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best 331 shortblock to get

  • Thread starter Thread starter jstang1124
  • Start date Start date Mar 4, 2011
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jstang1124

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#1
  • Mar 4, 2011
  • #1
hey guys i just recently split my block right down the middle like they say will happen (412hp at the wheels), so now its time to upgrade, im looking at the dss 331 with the level 20 block and main girdle is there any other places i should look price range for shortblock is around 2500-3000. thanks fellas!
 

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl
15 Year Member
Mar 4, 2003
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Mar 4, 2011
#2
  • Mar 4, 2011
  • #2
Any stock-based block is eventually going to have the same fate at those power levels and above. You should consider a Boss, R, or Dart block as the basis for a stronger foundation for your build.
 

Kdubslugga

Active Member
Jun 7, 2003
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Mar 4, 2011
#3
  • Mar 4, 2011
  • #3
A DSS block is essentially a beefened up stock block. At 412 rwhoyour block should not have split. Im at 510 on a DSS Pro Bullet Level 10 block running a very safe tune. Im very happy so far with my DSS stock based block. But i myself am already considering a r302 block,or even a Dart. Simply because 510 is not enough. So just dont buy a DSS block thinking its unbreabable, they do have there limits which is much lower than that of a Ford Racing Block. If your looking at 2500 ish to 3000 get the Ford Racing block for 1200 bucks. Its rated at 1200 Horse
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
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#4
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #4
I have never heard of a split block at that power level.

Anyway, as fancy and dressed up as they may be, a DSS using a stock block is still just a stock block. If your power level is going to stay at 500rwhp or less, and you're going to keep the RPM under 7k, then just use another stocker. If you're going for more, I recommend Dart. Neither the Iron Eagle or the Dart Sportsman is ever going to break at anything you can throw at it.
 

2000xp8

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#5
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #5
Kdubslugga said:
If your looking at 2500 ish to 3000 get the Ford Racing block for 1200 bucks. Its rated at 1200 Horse
Click to expand...

Where do you see the boss block for $1200?

As far as block splitting, it happens from 400rwhp-500rwhp, you just need the wrong things to happen at the right time.

There is no strengthening of the stock block that works, other than filling it.
You just can't add strength by bolting stuff to it.
It's like subframe connectors, they would never last bolted on.

I personally prefer ford racing engines and those built by local machine shop guys that can be trusted.

Mail order can be a risky game on something so expensive and temperamental.

It's a shame that ford racing doesn't make the B block 347 anymore, ya it had hypers and couldn't support more than 500rwhp, but it was $2300 dollars and was a great stock block replacement.
 
B

bgoins

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#6
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #6
Dart SHP bought either directly from dart or from fordstrokers.com
 

FastDriver

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#7
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #7
2000xp8 said:
As far as block splitting, it happens from 400rwhp-500rwhp, you just need the wrong things to happen at the right time.
Click to expand...

really? I've just never seen it. I have seen a couple of guys pushing over 600rwhp and one had stock internals

Another guy I knew claimed to make almost 1000rwhp through a Ford Sportsman block. Not sure I believe him, though. However, it did blow up after a couple of times at the track, so who knows? Maybe it's possible.
 

Kdubslugga

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Jun 7, 2003
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Mar 5, 2011
#8
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #8
2000xp8 said:
Where do you see the boss block for $1200?

As far as block splitting, it happens from 400rwhp-500rwhp, you just need the wrong things to happen at the right time.

There is no strengthening of the stock block that works, other than filling it.
You just can't add strength by bolting stuff to it.
It's like subframe connectors, they would never last bolted on.

I personally prefer ford racing engines and those built by local machine shop guys that can be trusted.

Mail order can be a risky game on something so expensive and temperamental.

It's a shame that ford racing doesn't make the B block 347 anymore, ya it had hypers and couldn't support more than 500rwhp, but it was $2300 dollars and was a great stock block replacement.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats was a typo, $1600 dollars rated at 1200 horse. My bad
 

2000xp8

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#9
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #9
Kdubslugga said:
Yeah thats was a typo, $1600 dollars rated at 1200 horse. My bad
Click to expand...

