Mancini Selling Callies Blocks

Just got the email from Mancini about the aftermarket production of hemi and wedge blocks from Callies coming soon. Thoughts and anyone know price range?

Do a search on here, someone posted details a while ago. I think they are around the $4K mark. You could contact Energy Manufacturing directly, they'd be able to tell you.

Ok thanks I figured I was late to the game lol

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2820699/1.html

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2852611/Searchpage/1/Main/234971/Words/%2Bcallies/Search/true/possibly-old-news-but-good-news.html#Post2852611

I thought it was said to have a Mopar part number on the Callies blocks. Does anybody know if they will be sold over the counter at the Mopar Dealerships?

They are supposed to be in the 4500 range and sold through the Callies network. I have not heard anything about them being sold through Mopar Performance but I will ask tomorrow and report back my findings.
Todd

Typically Chrysler throws tooling right in the garbage when they are done with it.

The tools to make these blocks cheated death/a licensing fee is being paid to Chrysler for someone else to use the tool and sell the parts.

This is a very, very rare situation and we're kind of lucky it's happening.
Sure Things could be better, but they could much more easily be worse.



My understanding is: for the licensing deal to happen, the very first step was all the Mopar Performance numbers had to be NS1'd/discontinued.

I think they went ahead and did that, just due to the lack of desire to manage anything like that anymore.
Although it is possible for NS1 parts to be reinstated (I've seen it twice that I can remember),
I'd be really shocked if any of them came back through MP.

We would need to draw a line between casting numbers, and part numbers also.

I am kind of a Geek so I will be looking for the Dalton foundry mark and the same old P5153843 casting number as in 2008.
Unless they changed the insert out on the tool or grind the numbers off the block, there is no reason why
the Mopar name or the casting number shouldn't be on the block, even though the Mopar marketing part numbers are gone now.

Part Number is on the new blocks - along with the MOPAR logo - just the box now says "official licensed product" MOPAR seems to be licensing everything these days - heck Pro-Form has the their direct from china mini starter labeled up with MOPAR - Licensing is practically free cash for MOPAR

I am glad for the new blocks coming out - letting the aftermarket control them is the best path forward

Agreed, it's probably best someone who cares manages the blocks.


off topic a bit, haven't heard any good about the Proform licensed distributors, though. (Link)

Question?
Do these Callies MOPAR blocks (a.k.a. World type) have both the Chrysler and GM transmission bolt patterns on the back?
And is there any way to use a Chevy type starter mounted to the bottom of the block when using a "stock" Powerglide? Or is the starter "problematic" when using the GM trans.
This picture's method of using the MOPAR location? (and I imagine a midplate that has studs for the starter), is crude; and a lot of metal removal from the stock case.

For past products, 2008 to 2018/19 era blocks were not produced with GM trans provisions, in spite of some early marketing statements to that effect.

Additional material was cast into them to provide enough meat for the different bolt holes (which I can post pics of later if it is of any help, just let me know),
but I was told that the double bolt pattern did not make the conversion any easier due to some other dimensional difference
that was not fully taken into account at the time,so the GM bolt pattern was deleted.

There was also a marketing promise of CGI material in late '07, that never made it to fruition. Other than the obvious statements
folks have made that it is harder on machine tools,
I was never told the exact reasons why that product was discarded and never produced.

Maybe Callies will make variants that Mopar never considered. Something to look forward to.

Rich , you do know that the aluminum World blocks got the dual pattern right ?



Mark

Talked to Callies today. They are shooting for shipments to begin late January. Several blocks have been built by some well know builders and are running. There is a tooling matter that they found and are resolving prior to any shipments. He said there are around 35 on order already both hemi and wedge. Retail on them is 4800 but some dealers are likely to discount them EVENTUALLY but not likely at first due to demand. It does look like these will be sold through SOME dealerships but as a Callies part. They can make as many as they want and Mopar just gets a cut like Zippy said. They also have a shelf full of both Magnum and Magnum billet cranks in popular strokes to go with them as well as the Comp stars. Yea!!!! Todd

I talked to one of the Mopar engine builders who had an early Callies block and he said it had issues. So hopefully those early issues get resolved before the train leaves the station. It would be great if Callies is able to provide a properly machined block at a decent price. A lot of guys would able to step up to 900-1200 hp engines if they had a good block. The rest of the parts are available to build 1000 hp big blocks, just need a good foundation.

Hey Mark,

No, did not know that, thank you for the info.

When MP got out of the aluminum block business midstream, that ended my chance of getting my hands
on one to check out without buying one.

All I know well is MP iron from my time there, and the only thing
left from that timeframe is the casting itself.

I'm remembering a couple problems we had and things that were changed with the machining
during that time, and I hope the current supplier notices those things and takes care of them.

Fingers crossed, etc

Great info, thanks for checking with them Todd.

The dual Mopar powerglide pattern isn’t that big of a deal now. ATI and others offer some great products and in seconds you can switch your ATI case to powerglide, small block Mopar, or big block Mopar. If you are building any power you are pushing a stock 50 year old powerglide case so why not build some safety into your race program.

