I'm just asking, not trying to stir things up.

It says on the bottom of this that aluminum blocks will be available in 2018.



http://bulldogblockhead.com/

So, what's the story on these blocks? Their website isn't very informative to say the least. Anyone know anyone that has a cast one?

15 minutes on Google tells me that you won't be getting a block from Bulldog Performance. You may get something else, but it won't be a block.

I thought bulldog got bought out years ago by Indy

Don't know about that, but the history of the company and the owner is pretty ugly.

apart from the main caps, the block looks similar to the early Indys

That is the block that Muscle Motors was selling before they closed shop. There is at least one member on here who has one of those blocks but I don't recall his name.

I'm not familiar with the whole story but from what I recall the guy who owns Bulldog screwed a bunch of guys on blocks in the past. It was Buick blocks I think.

There have been multiple threads on here on these blocks so some searching should find a bunch of info.

Hi Greg, every block at KB has been sent to RMC. We expect an update early next week on progress. Back orders like yours will be jumped on immediately. You as well. Talk soon, Tim@FHO

This is what I got in am email yesterday from KB

The Bulldog stuff was made by Dick Bradshaw.He was Indys original pattern maker then branched off to make his own stuff. Thats where the conflict with Indy comes in. He failed because he had no financial backing. He is the pattern maker ONLY for the new wedge and Hemi blocks. They only have Iron blocks available right now but I was told they are working on the aluminum versions 1st quarter next year.

So does he have financial backing now?

Man this block drama is just out of control. Hopefully it will come to a conclusion by the summer.

I have a lot of money into the Mopar stuff and would like to be able to buy an aluminum Hemi raised cam block, with a custom lifter angle. It's kinda ridiculous that I can't. I know, Indy has them but not sure I feel real comfortable with their stuff. I have a steel Predator short block now, and would like to save the weight. It shouldn't be this hard. I guess I should be glad I didn't buy the KB like others, a few years ago. Anybody interested in a Predator short block?

OT, and nobody cares..........but..........

If I was running a Top Dragster type build.........I’d definitely save myself a lot of aggravation(and $$$$$ ?)........and run something like an SR20 or Big Chief combo.

At least until the whole block unavailability situation got resolved.

Sad but true. And sickening. You can buy an aftermarket Pontiac block but not Chrysler stuff.

If you want a block that Indy can make then just call Best Machine and have them handle the machine work. They buy rough cast blocks from Indy and finish machine them in their CNC. Indy can't machine them as well as Best so it is better to work with Best. Best can also finish hone it to your specs and pressure check the block and all that stuff so when you open the box you know it is ready to assemble.

Tom, I think we are both in the same boat here. I will be in the market for a raised cam Wedge block this summer, as soon as I get back to Vegas. I have even fewer options as I believe it sits currently. KB from what I understand, and maybe I'm wrong is only producing Hemi blocks so that option is out the window. I imagine if nothing happens between now and then I will be calling up and ordering an Indy block for me from someone.

We have everything to build another 572" engine for the dragster right now minus a block. I have three sets of B1 heads, a set of -1 head, a 557" Indy shortblock and tons of other stuff and frankly if I thought I could get decent money out of the stuff Id jump ship. Not to mention the Predator deal in the Stratus. The kid wants to go faster in the dragster and frankly less headache going that other way is looking pretty good lately. Does not help when a buddy tells me today tells me that he has a Dart Big M block, that's almost new as customer wants to switch blocks and a set of heads and an Intake for less way less money than I can buy a Mopar block for. Yeah its a steel block but the aluminum one to replace it took 3 weeks to arrive. Hell the new oddball aluminum block for the red car is only taking 3 months and it has a "one off" deck height and lifter configuration...

Yes. Bill @ Chicago Connection financed it. Don’t hesitate to call him.

I have a wedge block. It is called “the block”.

Bulldog made a lot of different heads. Buick, olds, mopar, etc. I think more than a few had issues. He also took a lot of deposits from his distributors for Buick blocks. The distributors obviously got the deposits from customers. I think about six blocks made it out before bulldog disappeared and all the distributors were left with angry customers pounding on their door. The worst part is he wouldn't (and still won't) sell the block molds. I know of one Buick engine builder that tried for a long time to buy the molds. That left Buick people with one option which was to bow at the TA performance alter. Not any different than what mopar people have now which is one choice, Indy.

That being said Tim Banning does keep saying once things get straightened out at KB that him and others will have blocks in stock. Obviously that hasn't happened yet but hopefully it does soon. That being said I've been waiting 38 months and am so disgusted with the situation I walked away from racing cars for a while and started racing a motorcycle.

as I recall the fastest N/A dragster at our track was B1 powered, in a sea of BBC stuff. Just felt the need to defend Ma'Mopar here

Not complaining our B1 powered dragster is usually the fastest as well, well when we go to various places and run bracket stuff. The big buck stuff we are upper mid pack at best. In great air at sea level we could go maybe 7.0's, been 7.30 in Vegas in the summer. But if you plan to run T/D it aint gonna happen these days unless you bolt a blower on top, or spray the poo out of it with a Mopar Then we get back to that whole block thing again.

Who exactly closed up shop? Bulldog or Muscle Motors? both seem to have active websites and I don't see any indication that either are closed up

I hear Muscle Mortors is still alive and well in the parts selling business...

Yep. All my engine stuff has been sold. I may find myself in a position to start from scratch this spring and as much as it would break my heart, I just don't know if I want to deal with the headaches and drama, who's in or out of business, who is or isn't a crook, who has what if I'm willing to wait 9 months. If you can't get a block, the rest of it doesn't matter. I'm too old to wait a year for someone to get parts to me.

I was told a couple weeks ago they were done.

contact evilb1dart (wes) by pm or email. he has a brand new wedge kb block he's been hoarding for quite a few years. still on wood pallet with plastiwrap never used. i just stopped by his house an bought some a-body caltracs and some nitrous parts from him. not sure what his intentions are, but i saw the block a few weeks ago before the holidays and he mentioned thoughts of selling the block. might be worth a shot.

dj

So who exactly is this? Reading the posts have me a bit confused. Some seem to say this the “The Block” by the former (maybe still active) Muscle Motors or the former owner of Bulldog Performance, who is only doing the patterns and doesn’t actually own the company?

The Muscle Motors/Bulldog project has been bought by The Chicago Connection. There are Hemi blocks at Mopar shops now being checked for quality. If they pass, more Hemi blocks will be machined, then RB blocks, then Low Decks are next. Bill never said anything about doing aluminum when I talked to him around Christmas.

I would be good to have an option other than Indy. I guess we'll just need to wait and see.

Did you get the only one ever sold?

Same bologna, different year. When I can call someone up and have a new block, that's not a piece of junk, in my shop, inside of 2 weeks, let me know.

I have been giving this a LOT of thought the last few weeks. I am very very very close to doing the same thing. I will keep some stuff for my street car but very much on the fence about keeping the Mopar. Just get to a point of being work out by the process I suppose.

Honestly if I were home in Vegas I would start the process of liquidating my stuff now. I am in need of another aluminum block now and not excited about the options. Might be best to just sell off the parts and move on. I have two complete engines, one that needs pistons and another that needs a block. But just seems like this may be a good time to move on. Like you I don't want to have to but if I want to keep racing at the level I desire just seems like the logical thing to do.

The way some of you guys are jumping ship maybe Tom better change the name of Moparts to mopars and other cars. Lol.

They are.

I have not jumped anywhere but am considering it for sure. I want to run TS and my options are kinda limited. The Predator made good power and when the heads and intake go back on with all the new work will make more, just not sure how much. We may keep a dragster with a Mopar engine as I would just likely put the Predator in it. Still would be slow for TD but would be much better suited for the big buck bracket stuff with the extra power. All conjecture and thoughts at the moment but moving more and more to the forefront.

