Neither blew up.

Trendz was sold running, and the orange challenger was submarined in a flood (but still ran).

Each to their own. I would like a KB block too... just depends on how brave you are, and how much you got to spend.

I was at Englishtown with Scott one time when it blew up. In person. He later put a aftermarket block in it. iirc

Should ask Stephen daurity on here how his faired.

But I would think a small block would be easier to package. I would use a w8 head for the thicker deck. You can make plenty of power.

48* R3-W8 has VERY high ceiling and if I was starting from scratch, this would be my choice in a straight headed small block combination.

First off I've put a 88mm in a 69 RR and you can't tell me there's plenty of room. Not without cutting sheet metal to make room for stuff. Any bit of extra room would help.

And no this website is not the only place to read about the real/ possible 6.1 cranks. Go to LXForums and search. It comes down to a volume issue. You can use a stock crank, a larger pan and an accusump and hope its works or you can get an aftermarket crank and a bigger pan and know it's going to work! Not sure I want that doubt in my mind.

Same with a stock low or RB block. Either way they weren't designed for that kind of power. Some will say girdles work and others say they're just a band aid for future problems.

I know what R blocks cost, but haven't researched the W8 or W9 heads and everything associated with them in detail yet. I do know the cost involved with and aftermarket big block and bigblock heads! And no matter what it all cost large amounts of $$$$$! Just want to keep my options open.

I would love to see some new hemis at 1000 hp in race cars and live. Don't think there's enough of them yet. There's one local to me that will get raced hard this year and am curious to see how it lives.

Another question is between the Siamese and non Siamese blocks. Obviously you can bore the Siamese blocks more due to the lack of water jackets but are they any stronger than the other blocks? Obviously if you bore any cylinder too much they will weaken, but if you stay within specs on the non Siamese block will it be weaker. And has there been problems with the Siamese block and cooling issues. I know from personal that it was harder to keep the small block Chevy 400 cool which is also a Siamese block.

No cooling issues with those blocks. I would assume extra meat gives a stiff cylinder wall for better ring seal.

I have a non Siamese block. Wish I had Siamese to go bigger bore.

Thanks again for all the advice and input.

Might give brett a shout (W5dart66).... he'll give you an idea of what you're looking at for cylinder heads.