Having dual bolt patterns on the block is just adding unneeded complexity IMO. Everything needed to put a glide behind a stock style Mopar block is a phone call away.

The safety shields for the PG have been around longer then I can remember.
I was going to use a stock case PG in my Daytona since it came with the TCI adapter midplate. But a previous owner cut the midplate out around the starter so it had no starter studs. So I had to buy a JW SFI bellhousing and cut the stock bellhousing off the PG.

The builder of the chassis even has a steel band welded around the flexplate area for added protection. But without an SFI tag, it is just added safety; an SFI flexplate shield is still required. (JW meets this)

Another nice thing about the powerglide aftermarket cases is they are SFI and no shields required. Aftermarket drums are cheap and my ATI case has a safety liner as added protection inside the case wrapped around the drum.

Jim/anyone...Would you mind taking a pic of the UPPER LEFT DRIVERS SIDE metal bracket (what it looks like and where it bolts to) which mounts the shield to the case? For some reason my used shield didn't get assembled with this bracket. TIA!!!

I understand what you are saying, But, if you are at a multiday race and blow the tranny, with a dual pattern you could conceivably borrow your buddies chevy reid cased transmission and be back in the race..

Just thought I'd interject that thought.

Dave

INDY Cylinder Heads has the blocks listed on their website.
$3800 Smakaroos.

http://indyheads.com/images/price.2015.09.pdf

That’s from 2015

Read the bottom of the flyer - date effective 11/2020.

That listing is for a Mopar Performance block not a Callies. While similar, not the same thing. Indy will most likely sell them but not at that price. Kenny already has one ready to hit the dyno as of last week.
Todd

Why does it say Mopar/Callie’s then ?

Exactly!

Callies was not making hemi blocks back then and the listing definitely says callies 👍

You are correct sir it does indeed say that. The page format is the same as it has been for years. It does look updated recently over our most recent price sheets. AS of last Monday the Callies folks have not even finalized the dealer pricing as some recent tooling changes was changing the price of poker. Call them up and see if they will sell you one for that
.
317-862-3724 Indy

937-708-8563 New Indy in Ohio

On that note......Promises and a back order slip can be truly disappointing. I guess we will just have to hurry up and wait some more. Glad to hear it's on the way though

I looked at the Indy link....... all the new iron block prices have a * next to them.

I didn’t see where it said what that referred to........ but I suspect it has something to do with people not actually being to buy them for $3800 when they’re finally “available”.

Edit- just looked again...... it appears there has been an update to the pricing......
The last two lines are the Callie’s blocks.

Someone is playing games or isn’t very proficient in updating the info. I just clicked on the link and now it says 6/2015 update.

Mancini shows them unboxing a Hemi block on Facebook today but still won't give a definitive answer on price!

I talked to Indy and they were just Mid Edit, they now say 4800. You might be looking at an old cookie. Next time you go on Indies web site hit your F5 button and it will refresh it to the most current version. I am not sure that Callies has even given out final pricing yet.
Todd

Yeah, but it also says they will sell you an R3 48* block.

They might be able to didn't they have a ton of them at one time?

Mancini social media pix

I wonder who will end up owning that one.

So the price is being released all over Facebook today as being $4800.00 through Mancini.

Does anyone else find the "Mopar Tax" ridiculous?!

A Dart Big M BBC retails for $2500.

I get that the demand and sales will never be what it is for a BBC but DOUBLE the price of admission for a decent Mopar block?!

[quote=GY3]So the price is being released all over Facebook today as being $4800.00 through Mancini.

Does anyone else find the "Mopar Tax" ridiculous?!

A Dart Big M BBC retails for $2500.

I get that the demand and sales will never be what it is for a BBC but DOUBLE the price of admission for a decent Mopar block?! [/q2uuote]

You might just have to get over that . I paid close to US$5000.00 for my World iron block 2 years ago . And whilst my eyes watered i knew i didnt want to split another factory block and have a bad result . I race a fair bit and accepted it as the price of my choice , better than US$7000 + for aluminium .
Unless i have a catastrophic failure it should do me out .

Tex

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s sold already......... but I would be surprised if it’s not sold before the new year.

Expensive yes. High horsepower capable yes again. You guys will buy a 50
Year old block and buy a girdle, main caps, 1500.00 worth of machine work and have a block that if pushed hard can and will crack. So like many start over by looking for another 50 year old block. Sure this may or not be needed by everyone but some of us like to push the limits a little and not worry about driving over the crankshaft.

That's the price one pay to be different.

Actually, less than half the price for a Dart Big M if you order one through Jegs.

$2459.......minus $100 for orders over $1599.....minus the NHRA discount if you have one, plus free shipping. Not to mention the state of the art cylinder head choices that are constantly being updated.