Understand it's not what I want to do and I would have to hold my nose to do it. I have 40 years of exclusive Mopar race cars and friends behind me. I have accepted that it's not the cheap or easy way out long ago. If I had a stockpile of good parts, or if it was just a street car or mild race car, it might be different.

I don't know what I may get into. Stock/SuperStock, a fast door car, whatever. But I don't want to invest time and money in a program based on a block that is either unobtainable or unreliable and limited on how much power it will/can make and stay together. I talked to folks at PRI and really didn't come away with anything that gives me much optimism. You couldn't take 3 steps there without tripping over shiny new LS parts

Ditto!!!

I no longer tell anyone who wants to go fast to just bite the bullet and use GM based engines. There is just no other way to say it.

This whole deal is expensive and I can't tell people with a clear conscience to spend money on engines that will never be supported, will never evolve and will continue to shrink as a share of the market.


IMO the days of multiple engine platforms is gone for anyone wanting to go fast or be competitive.

I'm right there with you. There was a time when Mopar had the best parts either with factory stuff, and aftermarket stuff. I'm tired of being Indy and Fiat's testing facility and guinea pig. Like others, I have spent several 10's of thousands of dollars trying to make their junk work with little or no help from the aforementioned. Most of the dealers are pretty good, but some of them are getting disillusioned too. And I'm getting a handle on it now, but still only a medium dragster. If you hard core Mopar guys would like to save 15-20K, I have an add in the classified section. Al would probably sell his stuff too.

Al would absolutely sell his at this point and it would likely be 20-25k less for me

The way I see it, it is MOPAR and what claims to be the MOPAR aftermarket that jumped ship.

The fact that Pontiac water cooled race blocks are not only available, but not outrageously priced and can be had in a reasonable time frame....but the best a HEMI, or wedge guy can do is the INDY block, then pray that power doesn't fall off the table once a fairly modest level is reached, is unacceptable.

To make matters worse, this issue is not some shortlived glich in production. It is an ongoing issue where people have been hoodwinked by both fairytale and/or inferior product.

Nope - they are out there but I don't have a number. Muscle Motors did some and I know for sure Barton did some (talked to Ray - we compared notes). Don't know if others did also or not.

I talked to Bill @ Chicago Connection today. He is trying real hard to get this to a good level. He is the one that financed this deal.

Bill asked that anyone that would be interested in a cast iron low block, RB or HEMI block give him a little more time to get things straightened out but you will be able to get the blocks through him. He asked that you wait a bit before you start calling so that he is not inundated with calls before he can start shipping - he is not taking deposits at this time. At this point he is verifying the machine work done by the new vendor - the original run had a number of machining issues with a different machining vendor (mine is getting fixed by BES - Tony Bischoff). I do not know of any casting quality issues - my casting looks real nice.

Ray Barton is getting 2 blocks now to see how good the new machining is.

Once the machining is verified, Bill indicated that the plan is to ship a machined block out every 2 days.

I went this way. Easy to get a block. Billet heads with 2.6 intake valves. Loves boost. Will turn 10,000 rpm. Faster then a speeding bullet.

Question, how much modification would be necessary to put Wedge and Predator heads on a Pro Mod/Top Alcohol Aluminum Hemi Blocks. Seems like there would be lots of those blocks for sale. I'm just curious if thats a reasonable possibility for you guys at this point.

Predator heads come in Wedge and Hemi bolt patern design. So BAE is an option IF you have the Hemi castings.

So, does BAE actually make a water block?

I'm with Al. Sigh.....

Eric??? Is that really you???

I didn't know that the BAE and AJ heads use the stock Hemi bolt pattern

I thought he retired from racing.

Yes, they have made a couple billet water blocks

Haha....yes it is. I have been lurking and focusing on family and business especially after my massive heart attack the other year.

Now been dealing with my elderly Father that fell and broke his hip last year and has not been doing well. Life.......but I'm still on this side of the grass.🤓

Run alky, with water through the heads, and a billet block is a great option.

A very very very long break. Still on jack stands though and lots of dust on the Dart.