TALKED TO DART ABOUT THERE BLOCKS AT THE PRI SHOW

[CNC BLOCKS]

I just got back from the Pri show and while I was there I looked up Dave Trateckaw (spelling) which he is in charge of the block machining at Dart and was very professional to talk to as I met with him last year as well and he explained how there blocks were machined and that every block that the serial number that ended in 0 or 5 are the ones that are pulled and demensionaly inspected. As I was told by the salesmen that every block was inspected and another told me every 3 were inspected I would belive Dave.

I explained my findings on the Dart blocks to Dave as far as the water holes and the clylinder locatioins and the deck heights and Dave told me that they do a 150 blocks a week and these are production blocks and are roughed machined and you may find blocks out of blue print but they should be with in .005 and its up to to the engine builder to finish machine the block to blue print as we don't finish machine blocks and Dave also said they have the capability of blue printing a block to with in .0005 and if a customer wants a block machined that way they would have to pay for a days work but it could be done as Dave replied that the blue print blocks for RCR and Roush but they pay extra for that type of work.

After over a hour talking to him about block machining I learned alot about what they do and how they do it and Dave was very professional to talk to and a VERY SMART MAN.

I also explained to Dave about the salemen on this website and how they offended myself and other engine builders about how we couldn't premachine blocks as we do this in our own engine shop for years that if we know the what half the stroke of the crank is, add the rod lenth and compression height this should be zero deck as we have never had to machine a block twice and it works for us and over the last 6 years of shipping blocks all over we have had no complaints so far. Dave replied that he would have a meeting with the salesmen this week coming as they should not misleading the public.

And as I have said before and I told Dave the Dart block is a good foudation to start with all I do is dial it in a little closer.

I hope in the earlier thread that know one was offended as my comments were only directed the 2 Dart salesmen and nobody else.

[RZ@D]

[CNC BLOCKS]

Let me rephase this as Dart checks every 5 block for deck height and they check these demensions on every block that is shipped.

(QUOTE)
We inspect and measure cam tunnel, main bores, lifter bores, fuel pump pushrod hole, distributor hole, main cap press, bearing notch's, main thrust, crank location, cam plug depth, cylinder bores, freeze plug holes, all threaded holes etc. this is done on each block. We also when them come to our building we deburr the caps by hand, line hone the mains, line hone the camshaft, hone the lifters, and pressure test the blocks. Now all that said can something in the process be missed can someone make a mistake sure absolutely. (QUOTE) FROM RZ@D

[bunner engines]

hello carl , fwiw , we stopped modifying the water holes a couple of years ago . it just wasnt an issue even with the blower motors . my shop is probably considered low volume ,we do about 40 custom engines a year but around 75 to 80% are dart block foundations . imo, i think they are the best aftermarket block available ! years back we were forced to use the gm tall deck bowtie block. have you ever probed one of those ? we found some that the bores where shifted as much as .020 ! .....i like the concept that i can sell my customer a much improved block to start with , custom machine it to his application ,make a profit on the block and my labor, and i have had MUCH better sleep when the motors leave!!!!lol .the technicians at dart are proud of there products (as they should be ) and that makes our jobs as engine builders better and more profitable . lord knows in this competitive industry, we need all the help we can get right ? ........thanx

[CNC BLOCKS]

hello carl , fwiw , we stopped modifying the water holes a couple of years ago . it just wasnt an issue even with the blower motors . my shop is probably considered low volume ,we do about 40 custom engines a year but around 75 to 80% are dart block foundations . imo, i think they are the best aftermarket block available ! years back we were forced to use the gm tall deck bowtie block. have you ever probed one of those ? we found some that the bores where shifted as much as .020 ! .....i like the concept that i can sell my customer a much improved block to start with , custom machine it to his application ,make a profit on the block and my labor, and i have had MUCH better sleep when the motors leave!!!!lol .the technicians at dart are proud of there products (as they should be ) and that makes our jobs as engine builders better and more profitable . lord knows in this competitive industry, we need all the help we can get right ? ........thanx

The Bow-tie blocks we have seen the the last 2 years have probed out as good as the Darts and the world blocks and on the Bow-ties the lifter bores are better now that GM has changed the way they are machined.

As far as the water holes in the decks we offer to match them to the gasket as customer feels more comfortable having them done we do it. And most shops that we prepare blocks for ask us to do that automaticly and so far we have done them all with no problems. We only do what is required on the spec sheet.

I to believe that Dart is one of the best aftermarket blocks out there and as Dick from Dart said these are production blocks and are roughed machined and its up to the engines builder to finish machine the block to blue print and THATS OUR ONLY GOAL.

And so far it works for us as we have had no complaints on what we produce as a lot of shops and engine builders can't not do the blue print machining proceedures we offer and feel more comfortable having them done in CNC machine and our blue print cam tunnel boring and they also feel they make more power on there dynos with these blocks whether they are Dart or Bow-tie.

And we have had many calls from other shops and engine builders regarding the water holes in the decks on the Dart blocks.