So yes, the MOPAR tax is ridiculous, which is why I'm doing a stock AAR Cuda' replica to drive around town in and will do the latest MBE 18* BBC casting in a Velocity Composite carbon fiber 67' Chevy ll to get speeding tickets in.

Says still in production, like they ain’t there yet but they’ll take your up front money.

It's tempting to go the BBC route, pocket the excess money and go faster! Just won't open the hood to show my shame...

I've been helping some racers who run BB Chevy engines. Very easy to make power with the current generation of BB Chevy parts. 572 bracket motor with 24 degree heads will make 1000 hp. All parts are off the shelf and fairly inexpensive. Order the stuff from Summit, put it together and go run high 8's in a door slammer.

If you ever wonder why no one post up Mopar tech anymore on this site look no further than the last few post. Bunch of Chevy “closet queens”.

You know... another situation where the basic law of supply and demand plays a vital roll.

How many companies are forging Chevy blocks, 4 - 5 - 6 ???

Been thinking about putting one of their relatively priced 632's in my Duster.....Bet that would be an upgrade in power...All off the shelf parts, and no fighting to find someone who has them. I will tell you, if it wasn't for 440Source, I would be there already...When you can't buy a block, its over with. I was luck to find my last Hemi one, and that was $6500...

From my experience, the only place you'll save money on the Chevy is the block. Everything else is pretty much the same cost. And most 18 degree (Duke/Chief, not cheap...I usually mess with p/n 1802 they are 2100 a piece ...4200 for a pair of heads, 420 $ for the studs and 2500$ for Jesel stuff.) stuff at 600 cubes usually run 7:30-7:50 at around 180 here in a dragster (pretty sure that's not even 1000hp). Most of the Chevy guys I know will take a stock 454, put 12.5 to one pistons in it and an .800 plus lift roller in their street car. On here we'll worry about weather a lobe will live in this or that application. They Chevy guys just keeps stuffing the biggest everything they can at it (which makes used stuff plentiful and cheap). I would think you can get a Mopar top end in the 6800 (Heads ,rockers, studs) dollar range to go just as quick. I'm with you on the block price but everything is pretty much a wash. Stock block bracket stuff Mopar might even be cheaper . BBC stuff is pretty expensive.

Yes ultimately you can make more power with a canted valve or Hemi. But for the average no box bracket stuff I dont see a ton of Chevys that are below the 9.00 zone in a regular non chassis door car. Seldom do I leave 1st..
Doug

I can tell you in the simple bracket class I race in, a lot of the cars are in the 5's now. Every year they get faster. The Mopar community needs blocks, available....I am pretty sure the build we have in our stock block is pretty much at the limit. I sure hope companies like KB can get it together, Indy figures out how to make a quality product, and World and Callies are in the picture along with Bulldog.

If we get all these companies with blocks on the shelf, life gets good, and maybe so does pricing...The only one with blocks available I know of is Ritter....I would be all over one of those, if there was a Hemi head option...So I am rooting for many of them, and as many know, its not easy to cast or machine a block. Heck there was even rumors of a new 392 G1 Hemi block, but even that has gone and dried up.

So I would like good news this year and less gloom and doom.

Trick Flow sells their 365 Chevy head for $1900 each and their dyno sheet for those heads shows 1071 hp. The BB Mopar 270 head is cheaper at $1400 but the 270 head only makes around 800 hp on a 13:1, solid roller, 505 bracket type engine. If there had been a steady supply of 4.500 bore Mopar blocks then there would probably be cylinder heads for Mopar engines that were optimized for the bigger bore size.

I've been helping some guys put together a BB Mopar that could make 1000 hp NA and it has been a struggle to find parts that will do it. It can be done but it costs a bunch more and it requires working with the right shop. If the Callies block is properly machined then that will be a big step forward. If the average machine shop can just finish hone it and assemble then that will be great. If it ends up being like some of the other stuff on the market then the average machine shop won't be able to make it right and that will put the Mopar guys behind even further.

Most Chevy setups in rails are not using 365 heads (they are actually running better stuff 450+cc). And they are running mid to low 7's at 2100-2300 lbs that ain't 1000hp, so dyno's beware.

For the brackets, put that 800hp 505 wedge in a Daytona (or any good Mopar body in the 22-2500lb range) and let the Chevy's leave first. Most of the Mopar stuff in the lanes still have factory glass,sheetmetal, sub frame connectors/cage ect., They aren't full effort chassis.

I'm with you on the 800hp 505 in the rail though, probably 7.90's best. But this is a 270 head not 572, or B1. Which I would compare to the 18* Chevy(or 20* stuff if you want to really spend some cash 5g's + for just the heads).

I believe it can/is being done (going mid to low 7's in a rail for pretty much the same money, less iron block $ difference) Mopar powered just not as common. Aluminum block is a wash.


My buddy has a Chevy aluminum block set up with 5.00 stroke. Now that block would be nearly 40% off at 4800$. It's all expensive.

