New Wedge and Hemi blocks

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...n-ii-hemi-wedge-cast-iron-engine-blocks/

Seems there were (are) a number of folks who either tried or refused to deal with Tony.

So I'll just leave this here

They were talking about this last month at PRI. Did not want to say anything till it actually happened. This is GREAT news !!!
For most of the last year we have not had any blocks available and by the end of this year we should have 5 people producing iron and aluminum blocks.

Tony?...akaFiat maybe?

That would be some great news for sure.

Keith Black

Bill Mitchell

Bulldog

Indy

Callies

Is this list correct?

Short deck guys left out in the cold again

If they're cast from original type molds that means they are thin wall and worthless for a high output race engine.

I don't think that is what they are talking about. When they say Mopar tooling I think it means the Mopar tooling that was used for the Mega blocks and/or the World blocks. Probably need Zippy to clear it up but I think Mopar always owned that tooling, it just got moved from foundry to foundry. I assume that tooling is still around and that Mopar owns it and now they've found another home for it. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

In theory the low deck block makes more sense but in the real world it seems that people prefer the RB block. I'm not sure why that is, the low deck engine isn't really that low of a deck. The B block is still taller than a BB Chevy for example. But the aftermarket has basically decided that the RB block is the one to make parts for so that is what we have. The block doesn't need to be that tall for good performance but for some reason everyone seems to want the tall block.

I wonder if this is why Callies "stopped" making mopar cranks? They were probably working on this deal

I have a friend that is putting together a Bulldog short deck combo at the moment, not sure how readily available they are, but it was sent over the pond late last year.

Yes that list is correct. BTW both Indy and Bulldog offer low decks for your B block needs. No idea about the new Callies and Keith Black has said in the past that with actual orders they would look into it.
Todd

I wish it was in my budget to support the effort, simply because the people who are investing in these projects really need to see a positive return.

That said, out of the companies that were listed...
- Keith Black
- Bill Mitchell
- Bulldog
- Indy
- Callies

... a year from now, is any one of the above going to be able to deliver a quality product in a reasonable (2-4 weeks?) timeframe from when an order is placed?

From an industry outsider's perspective, most of those companies' track records haven't been that great.

What are the chances that we are going from too few choices to too many choices?

Yeah, that's been in the works for awhile now. did not want to say
anything as I was sworn to secrecy.



Yeah Andy is partially correct. I believe this should, most likely, be the 2008 Mopar Performance block that most of us called a World block.

Months back, my source mentioned he had been digging and had learned the tools were still at Dalton, who originally cast them. It was never moved during the time I was there.
To the best of my knowledge the intent is to stay at Dalton, as it's super expensive to rework that stuff + I doubt anywhere else would be interested in doing it anyway.

As far as original (1970s) big block block tooling goes, as far as I know that was all scrapped as part of the agreement Iacocca made during the bankruptcy during his tenure.
At that time, Chrysler Marine and Industrial still had a purpose for the big block, but the government directed that division be dissolved
and everything associated with it sent to scrap for the bankruptcy to be approved.

Edit.................there is more to the story and I don't believe we've heard the end of it. I believe somebody is going to throw a wildcard on the table,
and things might not be what they seem.

Yup that is pretty much everything I heard as well. There was a lot more going on with the whole Indy, Mopar Performance, Don Schumakers that someone should write a book about. LONG story. People might be surprised about who the hero of that story is. Todd

Hmm. That’s like saying, “I know who shot JFK and I’m not telling anyone.” It doesn’t do much good the say it in the first place. Lol!
I figure Mopar will do what they always do and price the block so expensive no one can afford one. $6500 each and they say, “ no one wants these anymore”. No kidding!

I could see any of them being the unexpected hero except mopar so it must be them, I would be shocked if they did anything truly helpful to the old car community.

Out of curiosity, I checked Bill Mitchell to see what info is posted re Wedge blocks. Iron are simply "unavailable", while aluminum are said to be 120 - 160 days lead time. Aluminum is about $6K, and it's not "done"... maybe another $1K to be ready to assemble?

A quick check on the BBC blocks shows about $5K for an aluminum piece, and I a$$ume they require comparable additional prep work. However, their iron options are $2300 - $3000, whereas the unavailable BBM iron blocks are about $4300.

Well, that's TODAY'S info.

it is great to see all this interest from suppliers .
However like a lot I might choose to believe it when I actually see it . I think also that people may have to accept a limited choice of block style . Whilst there is demand , there may be more limited demand for the too far from stock architecture , so if only RB mega/world style just be happy for that . At least in iron .
Glad I lucked onto a NIB World block here in Oz . I might have paid through the nose but I did get it

Tex

I a$$ume they require comparable additional prep work

That would be work not completed, unfinished gasket surfaces, dirt and swarf in blind holes, incomplete female threads, correcting alignment and tolerance errors, deck not square?
What to do about a fatal error such as bank angle is off, tappet angle off, main caps already oversize, cam centerline too low? Haven't you seen blocks with head bolts in place and visibly out of parallel?
Why does anyone tolerate this?

I'm happy that my DD can safely rely on almost all factory parts (for now).

I wish I had bought a dozen blocks when they were easy to get. Maybe it would be wise to stock up now. You never know when they will become unavailable again.

