I tell you …….I like your way of thinking

I don't no the age of most on this forum , but I thought that I would be able to get a stout short block built before I retire. But it's not looking promising. I figure I'll be a gearhead for life why not get something that the after market supports .most of the racers in my circle seems to think that I'm a all die hard Chrysler but that's all I have.(spare parts for) . I'm getting to the age were I just what something I can drive on the weekend with my grandson and enjoy it. Time is running out for me I need to make a decision within the next few years on what I what to do should I just sell it all and get a cruiser?...…………………..who would think that in 2019 that aftermarket blocks will be this hard to get.

If I could sell all my stuff, which unless I wanna give it away does not seem likely, not much market for higher HP Mopar stuff I could not GIVE AWAY an 1100HP engine for $17K, now its fresh and ready for the dyno Id be willing to bet I couldn't sell it for that same $17K now either. If I could get out and not loose my a$$ I would be in a 66/67 Chevy II so fast it would make your head spin. I talked to RJ about building a new Chevy II when I was looking at my Stratus, in hindsight I should have just done it then. I already have a 68 Camaro with an aftermarket block in it. Its just to easy and way more options to make power.

Al, it's sad, but I agree w/ you about your engine. The market for that type of stuff is soooo small.
I love the '66-'67 novas, but I'd be all over a '70 Chevelle. Always liked the bigger cars.

WOW....ONE BY ONE, ALL MY HIGH HP MOPAR "HEROS" ARE GIVING UP

LMAO ! !

KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT IT AND...…

I drive and own a 6 cylinder fuel injected 2003 Chevy Malibu that my mother bought new. Does that count because that’s as close to being a Chevy guy that I care to get. I do wish a few guys would jump into the Chevy crowd as I get tired of the constant whining.

Well I for one am pretty tapped out NA wise. We know there is a few more HP in it and will likely address it at freshen up with some new pistons, more compression and a different cam,. But its basically tapped out, at least as a reliable piece. I have all the confidence in the world it will go 200 laps between freshen ups but cannot afford to have anything happen to the block so its on a 100 lap schedule, same with the other engine and its pretty mundane really.

On the bright side it appears there will be a block available again for those few that venture here with a BB. Once the Wheatcrafts get Indy back to speed. Mitchell has no interest or plans to build anything other than "stock" configuration stuff. No raised cam, no bog cam core, no revised lifter angle or spacing. And I cannot blame him one bit. I mean how many people out there would even be interested in one, more will be willing to get on forums and MF the product they have no experience with than actually will buy one. As for the other player, so far empty words and a lot of other people money, Hopefully they can get things headed in the correct direction but at this point its not happened.

Can you hear the frustration yet?

I don’t understand why manufacturers don’t sell line delete castings. Lets say I want blank cam bore and blank lifter valley, or raw deck heights with no head bolt holes etc... less work for them and more desirable for custom builders.

I never had an Indy block, but from what everyone says, it has a number of issues and even when fixed up, is not in KB's league. I wonder if the Wheatcraft crew will address this problem???

If they can get water blocks in the pipeline and get them to be reliable around the 1500 to 2000hp range, that would definitely be an alternative. Companies like CN already support above that power level with a variety of HEMI blocks, so the really high end market is covered. I know it's alot to ask since it would require design changes, but that would fill the hole between the existing Indy offering and a really good block that has no water.

As for an iron deal, I can't believe there isn't a market for something that can take a beating well above an aluminum capped and filled stock piece. I split one of them in the early 90s with Indy 440-1 heads and a moderate shot of nitrous. Granted, 1000+ is asking plenty from 50+ year old assembly line castings. Hell even Pontiac and Oldsmoblie have options and I know for a fact the Pontiac alternative is stout, as a couple friends have small tire 1/8 mile cars over 3000# that run pretty hard, including one that's been 4.90s with a plate system without block issues. Plus, they get em' in short order and for a decent price.

Mopar guys have nobody to blame but themselves. Can’t just have one block gotta have nine different versions of each.
1 Stock Hemi block, 1 340 block and 1 440 block. Adjust from there!

They even make aftermarket 409 blocks. An engine that was available for just 5 years.

Very true.....so how can the market support the existence of these pieces while the Dodge/Plymoth crowd has continuous supply and quality problems???

It would appear that every time blocks actually do hit the streets, they certainly don't sit on manufacturers shelves, unable to be unloaded.

My buddy at The Chicago Connection told me he could get rid of 100 blocks almost instantly if he could just get them.......

That doesn't surprise me.

If I wouldn't lose my azz I would just switch over to the Gen III stuff. Unfortunately I have everything I need except for pistons for a BB. I'm giving KB until the end of January and if nothing I'll pull the trigger on a BM block. Not going to waste good rods, crank, cam and heads on a stock block. If the mains let go its all gone. Not saying that can't happen with a good aftermarket block but chances are less.

Has he gotten any blocks? Paul

Last time I talked to him a couple months ago he had not seen any. He was pretty concerned when I told him people on here were getting blocks directly from Bulldog.

I thought Bulldog went out of business Do you have any contact info for them now?

Bulldog is the one who is probably being sued.

I have R-M built 583” BBC in one car and a 588” R-B built Mopar motor in other. One makes 150 hp more than the other and was $8000.00 cheaper. The Mopar is a wedge head, both are aluminum blocks, the Mopar is an Indy block. Bet you can’t guess which one is which. Jim.

Because not only do we have a block porcurement problem, unless you opt for the best of the best HEMI heads for a boosted application, they are playing with spaceships and we're stuck with chariots in the cylinder head department.

The cost difference is understandable and makes sense economically for a variety of reasons, so that part of the equation doesn't bother me nearly as much as R&D/availablity nightmare.