Yep and we’ll wonder if we should stick with a stock port window too. The Chevy guys I know would buy these 5k blocks and put the biggest set of Hemi heads they could get on them if they were for Chevys. I’m with you, its expensive, but other than the block its all relatively similar. I’m hoping to save a couple bucks soon for a Callies block, but if its really about the money to some people they should probably be going to turbo builds anyway. If its about style suck it up and buy the block lf you can afford it. Aint nothing cooler than a Gen 2 Hemi and thats why most of us are Mopar guys.

If Trick Flow made a B/RB Mopar head comparable to that 365 Chevy head it wouldn’t sell. Everyone would come on here and ask about it and get told not to buy it because it won’t make power until 11,000 RPM and a block to build enough cubes to use it and not split costs too much. We’d tell them to go build a Big Block Chevy, then complain Mopar guys are cheap so we can’t get good parts.

Also, maybe I’m missing something but Edebrocks Victor Jrs for the G2 flow on par with those TF365s and cost less. Mopar guys do have options, blocks are becoming available and we’re tricking ourselves into not buying them after complaining for 10 years you can’t get blocks?

The $4800 is higher than I hoped, 4250 or less would have been really nice. But buy the things if you can, keep them making them and the price may come down. Buy the Hemi blocks and put huge Hemi heads on them and watch your Chevy friends look at your engine in envy of your huge valve covers. Even a Chevy guy will tell you, aint nothing cooler than a gen 2 Hemi.

Positive news of new Mopar blocks for sure.

The choice of an (Indy) $6,500 aluminum block and almost $5k for a (Callies) cast iron block, has me leaning toward aluminum.
I wish I still had my aluminum KB block from 2014. But it was sold with the car "turnkey".

I have a nice set of B1 original heads that could use a nice 4.500" aluminum block . . .

I have a good friend that is DIE HARD CHEVY! Well he helps a pro mod guy out which is Chevy bodied, but Hemi powered. And I swear deep inside he loves that engine the way he talks about it.

I also had to look up the Indy pricing......I was surprised to see that they are 6500$ ,but hey it is what it is, the BBC Brodix is 5500$ Dart small Ford is 6400$. So right there in the mix. When they were 4800$+ options they were the best deal out there for an aluminum block. When I got mine I don't think my Chevy buddies could get one for that kind of money.

Nothing changes here Hemis forever

What MOPAR "tech"??? The latest updates to the new W8 casting??? Nope......can't be that, there is no such thing as a new W8 casting. Maybe the cutting edge Gen 2 HEMI water head geared towards max N/A builds??? You know, something other than flat rectangular ports from the 60s??? Nope........not that, either.

I know......those readily avaliable engine blocks in multiple configurations.LOL

MOPAR "tech".........now THAT'S funny.

You know, good MOPAR tech:
906 vs 452
Dana 60 vs 8-3/4
590 vs mushroom cams
And let's not forget pinion angles

People that have a firm grasp on their Purple Shaft.

Funny thing about them 2nd gen HEMIs,,,,,,either you have one,,,,,,,or you want one!

Hey don’t be making fun of my profile picture. Lol.

Hemi guys.....Actually been wanting to new Hemi build, so I am looking for a block.

That's why there are more chevy racers than mopar ones. You can build a chevy for 1/2 the price of a mopar (though you wouldn't look cool though).

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say some folks commenting here have not ever built an all out Mopar piece, nor a BBC let alone both. The cost of the block is the only thing that is a tad more money the rest of the parts new are basically the same price. Switch to aluminum blocks and that narrows even more. The issue is going to be availability of the parts, vendors and the options one has. Having done both and owned both the ultimate power potential for the BBC is higher than an equivalent Mopar. But that has more to do with the potential bore size and stroke you can shove in a stock 4.84" BS Chevy VS a Mopar, and the options of available heads out there. You can get a stock bore space Chevy over 700", if you were so inclined and they actually have heads that can support that size engine and make power. Again the limitation is the available choices out there. I'm talking NA stuff of course, although the parts choices would also be true for serious nitrous guys I suspect.

Yes the price of the new Callies/Energy/MP block is more than double the Chevy block. Seems many here would complain if it were $3500, or even $3000. Seems to be a common issue with "mopar" guys, and yet they wonder why we don't have as many options as the other brands do. Yep its a stiff price tag. Hopefully the see some sales to make their investment worthwhile and maybe will offer more options and lower the price. I am skeptical that will happen as it has not in the past. Like Jim said for the price for me I would be inclined to go with aluminum but that's usually my direction now. I sold my last mega block in 2015 and have not looked back, well much anyway.

Hold on, lets stop the hp arms race, we know where that will end I believe these are targeted at the high end bracket engines, say a low 7 second rail for weekend big dollar brackets. 1000hp . I have never built a Mopar at that power level but have built 590" 9.800 deck, 636" 10.2 deck Chevys and someday will finish assembly on a 665" 10.72 deck Chevy. A 700+ " Chevy requires a 11.1 deck block. I don't think that would be cost effective at 1000hp. Just my 2 cents.

