Block Material.

[ThePumpkin]

Pretty soon Im going to need a new block.
Don't worry about why Just believe me... :Zip2:

I've done a little research on the materials of possible blocks I want to buy.
Im going to stick with the 8.2" 302 block because it fits directly in the 5.0 stang.

What material is the strongest? It seems that cast iron is the strongest, but I've read a bunch of reviews saying a large variety of answers on all the possible materials.. and Im still unclear as to what I want.

I need a block thats good for 800+hp.
I am also undecided on a brand/make...


so I need a material and a brand.

What do you guys recommend?


Thanks in advance.

 

[strtrcr50]

If you're not going for a huge stroke, the ford boss block will work well. Dart SHP block will keep the cost down and should be good for the hp you are planning too if it's been released and shipping?

 

[Dark Knight]

What other materials are you thinking of besides cast iron and aluminum?

 

[90lxcoupe]

sounds like your ready to spend some serious money...

buying a dart 8.2 deck or a 9.5 your going to spend the same cash. id say 90% of people that build a 8.2 deck motor with a 4 bolt block wishes they built a 408 for the same ammount of cash... including myself.

all of the accesories bolt up, and if you build the motor right, you wont be using any parts from your old setup, so why not build a big inch small block, there's no replacement for displacement

 

[ThePumpkin]

What about old 302 blocks?
I've heard that old 351 blocks are good for 650hp+.
I want to stay with the 302 for several reasons. The compression ratio is good for some serious boost. I don't want to be bending rods here. ALSO, I want the block to be for 800+... that doesn't mean im gonna be running that much power. I imagine 700rwhp is a goal for me.
A 400+ cubic inch block with big boost will be too much for me.

 

[90lxcoupe]

What about old 302 blocks?
I've heard that old 351 blocks are good for 650hp+.
I want to stay with the 302 for several reasons. The compression ratio is good for some serious boost. I don't want to be bending rods here. ALSO, I want the block to be for 800+... that doesn't mean im gonna be running that much power. I imagine 700rwhp is a goal for me.
A 400+ cubic inch block with big boost will be too much for me.

you wont find any 302 block that will be reliable at 700 rwhp, mabye a mexican block, but if you sneeze or fart you may split the block.

And i dont know if anyone told you, but the 302 blocks dont have a set compression ratio. your pistons and combustion chambers determine that.

a 400+ inch motor with big boost will be too much for you, thats correct, but a big inch motor with big boost will make over 1000 hp pretty easily, on the other hand a 400+inch motor with 10psi will make your target HP levels all day long. not even breathing hard.

A 8.2 deck is gonna be way more stressed at that power level, with the boost needed to reach your goal

 

[ThePumpkin]

I realize, maybe I should have said it differently. I want a stock compression ratio 9.1-1? or something close to that. Anything bigger is not high boost friendly.

So what would you recommend? 408 and what size deck?

If you had to build an engine for a lot of boost, what would you do?

 

[NIKwoaC]

If you had to build an engine for a lot of boost, what would you do?

I recommend you buy a book about building Ford small blocks and start reading. The best thing to do is educate yourself before you take the plunge on something like this, and its going to be hard to extract all the knowledge necessary from the 5% of people on StangNet who actually know what they are talking about when it comes to building a motor (that's not an attack on anybody in this thread, I know in particular that 90lxcoupe has a pretty bad ass built motor in his car). Also, talking to an engine builder is a good start, too.

Once you're good and ready, Dart seems to make a good block that a lot of people around here use. The Boss 302 is gaining popularity, and I've heard that FRPP is coming out with a 351 Boss block. Both Boss blocks are supposed to support more than 1000 HP. Like said above though, you'll be much better off starting with a bigger motor, or at least, to an extent. 700 RWHP is easily attainable even with something as small as a 331, but you'll have to throw more psi at it. FastDriver, a Mod on here, has a turbo 331 that makes power in that range.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Im not looking to build an engine. I just want a stronger block...
I will not have a problem boosting the block to 700hp... just believe me on that one.
I just want a stronger block, and a 4 bolt main. not 2.
I've found that the old Boss 302 blocks are pretty strong, but they only made 10,000 so they're pretty hard to find and EXPENSIVE!
Also, ford racing reproduces boss blocks. Its part number FMS-M6010BOSS302 and they go for $1800 for the block. I'm just unsure about what it's good for hp wise.
The dart 302 is probably what I'm going for, good strong block with a 4bolt main.

 

[QUICK91LX]

Im not looking to build an engine. I just want a stronger block...
I will not have a problem boosting the block to 700hp... just believe me on that one.
I just want a stronger block, and a 4 bolt main. not 2.
I've found that the old Boss 302 blocks are pretty strong, but they only made 10,000 so they're pretty hard to find and EXPENSIVE!
Also, ford racing reproduces boss blocks. Its part number FMS-M6010BOSS302 and they go for $1800 for the block. I'm just unsure about what it's good for hp wise.
The dart 302 is probably what I'm going for, good strong block with a 4bolt main.

How exactly are you going to avoid building an engine when replacing a block??

Some of the questions you have thrown out lead me to beleive that you are still a little green in this field...I would buy one of the numerous books available on building a small block Ford, and I would definitely talk to your local machine shop/engine builder and get some recommendations directly from the horses mouth, so to speak.

Good luck.