what block would you use?

dart shp will be fine.

I would personally skip the SHP and get a Sportsman block. 1000hp on an SHP is probably asking for trouble. They are rated at 600hp by Dart. I know that people have put 800hp through them without issues, but I'd sleep better at night if I had a Sportsman with quadruple digit horsepower capabilities.

the shp and the sportsman are the same casting block with different caps. the shp will hold well over 1000 hp. woody at fordstrokers can attest to this.

clement said:

the shp and the sportsman are the same casting block with different caps. the shp will hold well over 1000 hp. woody at fordstrokers can attest to this.

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I know that Woody has had good experiences with the SHP blocks, but they are definitely not the same as the Sportsman block. A quote directly from Dart:

SHP 302 -

Material: Cast Iron / Max rated to 700 - 750 hp depending on tune.

1.) The SHP has no boss cast into the front for the oil cross over.
2.) The SHP has less material in the lifter valley base.
3.) The lifter bore bosses have less overall material Diameter.
4.) Dart does not recommend upgrades i.e. Lifter Dia upgrades / Cam dia. upgrades.
5.) Main bolts are 1/2 x 13 Grade # 8
6.) The extended barrels roughly measure about -.050 less extension @ .650"

Sportsman 302 -

Material: High Nickel Alloy / Max rated to 1,000 - 1200 hp depending on tune.

1.) Includes oil cross over boss but is not drilled.
2.) More material in lifter valley base.
3.) Lifter bosses have more material diameter.
4.) Can be upgraded i.e. Lifter dia., cam upgrades, bushings ECT.
5.) Main bolts 7/16 x 14 grade # 9
6.) The extended barrels roughly measure + .050 more extension @ .700"

Overall the Sportsman is the same as the I.E race block with a few less machining operations and 2 bolt front and rear caps. The SHP is more of a street strip performance block to bridge the gap between the stock Ford and our Sportsman.

Thanks,
__________________
Dart Machinery, Ltd.
353 Oliver St.
Troy, MI 48084

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So believe the company trying to sell you their higher priced block rather than Jim who doesnt have anything to gain by selling the cheaper block, and actually might make less profit. ask yourself this, why would dart make a completely different casting in order to make a less expensive block? seems financially counterintuitive to me.

Just pointing out the differences between the two blocks for the OP to clarify that they are not the same, that's all. He can spend (or waste) his money however he would like.

and i was just pointing out that engine builders who have had their hands on both have stated otherwise.

The SHP is actually a slightly different casting, but I've put 900hp through them. For the small increase in cost Id go Sportsman as well, with the turbo you do not need the four bolt front cap that the Iron Eagle has. I've had all of them in my hands.

Here's a few differences I know of:

1. The SHP has no boss cast into the front for the oil cross over. (may not be an issue for most)
2. The cylinder walls are a tad shorter then the Sportsman/Iron Eagle (was told this by a DART tech when they first came out, close to a .062" which is not much but it is a difference )
3. The lifter valley is thinner
4. The lifter bore bosses have less overall material around them. (may not be an issue for most since the normal guy isn't going to a large diameter lifter of bronze bushings)
5. Main bolts are 1/2 x 13 Grade # 8 on the center and 7/16 on the outer, other blocks are 7/16-14 grade #9+ on both inner and outer (athough many upgrade to studs)
6. The material is different.....

I am off the opinion the Sportman is a Iron Eagle block with a few leff machining operations and 2 bolt front and rear caps.

I do think Dart had to get creative with their marketing so they didn't price themselves out of the market....but 600hp is nothing to a SHP.

While I have built the Man-O-War blocks I would pick a DART over them any day, they are heavier and every single Man-O-War block Ive had leaked in the extra head bolt holes. I now plug them with set-screws prior to doing anything to them. They will hold the power however!