If you want to play be prepared to pay. Going fast cost big money in anything from an AMC to a chevy. I can’t tell you how many of my friends broke their Chevies last year. Many have two cars to keep going. Other beg, borrow, and steal cars to make the next big money event. You know the old story. Run 11’s pay me now. Run 9’s, 8’s, 7’s, keep on paying. I just finished up 5 years on an engine that can run 9.40’s and felt blessed it lasted that long. Reason number one is my class runs 1/8 mile at every track I race at. Reason number two, although I race a lot I don’t win a lot. Winning is hard on parts. Lol.

i have one on the shelf that says "IMPERIAL" i want to build someday, but i'm waiting for -itis to help me out footing the bill...................

You might be surprised at how much stroke you can stuff in a BBM soon.....A typical modern 235-242" 4 link car typically equipped these days are 1900-2000 is pounds plus or monus depending on the size of driver and equipment. 1000hp in a 2000lb car will get you 7.30's in an 1800lb car now you are running 7.0's but that would be a light 4 link car these days. But heavy for a non suspended car. Not many people run hardtails bracket racing anymore. But there are some. A good 565 will easily make 1000hp, we did one that runs 181 at 9.05 in vegas in a 2040lb American. Will run low 20's high teens in Vegas. Basically what out Mopar powered Racetech runs.

As for 700" plus as I said if one was so inclined. The point is you can buy a BBC from 9.0 deck to 11.2 if you were so inclined. Then you get into the 5",5.2" and 5.3" BS stuff which are purpose built race engines. A block from Donovan, with heads studs, will run you basically the cost of an Indy block. So I dont think including it in the discussion is out of line at all. Just my

Mopar guys are always accused of being cheap. But here are 2 big blocks that in my opinion have a smaller market than a BB Mopar. Both are less money. Now how can they do that? uhm?
Doug
460 Ford iron $2965
http://www.fordracingbyspeedshopdir...se_Bore_Wet_Sump_Block_p/M-6010-A460.htm
Pontiac Aluminum, $4495
https://butlerperformance.com/i-244...aluminum-block-std-deck-all-bpi-alb.html

Pontiac actually has more than one choice Kauffman makes a cast iron and aluminum block for them. Iron is $3195 aluminum is $4595. Butler does cast iron as well for $3495.

I hope Callies sells a fair number of the blocks and maybe reconsiders the price point. But for now it is what it is and if someone wants/needs one they now have the option.

This is what drives me crazy about Moparts and Mopar guys in general. I paid 4800.00 for an INDY MAXX block like 12-13 years ago ? Im far from rich, but can make some money at side jobs etc. IF you want to go fast, the block is the most money. YES everything else is pretty much the same, some thing here and there are more but hey, you want to play, you have to pay.....
Please enough already !!!

But yet they will spend 1000.00 to buy and machine a block for a girdle and fill it full of concrete. Lol.

The good thing is that now you can a least get a block. In the scheme of things block cost is a drop in the bucket. Add up the cost of the rest of a motor that will require a stronger block. Its the price we pay to be different.
Doug

do you suppose the chevy guys ever complain about the price of their parts!

[It was just announced that at the end of the three-day Engine Performance Expo, being held digitally, January 7-9, 2021, a complete LS short-block valued at over $10,000 will be given away at the end of the Expo to one of the show attendees]

Serious ?......can you really get a block?......i'v been on that train before and decided i what off. Seems they always talk but don't seem to walk

Kinda like the fancy Keith Black Racing Engines website that sells...wait for it... hats and t-shirts. No block to be seen.

Waiting 16 months for a block to put in my cuda was ridiculous. If not for Todd Marsh jumping in the azz of the people at KB I could still be waiting. Hopefully Callies will be different. In a yr or two I want to upgrade the engine in my wagon and the block from callies would fit the bill nicely.

Why aren’t these KB scammed guys buying Indy blocks ? They are out there and now the company is even better !

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I would like Todd to chime in on which block is best,KB supposed to be the king of the hill

I don't think the Indy aluminum wedge and hemi are as good and as strong as the KB are according to what others on here have posted
What say you and others that have used both?

Sure a lot
Of people
Say KB is the best .......AND they don’t race for years ! If I waited for KB I’d still be not racing . Hmmmm it’s only the best if it’s out there and available . Otherwise it’s a bunch of bull$hit

Sure KB is the best one you can buy ..... you just can’t get one !

^^^This was my thought^^^

N20mstr.....i no you've been pretty fast on a Indy block, but how much HP have you push though a Indy and what weigh?

Didn't Indy new owners make changes to there new blocks? Could have sworn i read that somewhere before.

I hate them all equally..........just kidding. I have built all three Indy, KB and World Products aluminum and honestly they all work. I believe the KB is the best design but Lord knows when it will come. I liked the iron World Block to and it stands to reason the Callies blocks will be fine. Just build the damn things already. Todd

141 in the 1/8 at 3050lbs
It did make 915 on the Dyno and we put 500? approx on top of that.
I can understand that people did not get good customer service from Indy in the past. BUT you cant dispute the products are pretty good. There are plenty of Indy Blocks out there performing pretty well. It just blows my mind that people complain about no blocks availible, however if they bought Indy blocks they would be racing......and maybe just maybe the prices would come down or at least stabilize.

