Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

how far have you pushed a 4 bolt vortec block ?
I am thinking studs an straps and give a try. Round track, need around 600 hp 1/3 mile.

Switch out the caps for a set of billet caps w/ARP studs, a lightweight forged crankshaft with honda size journals , lightweight h-beam rods and a good set of lightweight forged pistons with 1.5mm/3.0mm rings, a good windage tray setup and oil pan and 600HP at lets say 7500rpms and under should be no problem with a good set of heads cam and intake. Need to spin it 8000-9000rpms, get an aftermarket block!

Thanks, Newold

Jginger wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:23 am how far have you pushed a 4 bolt vortec block ?
I am thinking studs an straps and give a try. Round track, need around 600 hp 1/3 mile.

Just for the record I have had two blow out the sides at about 550 hp!

Its a nice block for a 475 hp street build cranking out 500 lbs-ft but I go straight to an early 4 bolt block or an aftermarket block for a 600 hp build.
DV

Thanks David, I may have to rethink this.

David Vizard wrote: ↑Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:31 am

Jginger wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:23 am how far have you pushed a 4 bolt vortec block ?
I am thinking studs an straps and give a try. Round track, need around 600 hp 1/3 mile.

Just for the record I have had two blow out the sides at about 550 hp!

Its a nice block for a 475 hp street build cranking out 500 lbs-ft but I go straight to an early 4 bolt block or an aftermarket block for a 600 hp build.
DV

I dont even believe it. According to all the chevy guys around here the Ford 302s are the only ones that crack at that hp level. Good info DV!

David Vizard wrote: ↑Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:31 am

Jginger wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:23 am how far have you pushed a 4 bolt vortec block ?
I am thinking studs an straps and give a try. Round track, need around 600 hp 1/3 mile.

Just for the record I have had two blow out the sides at about 550 hp!

Its a nice block for a 475 hp street build cranking out 500 lbs-ft but I go straight to an early 4 bolt block or an aftermarket block for a 600 hp build.
DV

Agreed - those late model blocks were cast with the minimum amount of iron possible and most don't even have enough cylinder wall thickness to go .040 and read under .090" wall in places when at .030" over.

Dart SHP and then you don't need to worry about it. Why spend the money on cap conversions? It's polishing a turd IMO

Please understand that I am not proposing that you take a stock or near stock pre-1998 Vortec 5.7liter short block and increase the power up in the 550HP plus area with stock main caps and bolts, stock rods and pistons and a stock cast crankshaft. If you keep the overbore small, .030"or less, use 4 bolt billet caps and ARP bolts, use a good forged crankshaft with a 4.375 stroke some nice H-beam rods with good lightweight forged pistons along with great machining and assembly coupled with a nice set of properly reworked Vortec heads and a good hydraulic roller camshaft spec and intake system and headers you can build a very reliable 450-600HP Vortec block 383. IN the early 2000's I built quite a few for trucks and boats and a couple I remember with a Kenne Belle supercharger and reasonable boost made great HP , truck dynoed 595WHP at 6800rpms and big torque numbers and I know this particular truck is still operating and racing sometimes today with no rebuild or blow-ups. Taking these blocks with larger overbores and using to many stock components will not get these power levels done without problems. JMO

Newold1,

You mean a 3.75" crank to make a 383??

pdq67

I am loosing it -EEK! ,CRS disease To much BBC data in my tiny brain!

Your right at 3.75" and the rear WHP on that truck was 495HP!

this happens to be 2002 block, any diffs between a pre 98 to after.

Thanks for the feedback

I can't say in my experience as I never worked a 2002 and newer block. Don't think so but maybe someone else here does?

The OP is asking for a circle track application. Way more cycles and stress.
The earlier blocks with 2842 main caps are pretty stressed out at 600 HP in a circle track application. I’d avoid the later weaker blocks.