Hey Mopar people,
Most of you know that I've been around Mopar big blocks for years. When I owned Mopar Engines West I specialized in HEMIs and wrote that book "How to Build Max-Performance HEMI Engines." About the same time I sold MEW to my partner - and I went off to focus on EFI - the bottom dropped out of the block vendor market. One of the most well-respected names in HEMI blocks - Keith Black was dying and would soon be dead! Then a few years back we all heard that KB was going to be resurrected, but that dragged on and on and on, as the new KB owners worked to take care of the people who have already paid for their blocks. Some just assumed they'd never see their money or a block.

I recently had a long discussion with Darren Beale the new KB CEO. I can't go through the gory details of the KB transaction but I'm here to say I was pleasantly surprised by what the "new" KB owners are doing. Darren is in Australia and the new dealer network is Tim Banning (FHO), Victor Bray (in Australia), Todd Marsh and Ray Barton with strong support from Stage-V Engineering. Bottom line: These block are actually being cast and from what I heard the quality issues of the past should be a memory. The new blocks are NEW BLOCKS designed and cast from fresh tooling with many of the problems of 30 years ago, designed out (such as cast-in lifter oiling, the way it should have always been.)

One thing you should be aware of; In the past KB would try and do whatever the customer wanted. That was never a good idea IMO. Now the blocks are being cast in bulk runs in only two versions. Street blocks and raised cam race blocks.

Okay, I'll shut up. But if you're thinking that you'd never build a Gen-2 HEMI again . . . give it a look!

Rich Nedbal
fastmanefi.com

I can't see this as anything but good news.

I'm hoping to have a new KB 4.500 bore wedge block by the end of this month
If and when it gets here I will post my thoughts on it, my current plan is to make it a 572 C.I. pump gas motor with B1 heads

Hope it all works out, they are for sure needed.. I'm going billet for race blocks from now on.

Ok

Good luck Cab and hope your delivery is on time. I heard the same thing and it arrived 13 months later. Took 16 months from order to delivery. Hopefully if I get a break in wk I can meet with my engine builderr to sit down and discuss the build

Darren explained to me the changes that have been made to the CNC machining and the castings themselves (improved alloy and pressure cast vs mold cast). These and the other modifications to the oiling all make sense to me, but I have not actually built anything with one of these new blocks, so I'm sure we'd all like to hear your experiences once you get yours. Let us know what your machinist thinks.

I will. The block is at Marsh Performance. I have given Todd permission to discuss anything he finds on the block that are concerns as well as stuff he is pleased with. The more info available the better to everyone. Also this is a wedge block.

[quote=Cab_Burge]I'm hoping to have a new KB 4.500 bore wedge block by the end of this month
If and when it gets here I will post my thoughts on it, my current plan is to make it a 572 C.I. pump gas motor with B1 heads [/quote


Cab why not go bigger?
Everything at that size seems to cost the same.
Go big or go home. ]

When up at FHO two weeks ago picking up a Raised Cam Hemi Block there were a few RB KBs on the floor. Not sure who owned them or even if they were pre sale or if the total machining was done. A lot of doors are being shut for a while in Canada for this VIrus and Tim does not have the best record when it comes to Health might of either shut the door for a while or is working in his shop by himself. I know his Dyno shop is shut that he uses after a build so that is also holding things up. Also heard there were some part shortages like roller lifters. Cab just give Tim a call maybe he can give you the information you are looking for.

Truthfully I'm in no hurry to start this build, I have four other new complete ready to run and use pump gas motors and three cars, two that need mtors
Sammy, I already had the crankshaft, rods, solid roller lifters and cam before ordering and paying half up front to lock this block deal in two years ago so that determined the C.I.. I need to get the used B1 heads done so I can check the CC and when I get the block deck height info on it I can order pistons for it to start the build. The rods are a new set of Carrillo aluminum top alcohol that I bought for this build due to the price, there a little different in length with a big wrist pin than I would normally use but do to having to have pistons made anyways I thought why not use what I can and see what pops out the other end

Crap. I forgot to mention that Chuck at Best Machine is also part of the KB team. Sorry about that Chuck. I guess that will cost me a beer.

Chuck actually helped me out when I was shutting down MEW by picking up a few customers and all went well. That sets up a robust dealer network for the "new" KB .

Ill throw my in
I for one am very happy to see things progressing with KB. The KB brand reputation was decimated and the people that took it over had a great hurdle to overcome. It looks like they are making great strides in doing so. Yes product may take longer than we may like but if the product is on par or superior to what is currently out there then its a win for the MOPAR and racers community.

I was wondering what happened with Best Machine but all it good now.


These blocks were redesigned and are improved quite a lot over the old KBs.

Rich, the timing of this post couldnt be better... Not sure you heard, but I think I lost my block last month in Arizona when it seized crossing the stripe... The block is getting inspection at S&S right now, but they are shut down until this forced lockdown is over..

I've been keeping an eye and ear open looking for a replacement block and even called Indy last week... Got the same old story of at least 10 weeks.... which has been their go to answer for months...

Hopefully everything you've been told is true and us Mopar-freaks can finally get a quality block..

Of course this promising news is coming up on 3 years old now:

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2562792/1.html

I am in North Carolina, so when the blocks are actually available, I will buy one from Todd Marsh.
I had one from KB back in 2014, and that new motor was sold with my Dart in 2015 since the offer price was right before I moved to NC.