When they ask for that much money, they're telling you they can't pay their light bill. When it's still not done, 2 years from now, they'll ask you for another $1000 toward the new 2019 price of $5500. You already agreed to "no refund".
Trust me: the money isn't in escrow, and they will refuse any request for a financial statement ("where did the money go?"). It went to rent and salaries, like it always does.

I don't have a horse in this race, and I have no recent experience with them, so just my 2¢?
Sounds like their engineering is on track (useful features, no fantasy).

It's their financial plan that makes me nervous. A business that size should have no problem floating their R&D costs from their bank. The loan interest is part of the overhead - everyone does it (the garment district uses nothing else for 100 years).
When they ask for that much money, they're telling you they can't pay their light bill. When it's still not done, 2 years from now, they'll ask you for another $1000 toward the new 2019 price of $5500. You already agreed to "no refund".
Trust me: the money isn't in escrow, and they will refuse any request for a financial statement ("where did the money go?"). It went to rent and salaries, like it always does.

Does anybody KNOW what they mean by "small bore" and "big bore"?

Heres the info i just got from the guys at muscle motors take it for what it is.........heres the response i got asking about there low deck block.

Yes its true. We will have a machined block next weekend at the Monster Mopar show @ Norwalk. We will also have them at the Mopar Nations in Columbus a few weeks after that. Yes we have a cross bolted, big bore 400 block available. 400 or 440 main sizing is available and well as big diameter cams. Priority main oiling and oil to the lifters is standard. We don't anticipate having inventory for about a year. Everything is built to order for right now. $1700 deposit gets your place in line. then 6-8 weeks we will be ready to deliver the block and the balance is due when it is ready to ship.

All block B, RB wedge, RB Hemi all start @$3800 and are small bore

Big bore
big cam
Big main in 400 block
cross bolt #5
Bushed lifter bores
Are all upgrades and will incur additional cost.

Cast and machined in the USA, steel billet caps and ARP main studs std.

Let me be clear (who said that!).
I don't mean NO deposit - that's the only practical way to estimate production volume. The "I think I'd definitely maybe take one, if my Mom lets me" (responses to aluminum head for the slant 6) are completely worthless both as to intent and as a binder.

1. must have a non-refundable deposit, but with an escape clause like if no block in 1 year or price jump above $200 = 75% refund; after 2 years 100% refund; 50% deposit locks in the original price, etc. Make your own variables.
2. must be small enough to insure confidence in the seller ("you're not paying your rent with this, are you?").
3. must be large enough to insure confidence that the buyer won't walk away, like $500.

If I can't race a Mopar, then I'll quit racing and watching. It's called brand affiliation, reason I come to this site. After 50 years I ain't changing and I'll walk by a $500,000 Chevy to look at a $100 Valiant.

Hate to say it but them 'other' guys got it made.

If I can't race a Mopar, then I'll quit racing and watching. It's called brand affiliation, reason I come to this site. After 50 years I ain't changing and I'll walk by a $500,000 Chevy to look at a $100 Valiant.

Well, that makes you a Mopar guy at heart, not a racer at heart and there is not a thing wrong with that. But racers RACE and do whatever needs to be done to make that happen.

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

Agree totally.