Ya, that's ok, you just saved me buying something for $1200 that i don't even need, lol.
 

gt40_2003wes

I did sound a wee bit gay there.
Aug 14, 2005
461
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ky
Mar 5, 2011
#10
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #10
400 rwhp is plenty enough power to split a stock block and i would imagine if he is running a 331 at 412 rwhp then he was spinning it right to or past 7k which that in its self is enough to destroy a stock block after some time.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
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#11
  • Mar 5, 2011
  • #11
Really? 400rwhp is plenty to split a block? So you've seen blocks split with 3xx rwhp? I think this is getting a bit ridiculous. SBF 302s are not stout, but they're not junk.

Also, I made 420rwhp without spinning my motor above 5500rpm and it was just a 302, not a 331.

Chris
 

Kdubslugga

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Mar 6, 2011
#12
  • Mar 6, 2011
  • #12
If your spliting your block at 400 rwhp something was way off!
 

2000xp8

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#13
  • Mar 6, 2011
  • #13
gt40_2003wes said:
7k which that in its self is enough to destroy a stock block after some time.
Click to expand...

I've been saying that it's a bad idea to do high rpm with a stock block for years. So many here insist on still attempting it or suggesting others do it.
Which is kinda funny since the guys say they are building those engines seem too disappear forever.

It can work for a race car that just sees strip passes, but in a street car those engines come apart.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
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#14
  • Mar 6, 2011
  • #14
Yeah, but at least one guy had a pretty impressive run. Ever checked out Marc Arnold's 93 cobra? google it
 

gt40_2003wes

I did sound a wee bit gay there.
Aug 14, 2005
461
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48
ky
Mar 6, 2011
#15
  • Mar 6, 2011
  • #15
FastDriver said:
Really? 400rwhp is plenty to split a block? So you've seen blocks split with 3xx rwhp? I think this is getting a bit ridiculous. SBF 302s are not stout, but they're not junk.

Also, I made 420rwhp without spinning my motor above 5500rpm and it was just a 302, not a 331.

Chris
Click to expand...

im talking NA not power adder and yes there have been 3xx rwhp 302's come apart when u try to rev them to 8 grand it tends to happen. im not saying don't run 4-500 rwhp in a stock block im just saying if it comes apart don't be overly surprised.
 
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chuckstrobeck

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Nov 15, 2009
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#16
  • Mar 6, 2011
  • #16
I was making 430 rwhp in mine when i split the block, im also looking into a dar 347 atm
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
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#17
  • Mar 7, 2011
  • #17
I didn't see anything that said he was n/a. Honestly, if I was running anything less than 500rwhp, I would be surprised if it split. Revving to the moon is another story, but honestly, a lot of other bad stuff usually happens to the internals in a stock block first.
 

89stang1

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#18
  • Mar 7, 2011
  • #18
im around 400rwhp NA shifting at 5500rpms.........12,000 miles running great
 

gt40_2003wes

I did sound a wee bit gay there.
Aug 14, 2005
461
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ky
Mar 7, 2011
#19
  • Mar 7, 2011
  • #19
89stang1 said:
im around 400rwhp NA shifting at 5500rpms.........12,000 miles running great
Click to expand...

ur making 400 rwhp at 5500 rpm's? NA? u got a dyno graph to support that?

and like i said im not saying that u can't run 400 or 500 rwhp but they do break in those horsepower levels it's a fact.
 

89stang1

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#20
  • Mar 7, 2011
  • #20
gt40_2003wes said:
ur making 400 rwhp at 5500 rpm's? NA? u got a dyno graph to support that?

and like i said im not saying that u can't run 400 or 500 rwhp but they do break in those horsepower levels it's a fact.
Click to expand...


364rwhp 385rwt w/c....... the car made 382rwhp 402rwt 5400rpms before correction on a mustang dyno we all know dynojet would be more .......close enough?
 
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