Ex drag car hemi blocks in street cars?

[1967formulaS]

Lately there have been a few aluminium wet drag car blocks for sale over here. Kb stage 6 and a couple of bae blocks, some with crank, rods and pistons.
I'm just wondering if anyone has used one for a street car, is it possible?
-Are they physically bigger than a 426
-Would it fit in an A body with the hurst inner guard treatment.
-Will a 4 speed bellhousing bolt up to them.

Or is this just a crap thought?

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Here is the problem. Being aluminum they grow with heat and make valve lash near impossible to maintain correct for cold and hot operation.

If adjusted while hot they hold the valves open for a near impossible cold start. So lash adjustment must be done every time you want to drive it. or find a happy medium on lash and just putt it around for looks.

Most of them do not have oiling to lifters so Hydraulics lift cam cannot be used.

This is just some experience of problems I have seen personally. Great bracket or street race motors with warm up and lash adjustment first.

 

[440dartsport]

I wouldn't say there are impossible to drive on the street with an aluminum block. I can't speak for the Hemi's but I have an Aluminum Indy wedge block that I street/strip with. You just have to let them warm up real good before beating on them. I set the valve lash at .005" cold and it ends up perfect at .020" hot. It takes some playing around with to figure out what your lash will do but by no means is it impossible.
Oldman is correct that most aftermarket aluminum blocks don't have oiling to the lifters so you will need to machine the block and tap and oil line to each lifter bore or just rely on the oil that runs down from the spray bars. We drilled and tapped each lifter bore on mine to supply pressurized oil to the rollers. It's a much safer way for a street build.

 

[justinp61]

I know of several KB water blocks on the street and they don't have issues with the valves being open cold, never even heard of that. Yes the lash will be tighter cold but no problems.

If I were interested in one of the blocks I'd gather all the info off the block and contact the manufacturer. Personally I'd stay away from anything used in a fuel car.

 

[440outlawdart]

I have a old pro stock block,and a stage 2 kb aluminum block,both must use front motor plates,hope to try one of them someday,but o one will ship me parts to finsh any of them

 

[1967formulaS]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

 

[famous bob]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

don`t wait on parts, just send one of them to me !

 

[Breadburner]

I would make damn sure they have not been "Filled" or repaired a bunch of times...Sometimes you could be getting someone else's worn out junk....

 

[hangn0ut]

Race blocks have no provision for a starter. The back of the blocks use special motor plates with larger countersunk fasteners and different bellhousings.(no starter). And you will get water in the oil if run for any lenght of time.