Yea, there has been a few threads across the interwebz about this, apparently Dart has been giving it some serious thought,whether anything will come of it, I don't know. Nevertheless, it would be nice to have a pre cast 396 and save myself the headache of machine work.

However, as you pointed out, to run fast with an LT1 most convert heads over and once you do that theres really no need to stay with the GenII block. I would think Dart would have better luck marketing a nice 355/383/396 line since most ported LT1/LT4 heads would flow enough to make them work well. Also prob have a bigger customer base of guys like me who don't want to deal with machine work etc.

And four digits are easy, forged 383, Ysi and some juice. Simple ;)

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt...lt1-block.html

yeahhh

Yup, not a member or fan of that site but yea, Jake posted that up pretty much on every LT1 site, seems to have a lot of fans. But as always, lots of people want em, few will pay for em.

If Dart can make a 383 cast block that is competitively priced compared to making one out of a stock block, a lot of people would be interested.

yeah definitely.

And if they can make it out of aluminum.... ohhh mannn.... :)


LSwHat!

hahahahah dude you are thinking outside the boat anchor. cut it out!!

Sounds like the fund raisers on here.

Oh no he di-in't.

Hey now, I pay to play!

Kinda an update, I don't know if you guys are familar with a guy with the sn of Jpack?, but he apparently dropped off a few stock parts and a block for Dart to begin measurements... hope for the LT1 perhaps...

Don't hold your breath. I would be surprised if there is enough demand for an aftermarket LT1 block.

Well they gotta be thinking there is if they are considering it. And as stated above I am a broke college kid with big dreams of grandeur, so I haven't been holding my breath at all. :lol:

Yeah, the problem is that not too many were made, and people usually go Gen I or Gen III and skip the bastard child.

Well I know Jegs just started to advertise a LT1 shortblock, dunno why they picked now but they do. And yea, well, I have money invested into my "bastard child" so I will stick with it.

that freakish block from gm does exist...ive seen one, not in person but over on camaroz28.com, i believe it was a 454 but i could be wrong but i think the selling price was almost 12 grand.

Yea, the stock GM one, from some high perf. engineers pet project, they pop up on ebay every once and a while.

Woot.

On this block---here is the vision I have of where it'll settle in----
It will be a version of the Dart SHP SBC block, 4.125 bore
The front of the block will be where all the changes from the Gen 1 SHP block are to allow reverse cooling, LT water pump, Opti, engine accessories---Not go jumping on the bad points or short comings of the opti, as that argument won't make a grain of salt in this project because the guys who want an OEM look to there cars will run the stock water pump and opti---And the racers can install crank trigger and manifold mounted distributor, and even run a electric water pump--again, those that object, go your own way -------

My plan for a 2 piece rear seal is to allow a crank that is more easily balanced internally---so you must buy a flex plate/flywheel with a bigger bolt circle----

All oem accessories and mounts will fit the engine----

Exhaust system won't have to be changed

Any LT head /manifold will fit-----those of you that say the chambers are a problem don't know what your talking about---there is no differance between the Gen 1 and LT and the 4.125 bore will unshroud the valves and increase flow rates

Same camshafts/valve train/roller lifters

I see this as an ideal 427 cubes as with a stock cam location and a 3.875 stroke to gain clearance at the cam and piston deck thickness

Gaskets are already available for 4.200 bore from fel-pro

Wholesale selling price similar to SHP around $15-1750, maybe less (or more)

The SHP is cast in such a way that Dart saves quite a BIT IN MACHINING COSTS, hence the lower price

Slayed 4 bolt caps on 2,3,4 mains

GM does not support or service the LT block now, so anyone needing an engine block has no choice but junk yard---

If you want to race an unlimited type deal, get a Donovan,etc---this is planned to have a replacement block for the LTs that will go to a 4.200 bore and take a 4 in stroke----

If you want to run some kind of race where you are limited to a STOCK block of ANY kind, I feel sorry for you.

If you love your car with an LT, here's an oppurtunity to step up with some new parts, a higher level of power and still look right under the hood.

Jerry Clayton

:lol: A 454 LT1 would completely piss itself. End Result? New Opti.

Dum duh dum, tsssss :doh:

thats awesome matt! when are you getting yours? :lol:

If they stay around that price and make something like a 396/402 maybe the end of the summer..... :) But again that depends on Dart pulling though and me making some dinero.

nice, i like my main caps dead

Always good news when new parts come out. A 400+ cube LT1 would be cool. Especially if they offer it in aluminum.

Yup, my thoughts exactly. One step towards greatness. :)

We shall see, I am curious to see what they come out with.

If they pull this off it's going to be a very big deal, the iron LSx block goes for over $2,000. The casting will be stroger then the Gm stockers so the issue of flex for big HP will be almost eliminated. Plus once these blocks get out on the market other vendors will most likely start producing more supporting parts. I've love to see Canfield start making LT1 heads again or AFRs go even larger.

hummm,, Gonna have to start thinking about notching the frame rail so that a F2R blower can be installed to feed a 427 LT1!

Send it in and have it made into a Ysi. You know you wanna. ;)


But yea, I really hope they make up in a few displacements, cause I don't wanna drop a few grand on heads to fead a 427....

In my travels through LT1 land, larger than 400 CI I've run across 409 LT1s [4.030 X 4.000], 415 LT1s [4.060 X 4.00], and 421 LT1s [4.030 X 4.125 and 4.090 X 4.000]. I've also heard stories of bigger yet with resleeved blocks, etc. Trust me, I have a TON of $$$$$ invested in my Dominion headed LT1, and I'm staying at 396 cubes. [4.030 X 3.875]. Well, maybe a wee bit bigger than 396, but not a "dreamer" 421 or such. :)