ALI VS IRON Block

So Goeff Turk is the first into the 7's and the writing said this was accomplished by allowing the Mopar racers to use the Aluminum block.
The question is why?
It's a blower motor with a CID of 345.
Did they need a bigger bore engine?
If so why not use the 6.4 VVT block?
I know they tried to produce the 6.1 for this and like the production blocks they are messed up.
Matt

Those cars have to run on 9" tires. Races are often lost with one or both cars smoking the tires like a 60s fuel dragster.

I think the weight distribution is probably the big deal for them. Just my opinion I have not seen any of the racers comment.

These cars are still Stockers and have to meet the rules as far as allowed replacement parts, at least for NHRA. I haven't looked for accepted blocks for these cars, and I haven't looked at the NMCA rules so I don't know if they are allowed anything different.

The NMCA uses NHRA rules for Stock/SS and shootout cars. Which is why Holley recognizes this as the first 7 second run by a shootout car. AS for the aluminum block I am sure it is all about the weight. They do have minimum weights but being able to put that weight were it is needed or will work best is likely the reasoning. Car was built by MR2 and I'm sure that's the thinking. The Air was KILLER when they made that run, like unheard of for Florida. Water grains below 20 the barometer was 30.+ and the DA was in the 500' area. Before the rains came Saturday

A friend, Chuck Lofgren, runs a 6.1 drag pak car and said the aluminum block makes a bunch more power. No doubt though the front end wieght change didn't hurt! He complained about huge wheel stands. Haven't seen the car run since the change though.

The air was crazy good. They were fast at Gainesville as well. I do see now where NHRA allowed the aluminum block to replace the iron block. I can't keep up.

Maybe because Chevrolet engines are aluminum blocks. They may have had to make some considerations for Mopar. It's about time!

Actually I read a story that said Mopar made the aluminum block a replacement part, accepted by NHRA, because all the iron blocks were only available as a long block assembly.

They are package cars anyway. Ma Mopar (and the others) can pretty much get away with anything they want.

I posted this last yr about Goss that may or may not help with info here. Goss interview

I am curious if these new aluminum blocks are updated Arrow Racing blocks or the G3 Hemi block. Mopar doesn't seem to make anything themselves anymore. I know for a fact Barton went to the GM camp because he couldn't get competitive, reliable parts from Mopar.

Chevy blocks are iron...

Well Mopar should get a handicap because most of the guys on Moparts continue to argue that a cast iron block will produce so much more horsepower than an aluminum block will. Lol. Welcome to modern times guys.

Much more likely it was as much or more ring seal as anything. If i recall correctly, Chuck said he picked up two tenths plus from that alone.

At that level you need ALL your ducks in a row!!
It's like top fuel, all have the power but it's who can put it to the ground.
Matt

I wonder if the 6.4 truck block would be better than the 6.1 in ring seal?
Matt

I guess I'm one of the idiots that still believes an iron block can produce more power than aluminum.. I think that's been proven over and over.. but if you ask me what would be faster in the car.. that would be a whole nother question.. people need to consider weight and rules when picking a block.. if you have a car that weighs 2200 lb
. And your class requirements require you to be 2800.. more than likely you would want an iron block.. if you have a car that weighs 3000.. and the rules say you can be 2800.. I would think you would want the aluminum block..

I can tell you it would take a tremendous amount of horsepower to run where these cars are running at these weights.. and the Dodge Factory iron block is not going to hang.. I believe the only race block available is aluminum but then again I'm usually wrong

An iron block produces more power, no question. See any aluminum blocks in pro-stock? The question that should be asked is the power loss offset by weight loss. In a sportsman drag car it is.

Geoff Turk ran 7.97 at 170
^^^So what block is this guy running^^^it says stock class so is he running a iron block ?

Its an aluminum block.

I'm sure there are many reasons, one appears to be it is just a better option than the production blocks at this power level. Weight distribution I am sure helps his cause as well. Especially at the weight they run and limited tire. He has also changed classes which I am sure is a result of the aluminum block in part. The factory showdown FS/AA version of his car has to weigh in at 3550lbs while in FS/A where he has the car now he can be down to 3410lbs, but he is says he is still at 3500lbsas he runs the car now. So he still has more weight he can remove from the car.

The Ritter block as far as strength looks like one heck of a block but let’s take R3 blocks and Mega blocks and especially stock block with wall thickness all over the map. I’ll stick with my Keith Black block with 8 cylinder sleeves and multiple main cap bolts, beefed up bottom end and even valley stiffening

the math at 3550# for 170+mph agrees with you. Plus they are leaving soft and really pouring it on down track.

Wallace shows well over 1300 to run 170 at 3550.

He's at 3500 and can go down to 3410 because of the class. Just for clarification, but still making some power. Boost will do that I hear

Most poweradders will. All it takes is money.

FWIW Geoff has been 8.09 at 168 this weekend in Factory Shootout trim. That's FS/AA at 3550. Barton in 8.02 169 in his Camaro