I was at my machine shop today, Strasburg Machine. They run a top fuel car, do several Alcohol and pro mod engines. They are a hard core race engine machine shop. I was talking to Lindsey, the tuner and manager of the shop. Procomp out of Australia now is making SBC's that are a clone of a Dart block. It has billet steel 4 bolt main caps, and will handle a 4.200" bore. So you could go 450+ ci with it. I saw it, and it looks pretty beefy! it has a high nickel content, and the metal content of a high dollar race block. Oh... it's called Procomp out of Australia. Strasburg machine is a W/D for them. Their number is 801-785-2753. It will take a 4.200" bore, and you can go past 450ci with it. It is in the $13XX plus shipping range.

They have done several high hp engines using these blocks, and they have worked perfect.

Actually, it looks better than my bowtie block!

They also make a Ford version that can go to 460 based off a 351 windsor.

I'm not making a dime off any of this, just trying to put the word out there are some new options out there. The more options the better!

Jim

If it is a good as prior Australian metal, it should be great.

I wonder about the casting these days... that's my only worry.

Case???

Pretty well known by now that these blocks are complete junk.


Quote:

http://www.speedtalk.com/forum/viewto ... s=0&postorder=asc&start=0


Quote:

http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic. ... s=0&postorder=asc&start=0


Lots more similar information out there in google land...

hell, it's already been posted on this forum, and the OP of this thread even posted in that one:

Quote:

http://www.corvette-guru.com/modules/ ... hp?topic_id=10342&forum=1

[QUOTE]Keith Morganstein wrote:
I think one needs to be careful when saying the PBM blocks are the same as the chinese blocks.

I have found evidence online that Haigh Blocks Ltd. (they are a New Zealand foundry casting Co.) Recently shipped to both PBM and Comp cams

PBM received an undisclosed amount of engine blocks. "Example Customer: Pbm Performance Products (last shipment included "Engine Blocks")"

http://panjiva.com/Haigh-Blocks-Ltd/1781004

**************************************
Comp received a total 6575Kg of castings in a recent shipment (RHS heads??)

http://www.importgenius.com/shipments/haigh-blocks.html
****************************************************

Also consider price point. The Chinese block sold as Pro Comp on eBay sells for $1000 or less.

The PBM block sells for $2155, close to a Little M. PBM says their block is high quality high nickle. They would need a big set of #$%@ to sell the $1000 block for $2155

Someone needs to have both blocks side by side before making claims that it's the same block. [/QUOTE]


Keith

I have alot more info on these blocks then I am telling and they are the same castings and the PBM blocks are sent to Florida for engraving on the caps and block and stud kit added and line honed and finished machined.

Look at the casting lines on the side of the blocks as they are the same and a simple brinell test well verify what I have been saying.

Look at the oil galley hole that goes through the lifter bores and they are to low and they are not the same height from front to rear and we can see that by eye and if the rear cap looks like there is a plug welded in for the threads.
_________________
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We are WD on Dart, Wiseco, JE, CP, Crower, Manley, CARRILLO, Callies, King's Crankshaft. COMP CAMS, Diamond pistons ETC.

CARL HINKSON 207-892-7215

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Id trust Carls feedback, super knowledgable guy.
Guess anyone can import a part and stamp a name on it to help it sell. Scary stuff out there, never know what youre getting. PBM is a huge company that sells everything from stock replacement parts to aftermarket "performance"
Again, nothing good is cheap. LOOKS dont mean anything its the little things that only a machinist can see that can add up to a HUGE bill or break your heart when he says you cant use it. Buy the Dart or use GM if you have to at least you know what youre getting.

I just heard about this less expensive block, but after learning more about it, I think I will stick to what I know that works. A Dart or Bowtie block. It sounds like it's a Chinese knock off of a dart block. I was under the assumption this block came from Australia, but it sounds like it's chinese.

You do get what you pay for!

I wish I went with an aftermarket block.

2 bolt main, 400 block.

machinest things it will blow up after 500hp.. Recommends at least a main girdle, but says I should have splayed the mains..


uggg..

-- Joe

Little M FTW
every vette should have a 427

I will say, I hope people buy Darts.... they are American made, plus Dart will be around tomorrow.... will ProComp ? PBM will probably be around, but will their engine department ? In my opinion, the block isn't a good place to save money.... its the bones of the body.... if they're brittle or weak, bad things happen.

I can tell you, the Chinese really killed the Manual Machine Tool market, just like engines and cylinder heads, they build a plethora of manual mills and lathes and import to us under a "large variety" of brand names..... and the low prices were just unbelievable .... people used to buy a Bridgeport for 10-15k.... the entry level Chinese mills were marketed at 2k..... real number !! They were lightweight pieces of junk, but they sold never the less....

Bridgeport went out of business years back in large part due to this. (However, their brand name was purchased by Hardinge, thus the brand lives on these days) My point, its just not a good thing.... I'd like to see some huge-ass tariffs from anything in regards to metallurgy coming from China..... I know it will not happen, but it'd sure be nice.

They are now building a plethora of CNC machines.... most low dollar, lightweight hunks of metal that couldn't hold a thou or two if your life depended on it.... but yet, they'll sell because of the price. They have foundries and factories for Machine Tools that you just wouldn't believe...... the Dalian factory is a city in itself, the workers live at the factory with their families in apartments, they have grocery stores, post office, etc..... they can pump out 10 times the machines a company like Haas can..... crazy stuff what they're doing over their !!