Thinking about a stroker short block, going rate for a block?

[Austin Bubbletop]

I must be getting bored. My truck block 409 with Eddy heads has been fun but I have the itch for more, like building a stroker short block and transferring my heads and intake over. What are you guys seeing truck blocks priced at? With my work travel between Oklahoma and Texas i'm seeing several complete engines. Not what i'm looking for, no bare blocks. Was hoping to spend ~$1500.

 

[Murphdog]

There out there, but the $1000 engines are few & far between. If your building a stroker and buy a complete truck engine, the only things you will use will be the block, timing cover & possibly the oil pan. 4" strokers are easy peasy. Nice 61! Happy hunting!
Jeff

 

[Skip FIx]

I have a 470" 4" stroke motor I built plenty of parts around to do that.

 

[Austin Bubbletop]

I have a 470" 4" stroke motor I built plenty of parts around to do that.

What crank are you using?

 

[Skip FIx]

Eagle I think I got form Showcars then. It had a LOT of journal taper (me and my Chinese mikes even picked it up) and had to have it turned 0.010/0.010. Eagle had some issues back then with all their cranks Chevy and Pontiac. 6.385 rods

 

[Barry Taylor]

2 Eagle cranks here and no issues!

 

[Skip FIx]

I think they have resolved their earlier issues . I have Pontiac Eagle forged crank that is right on the money right now for a 505 project.

 

[Jim Sullivan]

My Eagle stroker crank, bought a couple years ago, was right on.

 

[Skip FIx]

I think the early Eagle cranks were really machined in China but "polished" here so they could say machined in US. Man were the journals shiny! A polishing belt is soft and flexible so that is what my crank guy thought they did.

 

[skipxt4]

I have Much, to say, about the Eagle crank in my engine, but I'll keep quite, because it Chaff's my ass, every time I think about the problems I had.

 

[Skip FIx]

I would have sent mine back but I had already had it balanced. Another of my Pontiac cranks we had to turn as filet was not wide enough and they did not make narrow bearings then.

 

[Ishiftem]

I had all kinds of issue with my eagle from years ago. The last one I measured was actually really good. I had heard they improved. As said above, they were rough machined in China and polished here to final size which is why they were inconsistent with out of round, taper, hour glass shape etc. Though the journals have improved on the Eagle, the Scat is still a nicer piece. Better transition from the filet to the cheek and journal surface and also the webbing has more material making it a stronger piece. And then there is counterweight shape/placement that I suspect is better. The downside is they often need heavy metal to balance which means $$$.

 

[Skip FIx]

Mine neutral balanced fine no heavy metal.

 

[Ishiftem]

What compression and what rod?

 

[Skip FIx]

Mine was about 10.25:1 measured, 6.385 rod.

 

[62_Conv_2-4s]

Build a 348 stroker. 348's are much cheaper than 409's. Just needs a little more machining.

 

[Austin Bubbletop]

I've been sitting on 348 block for a few years. I haven't considered that but it's definitely an option!

Here's a deal on a stroker crank. Maybe a massaged 454 crank? Ebay Crank

 

[Murphdog]

I've been sitting on 348 block for a few years. I haven't considered that but it's definitely an option!

Here's a deal on a stroker crank. Maybe a massaged 454 crank? Ebay Crank

A 454 GM crank with 409 mains is one thing but the rods ground to 2.100 concerns me. Not the diameter, but how bad of condition they were in to start with does!
Jeff

 

[427John]

I had a 454 crank that was already .040 under and I considered going to the SBC journal, but it cleaned up at .050 and I was able to find some bearings.

 

[Barry Taylor]

We ran two different motors with 454 cranks and no issues! But like Jeff said it always concerned me about cutting that much off the journals!