There was a period of time in the not to distant past when NO blocks were available from anyone! Thankfully new ownership stepped up at Indy and got the ball rolling again. I was caught in the vortex of no blocks when we needed one for the dragster and another build, after waiting for 8 months or so I bought a used engine just so I could get the kid out racing again. After fresheneing it up and making some changes it works fine, Indy block and all. The second block arrived from Indy I think 8-9 months after it was ordered. Thankfully we are back to a more steady supply of those, hopefully the new iron block will be the same eventually. Where when a guy needs one he can get one.

BTW yes Chevy owners complain all the time about the cost of parts. Even the run of the mill SB Chebbie guys do and their stuff should be carried at Dollar Tree. Oh yeah of late they even have lead times for parts on some stuff...

Well it is mana from above today here. Just got the tracking on 1 Callies hemi block and 2 aluminum World Products wedge blocks.......I will keep all posted when they arrive as to what I find in the boxes

Yey😀

We had trouble with the machining on the Indy block. It was pretty bad. Cylinders were .011 out of round and had .01 taper. Sleeves are thin too. Not to mention #5 cam bearing bore was way over sized and hemoraging oil on one side.

We have had pretty good luck on the World Cast Iron blocks as long as they don't drill the head deck holes into the water jackets. I hate that and there is no need to do that. Buddy of mine with the aluminum version is having trouble after two years with it in his car. Sleeve moved up and is letting water in....Doesn't sound like a cheap fix.

Wanted a KB, called many times with money in hand, and they never have a block. Called Bulldog and he had some coming, almost bought one until I talked with Barton....

So we built a stock block with concrete in it and a girdle, and we will rotate the world with that one....I do want another aftermarket block, but...I have trust issues.

I'm assuming this block was ordered with the bores unfinished? Meaning the sleeves were installed and the inside diameter dimensions were the result of the press fit? I can't imagine a boring bar making a hole .011 out of round.
You frequently mention aftermarket blocks having no availability, I have heard very few incidents (maybe 1) of Indy having issues with reasonable delivery times.
Don't you own or work in a race engine shop? Order an Indy block with no finish machine work done, line bore and hone your mains, line bore your cam tunnel, cut your decks, bore and torque plate hone your cylinders, address the oil drainback shortcomings and be on your way, not all that much more work than prepping an old iron block.

I guess it is ancient history now, but 08 to '13 I would post every couple months on how things were going with blocks.
(Small blocks too).

Alot of times there would be a half dozen to dozen or so in stock, and they would usually just sit there for weeks (if not months).

I'd get PMs from people "Hey do you mean chrysler actually has these on hand?" And I'd answer "Yes, there are 6 of them in PDC inventory
right now. You can literally walk into a dealership and buy 6 of these today"

They would all sit there for what seemed like a long time....Eventually they would all sell, but not super quickly.
Certainly nothing like any part you could name for an LS.

just my humble opinon...but it seems like having the magic combination of eager customers with funds available and the parts available at the same time
has always been an issue. When parts are available, alot of times either folks don't have the money or don't want to take the big leap of faith.
There is usually some kind of a wait involved for one, or the other to come around to where it needs to be.
Alot of times, basic Human nature works against our own goals/we are our own worst enemy.

Well the first Callies hemi block just arrived with a BIG blue M on the box and a Mopar part number. Interesting.
Todd

Maybe it appears similar to this?:

Or they walked into their dealer and got the we haven't had those for years response from some barely functional parts dept dweeb...

Kevin

Maybe something like that. I bought my block from the local Dodge dealer in 2007 and while the parts guy knew about the blocks he had never sold one. He checked for me and there was one in stock so he ordered it. Showed up a few days later, freight was free since it was a warehouse to dealer thing. If I had known then what I know now I would've bought 2 or 3 of them. That was a great block.

I was on the hunt for an aftermarket block for close to 4 years. Because I’m from Canada I was looking to find something already on my side of the border. Not an easy task. And when you do find, not cheap either.
I first found an old World aluminum that had never been built before. It is still currently at the machine shop and I hope to have it on the dyno by March this year.
I know it took lots of machine work to make correct. It was very rough but fixable according to the machine shop.
A few months later I fell into an Indy block. A fully assembled motor that I scooped up.
Since I already was quite deep into the World block project, I decided to sell the Indy.
A fellow racer offered me enough $ to part with it. Hope in the long run I didn’t make a mistake.
Figured that the World should last a very long time and that if I am ever in need do the road, hopefully the supply of either KB, BMP or Indy is more available than it is now.
With Callies in the mix now as well. That is a good thing.

But I want to see an actual constant supply rather than the hit and miss that has been happening for a very long time.