Well lets put it this way. I have never seen their value drop over the last 25 years as long as they are new. Once you machine and assemble, that is another issue.

I have a new monetary reference courtesy of this thread, a "block", as in: "We just made the spring tuition payment for the oldest of my 3 kids who's a freshman at a state university and it was 2 blocks."

Much as I hate to admit it, I'm so not the target audience for any of the new blocks at their current -- and foreseeable -- price points.

Fix It AgainTony

As I thought

It’ll be interesting to see what the block situation is in a year from now.

I’ve heard too many stories that haven’t played out for me to take any of it too seriously.

Oh you would be the wise one on that. Already squawking about.....

Sending a pm your way. Thanks

Who is in line already?

Is there any update on this? This was shared on a Mopar page via Brewers.

kind of looks like the World block , oil port at front of motor . Maybe expanded water jackets .
Well a reputable company with what appears to be a final product . Like Fast said a long time ago , price point for those who want/need them must be ok because they don't gather dust on a shelf .
Hope they can get fully over the line and into steady supply .
I for one will not go a stroker for any competition use in a stock RB block again . Glad I lucked onto a World .
Mopar racers/builders better get behind these guys .


Tex

The one in the picture is broken...Just sayin....

Yes that ear is broken. The valve cover is bent and it has no crank shaft.....just saying.

So any new relevant news regarding actual hemi block availabiity?? or did covid kill them !!

I talked to them a couple weeks ago . Late this year for wedge blocks @US$4500.00

Tex

What’s happened to KB blocks? It’s always just a couple of months away? I was assured that mopar had 150 leftover iron casting at the machine shop and a couple showed up on eBay that may have been those and then crickets. The other guys all having problems too?

no idea ?
dont KB have some hemi blocks out ,wedge not sure .
maybe with Callies there will be a actual result . I hope so .
I can only pass on what their reply to me was .

Tex

Bulldogs???

A few of those are supposed to have been received and in process of being built. PRI almost 2 years ago, we saw one and was told they would be a thing moving forward.

Indy??? New owners making any waves out there?

I know the Ritter small block stuff seems to be doing well, Other than that, it's been quiet all Summer. Unless I haven't been looking in the right places.

KB can't get a simple T-shirt order correct and then point the finger at the customer, cry about it when I posted it and asked that I take my post down "because they are trying to build a brand"! It's a small thing but told me all I needed to know and confirmed what others had said.

It's deja vu all over again. That's what is happening.

Well, I guess I should not be surprised. When your entire government makes things so hard for big business to produce in this country and they have to move to foreign country to produce a product, it’s not easy or cheap to get things made anymore. I hope we don’t have to mobilize like we did in WW2 or we won’t stand a chance. I don’t think we could make anything without some help from foreign countries.

I feel the same way and it is a shame.

So I have another question. Who is casting all of the top fuel blocks? Are they billet now? I know they are solid so that may make the difference. But if everyone is having casting problems with their blocks, who is making anything correctly? Who’s making Chevy blocks? You don’t here of them having problems. I guess the people that are doing it correctly, have all the work and the rest just beg for the scraps.

This no producing block thing has been going on for decades in the mopar community , i was on the list for the KB block for over a year .Got tried of it and pulled out.

I almost did the same. But after 16 months the block did arrive. I will say KB is its own worst enemy. They need to stop the BS and simple be upfront. Don't show a block and say orders will start being delivered in two months then not a word from them for six months. If you run into a problem that is going to affect people's orders let them know.

Again I'm glad I hung in and waited but KB won't get a dime of my money again.

Going to assume you ordered a Hemi block, as I have not heard anyone whos gotten a Wedge block, but could be wrong.

Indy is making blocks, they have switched foundries and machining facilities so if you want one just pick up the phone. Covid has slowed them down with relocation and processes so I am not sure they are quite to a stocking them point yet but last I talked to them they had a few. They are also working on a new casting that sounds very exciting.

Nitro, Top Alcohol, Pro Mod, etc are all billet now. AJPE, BAE, DSM, JFR, CN, et.al,

Cast iron Chevy, Ford and others seem to be easy or at least reasonable availability.

Callies/ Energy Manufacturing has shown pallets of cast iron hemi blocks that are going to be machined. I have some faith that Callies will have these available on the shelf at some point.

Yes, go to their Facebook page for the pics. They’ve been posting updates periodically.

Mine was a wedge boots ck. Todd Marsh was who I ordered thru. He was always available to discuss progress and took time out; f his busy day to field my calls avery other month or so. If not for Todd would have bailed.

I had one ordered through Todd as well and finally gave up as to not miss another season of my son running our dragster. So went out and bought a used engine and gave it the attention it needed and got it in the car. Glad to hear someone finally got one Todd was great to work with and prompt to refund my 3K after waiting way to long with nothing but promises.

as Callies/Energy already do iron chev/ford blocks i dont see them as not being able to deliver


Tex

I just talked to Richard @ bulldog blocks. He has a tall deck cast iron (blem) sitting there for $3200. He also said the price is going up to $4500 due to increase costs IE machining, casting... Also said Aluminum block is on the way, i will believe that when i see it.


Joe

The whole Covid thing will have slowed down most manufacturing, so progress will certainly be slower.