Dart had an unfinished block on display at PRI. Looked pretty stout. Only thing I didn't like was it had Chevy style 4 bolt main caps. The #2,3,4 were splayed outer bolts with no side bolts. Unless it was a prototype I don't see why they wouldn't do the bottom end like a KB block. The architecture is already there. AFR and Muscle Motor Extreme are coming out with heads. Was hoping for someone else to come out with rockers but did not see anything new. Jesel and T&D.
Goes back to Steve Morris.....He is of the same thinking in that the 90* cross bolts the KB blocks use do little against the direction of the load on the caps.I think you will see more aftermarket blocks like this as they have proven good to +2khp already...
The OEMs beg to differ, and they have alot more actual Engineering behind their decisions.
Exactly! There's a reason why Ls and others have 4 bolt main caps with side bolts. Thats the bottom end design that SHOULD be in Darts block.
The OEMs place different value on certain design considerations than racers. The cross bolts aren't to support the caps, they're to tie the sides of the relatively flimsy stock block together. It allows a lighter, less costly block as well as other benefits. On a good aftermarket block, material use (cost) is less of a concern and the block is beefed up, not needing the cross bolted caps to improve rigidity. This is where the superior clamping and locating ability of the splayed 4 bolt caps sitting in a register shines.
