Block Question

Unless its was a mexican block, or an older Hi-po 289.. i dont see it being any CONSIDERABLY stronger than your 5.0l roller.

The extra effort of converting it to roller (if that is what u plan) wouldn't justify using the galaxy block vs the original 5.0l IMO.

from all the research ive read through on blocks, the more seasoned it is, the stronger it is no matter what the higher nickel content is or the year.

if you find a roller block that has over 200k on it, its well seasoned and will handle as much as an R302 or Sportsman block. heat has alot to do with how strong the block is unless its cryonized. when a block comes from a fresh hot tank to get it cleaned its been seasoned on top of what the strength of the block was before it went in. virtually making it a stronger block.

this is what i have read so dont quote me on specifics with it.

89streetbeast said:

from all the research ive read through on blocks, the more seasoned it is, the stronger it is no matter what the higher nickel content is or the year.

if you find a roller block that has over 200k on it, its well seasoned and will handle as much as an R302 or Sportsman block. heat has alot to do with how strong the block is unless its cryonized. when a block comes from a fresh hot tank to get it cleaned its been seasoned on top of what the strength of the block was before it went in. virtually making it a stronger block.

this is what i have read so dont quote me on specifics with it.

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I've talked to several machinists and racers alike on this one. All pre-'74 blocks have the "higher nickel" content. On that note, it's not like they were indestructable. Even mexican and 289 hi po blocks have their limits. The real strength from the earlier blocks comes from the blind tapped holes in the mains and in the decks, it's also due to the architecture of the main webbing, not the high nickel content-which is pretty much just a warm fuzzy.

Now, as far as the earlier blocks are concerned for strength, will they handle as much as a sportsman? Certainly. But an R302 or an A4 which are completely different animals, will handle over 1000hp, whereas most 2 bolt blocks-mexican, hi-po, and sportsman alike will split open at least 250-300 less than that.

depends on your power aspirations...if you really want to exceed 450rwhp and do it reliably, then maybe you should start saving for a 4 bolt block. At a bare minimum go with a pre '74 block for that power level. As far as that '80 block...I think I'd sooner use a later roller block, they're really the same strength, and at least you get to use a better cam...