Mega Block Questions

Anyone know if there is a way to figure out info on Mega blocks? Things like when was it made, how did it leave mopar (complete crate engine or bare block), orig bore size, ect,ect? Could it be a World Products block? How to tell the difference? How to understand markings on block? What time frame were they produced?
I recently was able to purchase what I believe is a Mopar Mega block that was supposedly a 500 ci crate engine (4.380 bore, 4.150 stroke) w/ stage 6 alum heads, hyd cam and a M1 intake. Although it is still 500 ci, pistons have been changed from cast to forged Wisco, heads long ago changed to Indy SR's (which I didn't purchase, all I got was block & rotating assembly). Block looks good, pistons look good, MP crank is probably going in the scrap pile (damage is repairable, but not much positive going for it) & one of the Eagle rods had a bearing spun.
Any info appriceated. Thanks, Brian

I use those older Mopar 4.15 stroke cranks to make either 4.250 or 4.300 stroke crnakshafts by having them offset ground down to 2.200 rod jourbnal sizes and use BB Chevy type 7.100 long rods
I would have the crank magged first to make sure it is not cracked and go from their

This is what the foundry mark looks like in the pre world later Mega block. This one came from Indy with a 4.5 crank. The crank looked like the old Mopar 4.150 cranks had a pentastar stamped in it. Its at least 15 years old. Siamese bore. Been run as a 4.5" bore for over 10 years

Doug

IIRC...the World blocks are the only ones w/ freeze plugs and the oil pickup port on the front of the block.

The Mopar is cast on the siamese bore block but not on the water mega block.

I wonder if the Chrysler star on the hemi block I posted and it missing on Doug's block where mopar is cast has anything to due to what year the blocks are or maybe it's a hemi wedge thing or someone just removed it from Doug's block????

This is a water block I bought in 2000

When I say the crank doesn't have much going for it, it really doesn't. In addition to the rear thrust surface being worn down (also been there repaired once), it had #3 rod bearing spun, plus, the crank is already .010" undersized on rods AND mains, the counter weights are approx. .500" larger diameter than most modern cranks and the rod journals are Mopar sized. Other than that, it's a pretty nice piece. By the time that I fixed all that and ship it both ways, I'll be into it for what, $600 (at best) and still have a old multi-time repaired, heavy crank. Not sure that makes sense?

Thanks, Brian

Picture of mine.

Mine is siamesed and cross bolted. I am curious as to why the chart list the standard bore at 4.19"?

Brian

This is a world hemi block, so not sure if it is the same as an RB block.

Mopar offered that block in a 4.19 and a 4.50 bore but most of the 4.50 bores were a lousy bore so most had
to be over bored.. thats why most guys got the 4.19... thats what I did also
EDIT
also the numbers you are looking at are just casting numbers..pay no attention to them.. if you look they arent
listed in the parts list above

The siamese blocks are water blocks but no cooling between the cylinders. The others are full water cooling blocks that's why they called them the water block. Yours is a siamese block.

That flyer came with a shortblock i bought years ago. They used the underlined block to build a 540. It's 4.375 bore / 4.5 stroke (I would have preferred that those specs be reversed, but if it ever gets punched out to a 572 the Callies crank will work with the new combo). I can scan and post the entire flyer if you need it.

Yes, I would love to see it. Thanks, Brian

The world hemi block looks like a real nice piece. I do not believe that I have ever seen one or a world wedge block either. How long was this available and how long ago? Any idea how many were made? I did get to repair/rebuild a Koleno block last year (622 ci) and that was a nice part also.If I understand Scott Koffel correctly, only about 100 or so Koleno blocks were actually produced.

Brian

Scans.....

last scan...... block markings, and the part # label

The one we call a world block is the one Mopar Performance sold starting in '08 until I believe it was '14 or '15 when they decided to stop managing it.

(That's not to say Megablocks or water MP blocks were shipped in '08 quite a few of the last ones were sold during that time which adds to the confusion.
But '08 was the end of the line for the ones that had a nearly stock appearance).

