We've been beating on a 436" SBC (somewhere north of 700 hp) built w/ a Dart Little M block for well over 10 years and never had any cracks. Never heard of any Dart iron blocks cracking like this.

CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax