New 351W blocks

[dmoses42]

https://www.speedmaster79.com/Ford-...c49t5-Ru3uYg7Dc805GvHpJ5p29UpkM4aAkFdEALw_wcB

I was looking around at engines and blocks yesterday and found this. To me, it looks like a good price on a new 4 bolt main 351W block. I wish they had a new 302 4 bolt main block for close to that price... Posting this for all y'all wanting 351 Windsors. Go get 'em!

 

[JB Fab]

No Chinese blocks for me...

 

[dmoses42]

Didn't realize they were from China. But the vast majority of other parts come from there too. A quick search on the internet (for what that is worth) indicates Eagle and Scat crankshafts are cast in China. I don't know if any of it is good, I just thought it was a good price for the block.

 

[JB Fab]

Google "Speedmaster block review" BTW, Speedmaster = ProComp

Make sure your builder measures everything and chases all the oil passages with an extended drill bit as the core-shift can be brutal in off-shore engine block castings (especially speedmaster by the reviews). A crank casting is pretty basic compared to an engine block.
A $1700 block is not a savings when you have to pay your builder 4K to make it right, or worse, someone throws parts at it thinking it's ready to assemble and run.

I have intimate experience with the subject material, and the two year nightmare created by a Chinese block/head produced in a Cummins licensed facility.
Not saying they are all bad, but go into it clear-eyed and don't assume ANYTHING.

My.02

 

[Broncobowsher]

Google "Speedmaster block review" BTW, Speedmaster = ProComp

Make sure your builder measures everything and chases all the oil passages with an extended drill bit as the core-shift can be brutal in off-shore engine block castings (especially speedmaster by the reviews). A crank casting is pretty basic compared to an engine block.
A $1700 block is not a savings when you have to pay your builder 4K to make it right, or worse, someone throws parts at it thinking it's ready to assemble and run.

I have intimate experience with the subject material, and the two year nightmare created by a Chinese block/head produced in a Cummins licensed facility.
Not saying they are all bad, but go into it clear-eyed and don't assume ANYTHING.

My.02

That all sounds right. I recall there heads are known as good builder material, but you have to put your work into making them good. So the same for the blocks sounds correct. Stock blocks have been known to be junk as well, even after lasting 100k. At least they did survive long enough to be used engines. The really bad ones were warranty engines when new.

 

[dmoses42]

Well, alrighty then. I'd never seen or heard about them, but that's why we post it up here. I'm glad you've had some first-hand experience with them, and I agree, if you have to spend more money to "make it right" than what a better one would cost, it isn't a savings. I wasn't going to buy one anyway, I'd rather have a 302, but this is good for others to know.

 

[dmoses42]

I was actually looking at Blueprint motors after seeing the thread @ared77 posted, then started looking at Dart and Ford blocks when I stumbled across those Speedmaster ones. I did know about the ProComp heads, but didn't know they were the same as Speedmaster.

 

[Madgyver]

My opinion.
I would feel better building on a well seasoned older 351W block than a block that is new that has bad reviews.

 

[73azbronco]

you will want to save for a dart before this, unless you like removing engines. For another $900 bones, its a no brainer really.

 

[dmoses42]

Well, like I stated earlier, I wasn't looking for a 351 block, I'd rather have a 302 block, and I also stated I didn't do due diligence to research these blocks. At first glance, it looked like a good deal. If I'd known they were basically the block version of the Procomp heads, I wouldn't have posted it here. If I'm buying a aftermarket block, it won't be one of these.

 

[gnpenning]

Thank you for bringing this up so others can see what is really going on. Not everyone can have experience with everything and use the forum to get extra eyes on things. Doesn't matter if it's something you were looking to buy, it might have saved someone else.

 

[JB Fab]

74AZBronco, another vote for Dart.....

 

[fordguy]

Google "Speedmaster block review" BTW, Speedmaster = ProComp

Make sure your builder measures everything and chases all the oil passages with an extended drill bit as the core-shift can be brutal in off-shore engine block castings (especially speedmaster by the reviews). A crank casting is pretty basic compared to an engine block.
A $1700 block is not a savings when you have to pay your builder 4K to make it right, or worse, someone throws parts at it thinking it's ready to assemble and run.

I have intimate experience with the subject material, and the two year nightmare created by a Chinese block/head produced in a Cummins licensed facility.
Not saying they are all bad, but go into it clear-eyed and don't assume ANYTHING.

My.02

I wold rather take my chances on a used 4tfe block

 

[Bronco73]

I've read a few reviews on the speedmaster 351w blocks. I found more negatives than positives but did find a few that have built and tun the SM block and held a 1000hp. The few that did build them did say they require a lot checking and machine work to get them ready.

I've read where the 351W roller blocks are known for cracking in the front cam bearing from the oil hole outward. Doesn't affect its performance but one builder claimed that 1 out of 5 would have this crack.

 

[bronco italiano]

BBM blocks are casted in Korea and then sent to Los Angeles for final machining. However, they still require the machine shop to do a final-final machining prior to assembly