Thread: Block Quality of target master 350's

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Hey guys , does anyone kno anything about the target master 350? i have one in my 81 3/4 ton... it was installed in the early 90's... it has about 150,000+ miles on it and still runs pretty good..but the truck isint doing very good( very rusty etc), anyway i want to use the block for a upcoming project... a high revving, solid roller, stroker engine with moderately high compression.....anyway is this block gonna be ok or should i scrap the whole idea? i kno its a 4 bolt main which is good and i have heard that they are high nickle etc etc but then i also hear they are crack prone and bad/ruff castings....any help to set this strait would be great, thanks very much

Check for core shift. Look at the camshaft hole in the front of the block under the timing cover to see if there is any difference in side to side centering in the casting bosses. Its hard for me to explain, but, easy to see. The front face of the cam bore is machined flat and on that flat surface look to see if the bore hole is centered in the casting. If its way off..1/8 inch or more, then thats .125 off center and could affect the wall thickness of the piston bores making them weaker and then to rebore more meat off makes even thinner cylinder walls. If you don't have much core shift I wouldn't worry . 350 GM blocks are very strong @ .060 over., The 400 blocks are another story because they are already bored .125 from the factory and core shift is extremely critical. Hope this helps. Billy (Racing & Resto)

I worked at the GM Flint V-8 engine plant in Flint Michigan for nearly 34 years.The Targetmaster engines were built on the same assembly line as all other engines with all the same parts as all other engines. There should be no differences in any Targetmaster that you wouldn't find in any other engine built during that era.

The plant where millions of Chevrolet V-8, 6 and 4 cylinder engines (including the Chevette OHC) were built, beginning in 1954 for the '55 model, was closed in 1999 and torn down a few years later. All that remains of this facility is a huge vacant lot. The main Chevrolet Manufacturing complex also was totally razed and is now a 40 acre brownfield. So,too, for the BUICK CITY complex. It's all gone. Fisher Body? Gone. Flint is the birthplace of GM who, has for the most part, abandoned this city and left it a sad and depressed place.

Over the years I have used probably a dozen or more of the Target Master 350's for cores and have found them to be just fine - certainly no worse than stock cores with equal miles. I've used both two and four bolt TM cores and if they pass muster coming out of the hot tank, they're fine.

By passing muster, I mean the following:

Strip the engine down to the block and have it hot tanked and then inspect for cracks or anomalies. Measure the cylinders and make sure they're within a reasonable clearance to allow a bore.

If all is good - proceed. The other alignment work can be performed at a machine shop to make sure the crank rides in nice straight bearing bases and the decks are square.

The TM should continue to serve you well in it's "second life" as it as in it's first!

Have Fun!
Glenn

Originally Posted by fitzwilly

I worked at the GM Flint V-8 engine plant in Flint Michigan for nearly 34 years.The Targetmaster engines were built on the same assembly line as all other engines with all the same parts as all other engines. There should be no differences in any Targetmaster that you wouldn't find in any other engine built during that era.

The plant where millions of Chevrolet V-8, 6 and 4 cylinder engines (including the Chevette OHC) were built, beginning in 1954 for the '55 model, was closed in 1999 and torn down a few years later. All that remains of this facility is a huge vacant lot. The main Chevrolet Manufacturing complex also was totally razed and is now a 40 acre brownfield. So,too, for the BUICK CITY complex. It's all gone. Fisher Body? Gone. Flint is the birthplace of GM who, has for the most part, abandoned this city and left it a sad and depressed place.

i did a walk thru flint engine some years ago when my step dad work there on the ring gear line .that place was a trip for sure it was somewhat like a zoo with all walks of life . lots of sbc chevys bay city chevy is a far cry from what it was