aluminum wedge block ( RB)

Hi folks, Been a while since i posted here, had to have emergency lung surgery from a drs mistake , 13 days in icu and 4 weeks of being chained up at home, and i don't even like television!
But, im back at work now and, back here needing help.
We ordered a Bill Mitchell aluminum block 6 months ago, my buddy ordered it from Bill instead of Todd Marsh or Best and, well, you guys know the rest of the story and, NO, i'm not busting Bill's chops, i understand what he has to do and, the dealers simply must come first.
However, we are running out of time, heads are at Dwayne's , new rockers ordered etc and, we are still in the loop of "blems ate up too many blocks, maybe next month. I get it, again, this post is saying Nothing negative about Bill Mitchell , its just business.

So, does anyone on here have a aluminum RB block they want to sell? Trying to build a 540, know anyone that wants to sell one?

If so, please hit me up.

Thanks so much as usual.
Praying everyone has a wonderful Christmas.


P.S. if Santa brings you one too many engine blocks, please let me know! grin

I don't mean to speak for Todd, but it is my understanding that he didn't get as many BMP blocks as he expected during the last delivery.
My new B1 motor has a BMP block from Todd (I got it in April), and I put my name on Todd's list for another block during the summer (I was thinking get them while I can), and that block has not arrived yet.
The next block is to put my existing recip assembly into (from my Daytona). Currently an old Chrysler factory block from the 1970's

Good luck. All parts are harder than ever to get.

I bought my BMP RB 4.49 bore block through my builder/dealer, and because of my situation with tight finances, and thanks to our prior business experience and his consideration, I just got mine paid for, so as much as I'd like to help, I'm not really the only one who worked towards making it happen.
I did have a question regarding the displacement you chose, as mine will be a 541 (4.25 stroke x 4.50 bore) AndyF concurred, and I guess that should be all I need to know, but I was looking at piston speed and a modest HP (6XX) and torque (700) goals, and figured that even though it will take a 4.50 stroke without clearancing, I'd be better off at 541. I'm feeding it with a 6bbl too, so there's that.
Why are you going with the 541 displacement?

Don't shoot me for mentioning this, but you can build a 543 out of a 440 and maybe make do for a while. With a girdle they hold up nicely if you keep the rpm in check.

Keep repeating that if it makes you feel better, but that girdle plate does not hurt anything, nor does it help anything.
Feel free to post a FEA simulations to make me see the advantage they provide.

Can you post FEA simulations that show they don't help?

I'm not sold on girdles either way, but you can't call out someone like that if you can't back up your side of the argument.

Your correct Jim. Sometimes its simply a matter of how many clear the machining process, thats where any blems show up and he won't allow those out so, that cuts into how many blocks he gets.

We have the same stroke your looking to build, have run it for years with no issues. We just need a bit more power so, bit more bore size, new cam, Dwayne doing some head work and we should get what we need. You wont have any piston speed issues to worry about , we have turned this one 7200 many times with no issues.
Bearings we just took out after 3 years still look new and crank journals look like mirrors , rod bearings all looked good as well. I wouldn't worry about piston speed on your build.

We may have no choice Dragula, really hate to do the Callies block, though it would meed our needs. I just did all the calculations/planning based on the weight loss on the nose with the BMP block.
So, may have to change plans. Don't know how long a stock block will last at 775 to 800 hp, we were at 720 with this block, yes, we use girdles.

Not to hijack, so I'll be brief. I'm assuming the quoted is referring to the 541 bore/stroke 4.50/4.25 combo. If so, that's a great report. I was curious why the OP was choosing that displacement.
As far as a factory block w/a girdle, I believe the BCR cap and girdle system is the best design, and was going to use that, BUT I figured why push towards the limit of a factory block, especially since I'm probably only going to get ONE shot at building a stroker. With the BMP block and my modest power expectations, I don't think I will ever worry about the block, or anything else breaking from being too close to its performance limits, and that peace of mind is invaluable at this point.

Using a bigger bore than stroke to make a certain C.I. is way better plan to make more power than using a smaller bore with longer stroke to make the same C.I. in a drag race motor
Look at Pro Stock and check out what bore and stroke they have used for years on an unlimited racing budget to go as fast as they can

brand new one on face book for sale $ 5,900

Why would I post FEA simulations? We have this same setup still running and racing in the same cars since 2010? Thousands of passes on them. And even if I did have data like that, people like you still would not believe it anyways.And you can't prove it does anything but add weight, so to each there own, but I have seen a lot of +.030 440's blow up at the drags that didn't have a big arm in them and no girdle. SO in my mind, we have the data, even if its not in the form you require.,

Just bought it Fish, thanks so much.

Update : We have a new BMP block!! A very nice guy on facebook , who ordered one in fall of 2020 and got it this year put it up for sale as he picked up a built 605 with world block and is happy with his set up.
So, Christmas complete on the block. Now its getting bearings, pistons/rings, machine work and built.
Thanks to everyone.

Question: i see differing comments on compression loss with aluminum blocks : Is that a real issue at 775-800 hp range or just for more intensive combos. Yes we will hone with plate/correctly etc .
Secondly, using race fuels ( C12) anyone know what temp range is best target ?

Thanks in advance.

I see Bill posted yesterday on Facebook that he just received a bunch of wedge blocks into stock

Weighing in on the girdle thing with my experience.
In 2003 I dynoed a megablock 4.15 stroke 4.50 bore 528 cube motor. Made 847 hp injected on methanol . I noticed cap walk on a crossbolted megablock, Max rpm was 7400. Bob weight 2432. I put a girdle on it. Didn't take away the cap walk issue. During this time we found a minor cracking the crank by #6.
I bought a rather expensive center weighted crank from Crower and took the girdle off. The C. W. Crank eliminated about 90 percent of the cap walk. I finally needed a little cleanup and align hone in 2019.
So IMHO the girdle basically can force a large portion of any movement into a vertical motion, which may help a little. BUT THERE IS NO TRIANGULATION to stop that vertical stress completely. So end result? IMHO they may be of some benefit, but not enough for a lot of stressfully builds.
Properly done, an add on girdle would be 3 inch or more tall, or thick, if that is how you would view it. That would require a rather short oil pan, like a dragster 10 qt . The big deal about it being so tall is it would now be so rigid it could transfer stress to the pan rails in all directions, not just lateral.