For the people that have gone old school to new school

First off, I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

I have come to a crossroad here that I am having some challenges with. I currently have a 400/500 230 thick main engine with SR's, and roller valvetrain. Recently, I tok it apart and noticed the cylinder walls scored pretty bad. If the block doesn't sonic check, do I continue down the B block road, or sell all the BB stuff and head Gen 3. I have a line on a 6.4 SRT motor and trans right now. It's just going down a completely new road. Anyone here ever been in this situation??

Well it would be definitely cheaper to fix your block or get another block.
Going the G3 route is going to cost some coin initially. But the perks are that they are plentiful and can make some serious steam for less.
Not in your case though.
Matt

Gen 3 all the way!
No leaks haha!

I bet there's someone out there who'd buy that block and at least some of the parts, giving you a nestegg for that GIII project. There aren't that many of those blocks out there.

I'm thinking the block has already been bored to 4.375 which doesn't leave you much meat. The scored cylinder(s) would be sleeved.

Tough choice!

R.

It's a wash in the end if you get decent money out of the BB stuff. I had a BB before Gen III to. Power wise it's a wash but 700hp BB vs 700hp Gen III the Gen III does it with a no maintenance juice stock lifter,stock rockers and factory heads. Ito also lighter and uses less fuel doing it.

I sure wish guys would ring out the combos they have BEFORE they jump to the next one. If this is your combo (72 Dart 500" low deck Indy SR heads. 10.66 @124 best so far) there is sooooo much left to get out of it. That combo (a 500 with Sr Indy heads) will easily run 9's. And by that I mean low 9's.

Thanks for the feedback. It is my current combo. That is why it's a hard call for me. If the block is able to be salvaged, I'll continue down this road. It would be nice to get in the car and be able to drive it to the track and back and not worry about it. I think that is what is drawing me to the new stuff.

You will lose at least .50 on the dollars selling your stuff only to pay FULL price to upgrade only to run slower if your combo was worked out. That would kinda piss me off if it happened to me so I try to max out my efforts.

I agree with PittRacer to a point. Not sure how heavy your car is but your combo should be easy 680+ hp. My 493 ran 9.70 at 140 with 3.55 gears for highway driving and I was around 3300 lbs.

When i made the switch I was actually able to sell my BB that really needed a refresh for more $$$ than the g3 but i got good deals. Sold my used bb headers for 600, bought tti g3 for 700. Etc.

I did not expect my G3 build to make as much power as my BB and it doesn't. But if you have ever drivin your hot rod 400 miles in a day, that solid roller valve train can get scary loud. The G3 seems much more docile yet with the exhaust on the car, it runs nearly the same ET. A nice quiter exhaust can really kill a BB in my opinion compared to smaller engine.

Time to sonic check that block if you haven't already. A 4.400 piston might work if there is enough meat in the cylinders, or even a slight overbore (hone)of .003 and new pistons which could be ordered with coated skirts for better life and a touch more power. If the scoring is only in a couple of cylinders, sleeving them is possible. Looking for anoth block might require a lot of searching, so don't give up on your current one so quickly.

A custom piston can be made to any diameter. So just get the cylinder walls straight and start measuring.

R.

Is it one cylinder or all the cylinders? I had an issue with cylinder #7 in my 400/500" stroker and had the cylinder sleeved.

I'm new to the Gen III, just bought a 6.1L with the NAG1, but I don't know what it takes to get 700+ HP from one? It just seems to be a less expensive way to go EFI with A/C and serpentine belt drive, with OD trans, than upgrading all that stuff on a big block?
Got the 6.1 Engine/trans complete with harness and computer for $4K, but need to do the electronics upgrades to work with the old car.

The 3,5,7 cylinders are scored. Waiting to hear back from machinist with sonic numbers. I'm hoping it checks out ok. I have a buddy that has a 6.4 top to bottom with trans for sale.