As far as the comments about NOT putting up money before you get your "custom ordered" block........well, if you don't, you won't be getting a block from ANYBODY. I have ordered blocks from INDY, Brodix, Donovan and others. Just ONE slight variation from anything considered "standard" and you pay for the block up front. It's just how it is.

Just like the custom Donovan I have here. Oddball deck height, Wayne County bolt pattern, raised 60mm cam tunnel and custom lifter locations. What block company in their right mind would build an oddball monstrosity like that, without payment upfront. Any and I mean ANY variation from stock production is considered custom and you will be required to pay up front [/quote]






Well Monte, I have never ordered an aftermarket block with all of the bells and whistles you are talking about here. But I have ordered a block with a raised cam location, and push rod oiling. There was no money up front until the block was ready to ship. And it did! And it came only needing the typical machine work expected.

I'm in the situation now that I'm so afraid to hurt my block because I wont be able to replace it, that every little thing has me gun shy.

I have never called a place like Sunset Racecraft or Sunset Engines, but as I said earlier, if I am able to sell my Mopar stuff, I will. And I would be willing to bet they charge you when it's ready to ship. I would just order one of their "off the shelf" models as you said, I just want to be able to race and know there are replacement parts.

So if one of you bleed Mopar guys wants an honest a 1100-1220 HP Mopar Predator deal, step up to the plate.

I stand corrected. Called Sunset today, and they want 1/2 up front.

After all that hot air and now you "stand corrected"?

I think you owe a couple of guys an apology. Yes, they're big boys and can take care of themselves, but.......

R.

At least I admit it. They would have you a complete engine in 1 month, and I was talking to him about a 674, 5" bore space deal, if you know what that means. But you should order a KB block. See how that works out for ya.

Sunset won't have you a 5" bore 674 in a month unless they have EVERY piece of it on the shelf and ready to assemble. Nobody can get parts right now. You find a crank it's pure luck. Usually at least a 3-4 month wait. Sunset will also be at the mercy of whoever they get castings from, just like the rest of us. Our new 5" 762 is going on 7 months now and still not done

Just ask yourself a few simple questions,how many pattern designers, mold makers and foundrys are commited to building mopar blocks that have a retail demand of less than a 1000 units per year and even less in a 5 year projection.Many attempts by suppliers to aquire blocks are at the mercy of the foundrys for the raw castings and producers that have the programs and machine capabilities to produce the finished product.Many attempts of retail suppliers to get these blocks in their hands have resulted in some less than quality pieces.
We have talked with some noted people that have claimed they can provide quality finished blocks at reasonable pricing and in a reasonabale time frame.We were looking to purchase a minimum of 6 blocks.This effort has be unfulfilled for more than 3 years and waiting with one story and excuse after another.
We have been and still deal with Indy for aluminium blocks and have gone from a 2 to 3 week delivery to 8 to 10 weeks but at least we get them.We are still waiting for calls from the others.Good luck.

Anyone try getting one through Bill Mitchell in the last few months?
Their website says something about having them available after Feb of this year.

Monte,
I'm just telling you what the guy said. I would bet it would be sooner than I could get a mopar wedge block though. It doesn't matter anyway right now, because my inventory of Mopar heads is worthless without a block, and it doesn't look too promising for selling my Predator engines. I'm stuck with what I have, 2 complete engines and a B1/MC head package. Lovely.

I wasnt able to make it to Norwalk over the weekend and I'm curious if anyone may have gotten any more info about the new blocks from the guys at MM. Or if anyone got any pics of the new blocks can you post them up.
Thanks Aaron

IMO, with regards to the deposit and how much it should be, is it should vary with how much of an "oddball" piece you require.
One of the purposes of the deposit should be holding your place "in line".
If you want what is likely going to be one of the more popular configurations(std cam bearings, a fairly normal bore size, std lifter bore spacing and angle), then the deposit should be pretty nominal....... Like $500.
On the other hand, if you want something totally off the wall, then it would seem reasonable to have to pretty much pay most or all of it up front. However.... In that scenario, I would still like to see the $500 deposit in place, to hold your place in line. Then when it came time for your particular block to go through the machining operations that separated it from the "normal" stuff, then you have to pay the balance before those operations take place.

Mr Sciortino.....can you tell me who this quote is by..."I'm a BUYER of parts and 'whine" because I'm sick of idiots complaining about the cost of the few parts that become available"........

What ?? It's been beatin' into our heads that every other brand has all the best parts available at the drop of a hat......and it's just because Mopar guys are so cheap that there are no parts available

A 5" bore space Chevy isn't something you'd use in an apples to apples comparison. A 555 BBC built from shelf parts yes.

Furthermore, facts are facts, look at the parts available for GM and Ford, far greater than what's available for Mopar. I'll leave you to contemplate as to why that is

Allow me to reply, since I may not have been clear.......

I am thrilled another block option is being made available and I hope it's a successful endeavor, with Muscle Motors selling trillions of copies.

The only issue I commented on, is the close proximity in price to an already available block option. One that has 2 major benefits. One, being weight and the 2nd being repairability. If the MM iron piece was the only game in town, I'd have no problem forking over the required amount. The problem is, it's not the only game in town and the other 'game', the INDY MAXX has a similar price-point, depending on options, along with the aforementioned advantages.

Nowhere did I say I wouldn't purchase this product due to the cost factor. I simply stated the possible economic disadvantage of a bottom line so close to an already existing product.....minus the inherent positives of the already existing product.

If I were in the market for a block to build a wedge, or HEMI and my only choice was a 300# iron piece in the 6K range optioned to my needs, I'd spring just like I've sprung countless times before. Fortunately for buyers and perhaps unfortunately for MM......there is another choice and IF KB gets their act together, there will be yet another choice.

This may not bode well for MM and that pains me, since I'm always rooting for people who would bring quality parts to market for MOPAR types.

There's also the Bill Mitchell aluminum blocks.

Bill Mitchell is having issues with his Foundry and machining in Canada as well.

As for cranks I just toured a large billet manufacturer who said 7 weeks from order to delivery. They are that busy..

They have plenty lined up and everyone is busy working


These are all 5.0 and 5.3 stuff, one of a few pallets of them

Man, that's a lot of cranks. (without starting a pissing match) are they American made? Feel free not to answer.

I lived on Long Island and worked in Ronkonkoma before moving to NC. Never got the opportunity to run down to Bill Mitchell. For that matter, never went over to Kooks either. They were located in Dix Hills. Don't know if Jack Merkell is still around. I had Lee at Lab Machine do all of my work. Real smart guy. Great at thinking out of the box.

Just from reading the usual internet back and forth, I was under the impression the INDY MAXX is currently the one block that can be had in multiple configurations in a reasonable time frame and in useable condition when purchasing from one of the reputable dealers for INDY's products.

I didn't realize Mitchell has blocks at the ready.

I worked for Lee back in the mid 70s, Mitchel used to operate out of his garage in West Islip a few blocks away from me, I could hear him doing dyno pulls from my driveway.

Very much American made. All done in house, as in 100% in house manufafturing done in Denver Colorado. Winberg Cranks, just one of many V Gaines Companies. One building housing GRP, Gibtek Pistons and Winberg Crankshaft.

Oh yeah just FYI he aint done, just might be done with a certain brand....