If I remember right, 20 years ago the new iron Mopar Hemi blocks were selling for $2,800 to $3,200. So adjusting for 20 years of inflation, $4,800 for the Callie's block is very comparable.

I'm just glad that a block is available, I'm not going to b**** about the price. If I don't want it I don't have to buy it.

I see similarly themed responses when people talk about race blocks for the small block crowd, despite the fact you've got more options to choose from. The price is steep for sure, but the ROI is going to be much, much, much longer than something like a GM or Ford offering.

If a customer can provide a part number, even a "first day on the job" rookie counterman is usually trained to punch it into Dealer Connect, which shows pdc stock nationwide.

TBH most Dealer Countermen are not very aware of parts like that, at all, because there
is no reason for them to care much. They are too busy repairing regular everyday vehicles, where the majority of their income lies.

(Not coincidentally, Dealer Connect was also the same system I used, because I got no training on the internal green screens, RUMBA, CLIMS and all that.
which was infuriating. I could fumble around and get lost on the internal screens but in that world I was less than barely functional myself).

Alot of folks would order from Jegs/Summit/places like that, which was interesting because the sales rep had no access to Dealer Connect, only
Purchasing folks had that access. So alot of times, they would sit on the order for 3-4 weeks until Purchasing got around to looking at it.
Then after paying retail + tax, they paid extra for truck freight shipping......Wheras the Dealership charged nothing for shipping as long as you
come pick it up at the dealer.

Seems like anyone who sells Callies should be able to get it which is cool, but not sure if Mopar is out of the loop from a distribution standpoint....
I'm assuming that is probably the case, in spite of the number on the package.

I know that's how it should work but with a few exceptions my experience with most service providers anymore is along the lines of How may I not be of assistance today?

Kevin

I got my new Callies RB block on Friday. Very happy, looks like a nice piece.

That does look beefy. Hopefully it was all properly machined and will go together nice for you. I had an original Mopar block that I bought over the counter back in 2007 that was great. I ran it for years and it worked perfect. Still running these days in a Mopar members car.

That block looks a lot like the last World cast iron block I bought and built

That was my thought , looks just like my World block

Tex

Beautiful

It looks like a world block because it is.
It's the same (Chrysler's property) tooling, and the same foundry.

It has the last Mopar Engineering Rev on the exterior (Engineer removed a very deep "ditch cut" in front of the motor mount around 2009/2010,
the original purpose of it was to create bolt head clearance for motor mount bolts).

Check the rear main seal retainer also...one of the last changes Brian made was he had the seal retainer doweled.
That happened in the 2012-2013 range. It'd be interesting to know if that revision was also provided to Callies/Energy as part of the licensing deal, and whether they decided to incorporate it.

The picture might have an illusion because of glare, or similar...I'm looking for the upper row of head bolts and can't see them.
I probably just need new glasses. Another thing, it has Hemi oil drain back holes and it really shouldn't. I hope they're only partially drilled.

Looks like a nice block
How long of a wait time to get it?

Uuuuuhhhh.........

I’m also wondering how deep those hemi head oil drain back holes go(and why they’re there at all).

We both did a quick edit there

How much does the Iron wedge block weigh?? Its not 300# is it??

The World blocks were over 300#....... I can’t see these being any lighter.

I've weigh several 440 with no the cam bearings, oil galley plugs and clean up some by hot tanking that still had some rust in the water passages, they all weighed between 215 to 225 lbs. on a 1000 Lb. certified warehouse platform scale
On the same scales a 4.495 rough bore World wedge block weighed right at 320 Lbs. bare with no plugs or cam bearings
I have 4.95 rough bore Koleno high nickel cast iron and Bulldog cast grey iron block that I haven't weigh yet so it will be interesting to see which one weighs the most

Poster with the block. You need to call Callies. No top row of bolt holes in the block pictured. Call me if I can help.
Todd

Oil drainback holes are there too, and shouldn't be.

A song comes to mind:

Yes the drain backs are clearly a hemi thing but I am not sure if it matters. I have seen some of the earlier Mopar wedge blocks with drain holes. Does not seem to hurt anything. I remember one vividly as it had a machine tool broke off in it!!! ON a wedge no worries on a hemi big problem.
Todd

Zipster, do you think the price will come down? Or the quality go up?

Your guess is as good as mine, Joel!

Callies has a good reputation for quality... I'd think they'd take care of these "minor issues"
and leave the price where it is.

What is the price on these Callies? And do they make it in the short decks?

The block was $4800 plus shipping and tax.

Yep, the top row of head bolts were not drilled and tapped. Have to call and get this resolved.
Thanks for the heads up on the hemi oil drain back holes. I had no idea what they were there for. Not sure why they put them on an RB. They are drilled straight through to the sump and are not covered by the head.

Ship weight was 340# so around 320 sounds right for the block.

Yes, the rear main has alignment dowels installed.

