Possibly, I am not sure yet but I know I want another BBC! I had one some years ago and really liked it and I have the urge to have a nice winter project.

Rich

 

From Dart's Web site: "Dart components are developed in-house, manufactured on Dart’s own CNC machining centers, and tested on Dart’s computer-controlled engine dyno...Dart Machinery’s Technology Center in Troy, Mich., houses the company’s administrative offices, the R&D headquarters, and inspection, machining and warehouse operations. The immense CNC machining centers that produce Dart heads and blocks from raw castings are located in a separate manufacturing facility in nearby Melvindale."

I guess that from reading this it's possible that WP does the raw castings, but the blocks do look quite different to me. I still can't say one is "better" than the other, just that they are different.

Rich

 

Not very many companies that machine blocks and heads actually make the iron castings themselves. Iron foundrys are nasty places and the equipment has to be kept busy. There aren't too many domestic iron foundrys which will do engine blocks.

In Rich's quote from Dart's website, they don't say that they make their own castings. It's the design of the casting; where the material is and isn't as well as the grade of iron and how good their melting and pouring quality control is that's important.

Although I don't know for sure, there is a good chance that most aftermarket iron V8 blocks come from one or two foundrys. There is also a chance those foundrys are not located in the USA.

Aluminum heads are another matter. Edelbrock, for one, has a large aluminum foundry, so they pour their own heads, I believe. The smaller guys buy their castings from speciality foundrys. Aluminum is a lot easier to pour than iron, and a head is a LOT easier to pour than a good block, whether in aluminum or iron.

My $.02.

 

Has it occurred to and of you engineers to just pick up a phone and ask?

 

http://www.taperformance.com/v6block.htm
speaking of blocks....
lightweight, cute missing 2 cylinders
should be good into the 7's if not better, i think KD uses it in his 6 sec Buick T6 powered car(?)
just another idear for ya Rich

 

Now, why do you have to come here and stir up things like that? That would be entirely too logical

Rich

 

I think you're right OS. I was thinking along the lines of "aluminum foundry". Edelbrock and Brodix I know for sure do their own, but there could be others. I seem to remember reading of two different foundry's for aftermarket iron. Don't recall which was where though.

And I agree, which foundry pouring the metal is not near as important as the differences in materials and the core box design.

Dick Maskin made mention of the Rocket block casting here a few years ago. Saying that Dart developed the block for GM and in doing so proclaimed exclusive rights to the core box and all production data after "X" number (cause I don't remember) of years producing the block. So, they did a little alteration on the core box, probably to get rid of the "Rocket" symbol and now we have the "Iron Eagle". Now we have the same block with a different badge cast into the side.

As far as the Motown/Little M thing is concerned, I got to wondering about this a couple of years ago and after seeing a few blocks in person, as well as through pictures, there's no doubt in my mind that they aren't from the same box. The lifter bosses are another way of telling them apart.

I think the real differences lie in the machine work. Like the fact that Dart likes to cut registers for the main caps and WP likes to use the dowels. Both blocks are plenty beefy though. Choose your weapon.

Not that any of this helps Rich out with his BBC...... sorry Rich.

-Mindgame

 

what are the differences between the WC's regular blocks and race blocks?

 

The Race block gets...
Billet 4-bolt main caps (splayed)
Reinfroced main webs and bulkheads
"Substantial deck and walls" (maybe a little beefier than the standard block... WP doesn't really specify)

-Mindgame

 

When you consider that there are LOTS of stock block BBC motors in the 7-800hp range and more, and that a "regular" Dart block is a lot beefier than a stock block, you can see that the race block would only be needed for an extreme application.

Rich

 

You mean, like a 'race' application?


Ryan

 

looking through the WC catalogue it sorta looks as though the race and regular versions are the same castings with different main caps, i sorta doubt they would do seperate castings despite describing beefier decks and walls (probably just reiterating the fact that WC blocks have huge decks and walls in the first place)

nonetheless... this is quite an informative thread and this is why i love reading advanced tech

too bad your not filthy filthy rich and spendy krause, else we'd be talking about 5.0" bore space aluminum blocks and alan johnson wedge heads

but if anybody wants to talk about a motor i'll make 10 years from now... heh

btw what track do you and the bauers go to? i'm right over in rochester, and need to burn some rubber soon as i get back to school

 

I'm with ya Rich.

I'm thinking that anything NA with ~50% more power coming from a power adder would be fine with the "standard" block. I'd save that race block for one of those twin turbo, 400+ hp fogger type builds. The crank, bearings and other parts would probably be a little happier.

Oh yes... and those "race" applications Ryan mentioned.

-Mindgame

 

Have fun with this...

that top secret
Have a great day!

Anthony Senkiw
World Products Sales Manager
631-981-1918 ext 104
631-737-0467 Fax
E-Mail Anthony@Worldcastings.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <Ucantcme57@hotmail.com>
To: <contact@worldcastings.com>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 11:30 AM
Subject: Comments about World Castings


> Comments about World Castings from:
> ***********************************
> Email Address: Ucantcme57@hotmail.com
> First Name: Kevin
> Last Name: Swinney
> Question Topic: Other
> Comments: I was wondering if you could tell me where you get your
> castings from? Do you have your own foundary? If so do you supply Dart
> with your castings for them to machine? It seems like you both are almost
> sister companies...?
>
> Just hoping to clear up some confusion
> ***********************************

 

Not that it really matters but what if we concede to the fact that, maybe the blocks are poured in the same foundry? Then take that one step further in saying that the WP & Dart blocks come from two different core boxes. Would that be good enough?

-Mindgame