if you start from scratch. This would be my first LS engine, Are there any major differences between the LS and the SBC when you build them or it's o]\\pretty much the same thing except torque values and different parts?