There are press releases that say Callies has permission to use the tooling those blocks were made from and will be selling the same product soon.
Not sure how accurate their eta is.

As far as how many were sold I would need the decoder and access to Rumba (Chrysler reynolds and reynolds green screens) to
look up the historic sales volumes and add them up, or somebody at Mopar IC or similar function could probably do it if they were interested in finding it.
There is a spread of multiple part numbers, so it would probably take some time to put the data together but it's possible to find that. Someone on the inside could do it.

Thanks for the scans and info. I enjoy all the info that I can get on this stuff!
Thanks, Brian

here's a bulldog "B" block that was cast last month.

WOW!! They do exist! Are all 5 mains cross bolted? Looks comparable to mega blocks and world blocks. How long did it take to get it and approx price range? Thanks for sharing,

Brian

front 4 are cross bolted, price was around 4,000. from the time i called him to sitting at my house was 21 days.
( i was really lucky) http://bulldogblockhead.com/price-sheet

It's nice to know that low deck blocks are available.

thanks for the pics!!

The B block from Bulldog has Hemi style mount provisions?

you can order it either way.

What’s with the raised area on the upper timing gear thrust surface on the BD block?

it's not raised, it is flush with the timing chain cover, same as a stock block. But it is a little narrower, i believe that is because it's been drilled for a 60/55 MM cam. I sure if you ran a stock cam size it would look "normal".



Joe

I've owned and built three different World iron blocks, 2 hemi, one B1 wedge with good results
I have one Koleno high nickel 4.90 rough bore wedge block and a KB aluminum wedge block that is suppose to be delivered to me at the end of March or the first week of April
555 CI and 572 C.I. wedge motors coming up

8 weeks from the time Bulldog got my deposit to delivery about $4200 shipped on a good crate, beefy yes 278 lbs my 71 non 230 block is 219 lbs

That is interesting. I have had a KB Hemi block on order since December 2018.

I may have placed my order and sent the deposit before you placed your order CRS now :whiney, I'm thinking October of either 2017 or 2018

It took 16 months for my wedge block to come in ordered Oct 2018. Communication with my dealer was great. Not so much between KB and my dealer. Took a lot of calls, emails and complaining by my dealer to KB to make this happen.

That area has been machined so that the mounting cover of a Jesel belt drive system will fit.

Superfreak,

I just picked up a Hemi block with the same part number as the one in your pics yesterday. It has never been built, and was curious about it. So I guess it is a World block. Any idea when these were produced? Do you have spec sheet on it?

The pad near the fuel pump is stamped:
0811060A445
P5153861

-Dave

Question.... I have a Hemi Block with the 2468330-M casting number. What is an acceptable cylinder wall thickness? I know the final bore after hone is 4.503. I'm going to contact my machinist and have him sonic test it.

Thanks

No idea when these were produced. Bought mine from Dave Dudeck and it was new untouched but how long he had it for, I am not sure.
P5153862 is on the fuel pump pad and on the side of the block it P5153843 so not sure what is up with that.

My block finished out at 4.502.

You want it as thick as possible, many of the Mega blocks have failed, cracked, at 4.500
As far as cylinder wall thickness if it is less than .160 finished on either thrust side I won't use them for a serious N/A race motor
I would love to have one that is .250 or thicker
Maybe my Koleno block will do that at 4.560

I repaired/freshened up a 622 ci Koleno block that was 4.600 bore. It was already a running engine so I didn't have it sonic checked. I do know that it was one of, if not the first, Koleno block that was built into a running engine, block #11. Don't know if that will matter to yours.

Brian

Thanks Cab and Superfreak,

I had it checked today. The worst was # 8 which was .164 on the outside which if I'm mot mistaking is the Major side. The rest were from 172-200 except #7 which had a sleeve put in back when it was new because it checked thin.

It's N/SS car, high 9's to 10.0 under 7k RPM with a 7.100 rod.

Thanks again!