Sorry if I was unclear, the dowel revision was actually in the seal retainer.
All 5 main caps were doweled from day one, but the seal retainer was only doweled towards the end of Chrysler's engineering involvement
with the product.

The head bolts and drainbacks are just errors.
I know I speak for many here when I say, if you'd take the time
to report how they take care of you, we'd sure be interested to know.

Best of luck to you.

I guess how this “should” be taken care of will differ depending on who you ask.

Imo, how it should be handled is a call tag is sent to pick up the block, and a “non-defective” unit should show up as it’s replacement.
I look at the hemi oil drain holes there as something that would classify that one as a “blem”...... which would be sold as such, at a discounted price, with the buyer aware of it......... and that’s after the head bolt hole situation has been rectified.

Callies is aware of the problem, however they just found out like today. I am sure that steps will be taken to resolve the problem quickly.

Yes, the rear main seal retainer has dowels. I forgot to type the word seal

Someone at the factory got their CNC machining programs mixed up between Hemi and Wedge. They'll need to inspect all the blocks on the floor to figure out when the program got mixed up and how many blocks were made wrong. Hate to see stuff like that get out the door. Costs 10x as much to fix once the parts leave the dock.

We all make mistakes but it's nice to know there's no quality control whatsoever. How does the QC man sleep at night? His services are worth nowhere near minimum wage.

What else is different between a HEMI and wedge block? Other than upper head bolts and the oil drain? Could this block just get the HEMI upper bolt position drilled and be used as a HEMI block?

Costs 10x as much to fix once the parts leave the CNC machine. Once it's moved off the setup, it takes some work to get it dialed in again. They should rebate some of the cost of the block to compensate, say half price?

It would be better to have them send another block.

Not sure about the motor mounts. They would need to drill and tap the Hemi mounts and maybe machine off the ears? I'm not sure what the process is for these blocks. In any case, if the buyer thought he was buying a wedge block and it was sold as a wedge block then someone at the factory messed up. They either pulled the wrong block off the line or something else went wrong. I'm sure they'll figure it out but it is a bad start.

For whatever reason, there seems to be a lot of drama with anything to do with replacement blocks for BB/Hemi Mopars.

You are so right

The Hemi block has eight steam holes near the lower head bolt holes. The wedge block does not have these steam holes. The block pictured above is correct for a wedge block and does not have the Hemi steam holes.

The wedge industrial blocks had these steam holes.

Do you have a picture of the steam holes? I've not seen them before.

I've got one.

Does anyone really think they didn't know about the problems?
The decisions is made:
"Will it hurt sales to admit that there are problems?"
"Yes"
"STFU"

Thanks

The later stock 440 blocks had the steam holes, especially the 440-3 motor home and truck blocks

Every wedge block that I saw with steam holes had only four per side, not eight like the Hemi. In 1985 or 1986, Chrysler had a blow out sale on B and RB parts. I ordered and bought a RB block from the local Dodge dealer. It has a 1978 casting date and it has four steam holes per side. It came with either a 4.19 or 4.25 bore, I can't remember. I used that block in my race car in the late 1980's to mid 1990's. I still have that block in storage.

I also bought a B block. It has a 1977 casting date and has four steam holes per side. It has a 4.12 bore. I still have that block in storage and it is new.

Seams like this subject comes up all the time. I bought one of those long block 440s in that sale too. It was a motor home block cast in 78. It had the steam holes just like the one in the picture and there was two per cly. or eight per side. I had a bud that had one he bought from a wrecking yard that had the same holes. We both tried using them for street cars in the eighties with 906 heads and they would not keep cool in the Texas summer heat. I gave up and replaced mine with the original 400 back in the truck and sold it. He reblocked his with a 71 block and cured his problems. He gave me that block last year and I gave it away. I still have the other but it’s got a set of motor home 452 heads on it right now with the matching steam holes. They use the small tapered seat spark plugs. Look on any new 440 head gasket and they have eight holes per side to match. I’ll have to look at my world hemi block to see if it’s got those holes.

Poster---Did Callies correct the problem with your block?

Maybe his last job was as a weatherman?

John Ah Ah!!

anything yet? It's been a minute. Sure hope they did something.

Interesting. I was looking today at a Bulldog iron wedge block and it has the steam holes in it. Todd

Did they take care of the defective block yet?

Hope the hemi oil drain back holes are not drill all the way,most wedge heads do not completely cover the hole and if they are drilled all the way oil can spray out at high rpms

I am curious to know if these issues were ever fixed, or what did Callies do?

Yes but were you able to get water out of the head?

Joe

It’s been over 3 months since the discovery of the mis-machined Callie’s wedge block was revealed.

Any positive updates to report?

I have 5 hemi blocks that seem to be ok. I was at Callies back in July and they had a minimum of about 100 to 120 boxed and ready for shipment. I asked about the wedge bolt hole deal and they said it was resolved but I do not know what was done about the OP here.
Todd

https://www.enginelabs.com/news/mopar-power-callies-offers-a-full-line-of-mopar-engine-parts/