When Chrysler Corporation decided to stop producing bigblocks they scrapped the molds and sold leftover inventory for dirt cheap. Brand new 400 shortblocks in a crate, $400. 452 heads were something like $50 each, I am not remembering exactly.
So when they wanted to produce blocks again they had to build all new molds. At the time, this was widely publicized.

When the first batch was produced, thee were issues with casting quality and after a while Chrysler walked away from the deal, taking their molds (property) with them. At the time it seemed that World was bringing out a new block type every week. So Chrysler worked out a deal with World and started producing cast iron and aluminum blocks. But the deal ended somehow and Chrysler took their molds and left. A big difference this time is that Bill Mitchell managed to hang onto the aluminum molds. Maybe he bought them, maybe they were spares, but he is planning to offer aluminum Chrysler blocks for sale again. BMP has changed to a more modern foundry and has moved to a new facility and changed a lot of tooling. Maybe by late Summer we'll hear some good news. It doesn't seem like Chrysler is interested in the RB engine any more.

Others have tried and failed with replacement iron blocks. They must be hard to cast.

It's been reported here that the owner of Dart, Dick Maskin, was asked directly by a board member if he had plans for a Chrysler block and he replied that the volume just wasn't there.


R.