Thread: LT 1 and gen2 engines

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After about a year of unsuccessfully trying to get an aftermarket LT type block cast, we have taken a new route to support this group of enthusiests---we have been searching for LT core blocks, thermal cleaning them and are setting up a process where we will be upgrading the blocks with billet 4 bolt splayed main caps, parallel decking, torque plate bore and hone and some packages that include both cast and forged stroker cranks, rods, forged pistons, etc to build up a 383 and 396 combos

We have had several Buick, Impala SS and Caddie people contact us along with the Camaro/Vette/Firebird crowd.

The supply of good core blocks of all types of engines seems to be drying up as more and more of them were just sold for scrap, cash for clunkers and the foreign/South American market is deluting our (Hot Rodders/Classic ) source of blocks.
And just recently GM closed the BBC plant that makes(made) the big blocks and they actually are even more scarse---

Jerry I don't Live far from you and I pick up Lot's of Chevy Engines off our Local Craigs List . Some times as Low as one Dollar a cubic inch for Long Blocks .

Tango and others

I am concerned for the hot rodders and other level of enthusiests

The former adbundent supply of rebuildable performance engine cores has virtually dissappeared over night

With the supply of aftermarket blocks we can do engine builds without all the disposal of oil / anti freeze / cleaning solutions---however, there are some engines not available in the aftermarket ( Dart, World, etc )

We have been getting clean cores from some core suppliers and all of a sudden----some aren't available---told one big place we would take all the LTs they had---two passed mag partical inspection( and this after thermal cleaning $$$$$) Another even bigger place
had eight
We did get I think a total of 18 or 20 sbc 4 of 4 bolt main 2 pc seal, and others one piece seal roller blocks 2 bolt main that we will be putting splayed 4 bolt center caps on,

We ( car nuts, not just us as machinists) cannot afford to pay a dollar per cubic inch for dirty cores that will dump oil and antifreeze all over the shop , do the stripping / cleaning, then machining, blue printing when we can use say a Dart SHP or sportsman block that already is clean, bigger and most of the work is done ( needs finish cylinder hone for pistons)

With me not being a chebbie guy, Jerry---How would I know an LT block if I was looking at one???? Sure would be glad to rat hole some for you if I should run across what you need.....

Dave

The LTs that I'm referring to were used 92-96 vett, camaro, firebird, Impala SS, Buick Roadmaster, Cadilac something or other--reverse flow cooling, from mount cam driven opti spark, gear driven water pump

These were all Car Guy type vehicles and many of them out there----

But---we were in a 300.000 ft building, blocks stacked to the roof---ONE bbc(2bolt) Four
sbc 4 bolt main 2 pc rear seal(2 driver side, 2 pax side dipstick)
Cash for Clunkers has severely effected core supply, but the bodywork pieces are going to South America and its turning into bigger than engine core business was
Clunker blocks were killed and they are now just scrap iron. These guys are so nutso about things ,you should of seen the hissy fit one of them threw when he spotted some copper cooler parts in a container of other diesel oil coolers that hadden been separated out-----

however lots of complete v 6 ohc complete of some kind down one aisle--nothing kewl though--lots of front drive transaxles, etc but American V8s---getting scarce

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Dave

The LTs that I'm referring to were used 92-96 vett, camaro, firebird, Impala SS, Buick Roadmaster, Cadilac something or other--reverse flow cooling, from mount cam driven opti spark, gear driven water pump

These were all Car Guy type vehicles and many of them out there----

But---we were in a 300.000 ft building, blocks stacked to the roof---ONE bbc(2bolt) Four
sbc 4 bolt main 2 pc rear seal(2 driver side, 2 pax side dipstick)
Cash for Clunkers has severely effected core supply, but the bodywork pieces are going to South America and its turning into bigger than engine core business was
Clunker blocks were killed and they are now just scrap iron. These guys are so nutso about things ,you should of seen the hissy fit one of them threw when he spotted some copper cooler parts in a container of other diesel oil coolers that hadden been separated out-----

however lots of complete v 6 ohc complete of some kind down one aisle--nothing kewl though--lots of front drive transaxles, etc but American V8s---getting scarce

Ok, now I know the one you're talking about!!! I'll keep my eye out for them and snag any I see.... Guys are always coming by the shop trying to peddle stuff...