Thread: question about high nickel block

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I just traded a 1971 Monte Carlo with a chev 400 sb for a 1977 Camaro type LT with what we were told had a 350. We were looking at it and it didn't look like the right color for an engine. It doesnt even have any rust on it at all. my uncle said it was a high nickel block engine. most people have never heard of it, and i didn't until that day. I want to know more about it. i have the casting numbers but i would have to look at it again. i just want to know more about it, how much horse power it has and such. i will put the numbers on here soon. thanks!

A few high perfomance blocks like the 302's and some 350's were nickel. High nickel blocks are generally used in truck and police applications because they are more durable. It's hard to tell if a block is high nickel just from the casting number because all of the blocks were cast in the same casting. Most high nickel blocks are #3970010, but so are most blocks. Some high nickel blocks made up to 370hp, but most used the same internals as all of the other blocks, so they were stuck at the 165-260 depending on whether you use crank hp or wheel hp. It makes a great foundation for a high performance engine, and is generally were a few more dollars than a standard block.
One more note on high nickel blocks, they are also high tin. That doesn't do much mechanically to the block, but it helps the block conform to the mold better for better consistency, reducing the chances of a weak spot or thin wall in a cylinder. This means they tollerate boring better.

Way to do your homework Streets, very impressive I learn something new every day .

Originally posted by Streets

Oldsmobile and Pontiac blocks aren't made of mush, rather, they are made of high quality cast iron with plenty of nickel to make it strong. Olds and Poncho engines were cast with extremely high nickel content until mid 1977 where by Chevy used very little nickel in any of their blocks. You can see where the nickel content is if you look at the valve pockets of an olds or Pontiac head where they have machined it and it is virtually smooth, like it was "polished" at the factory...

Good Oldsmobile, Good! Actually though, im not surprised. Chevrolet was designed to be a more mass production car. Pontiac and Oldsmobile were a bit more pricey, and i dont know about anyone else, but if the block cracked in my expensive car, I would be just a "little" angry. However, Why did all of the auto manufacturers stop using high nickel? It seems to me as HP has gone up, it would make more sense to re-use the high nickel design of the older blocks. Can anyone tell me, or should i just assume that the EPA had something to do with this?

Hey blood feast, if you still don't have your answer, let me know!

..Hey Drg.!!....Does it mean we can let Streets off the hook now for badmouthing Oldsmobile along with Ferd on another thread.??........I vote YES.........

Yeah, and anyway, streets was aming that crack at me. But its cool. Its just streets being streets.

Yep, it’s just Streets. A vast number of his posts are really informative and helpful.

From what I have discerned over the years, there are people who will take offence at even just a little sarcastic remark, even if no one else would take offense at that same certain post,... they will take issue and put you on the ignore list or worse yet, start a war. Rather than asking for clarification or just brushing it off and making the post nothing, it can be made an obstacle. Actually being placed on ignore by some people can be a blessing in disguise just as in real life, it is good to choose your friends rather than having people choose you as their friend.

Pride is at the root of people taking offense at posts on the net. I have no idea why people react so sharply at those little black letters on white........, I guess it all has to do with the old saying, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

dont know if this is true or not but I found my block was high in nickle by a cast number just above the oil filter housing on my chevy 350. I was told that 010 cast in that location (as mine has ) meens that there is 10% nickle in the casting. Is this correct ?

Actually the typical place to look is under the timing cover. If it has a 010, it is a pretty much standard block. You want to find a 020 casting under the timing cover. This means 20% nickle... good luck!

Don't forget about the 472/500 Cady engine blocks also have a high Nickel content.

~ Vegas ~

Actually, it would seem to me, that if you increased the nickle content, you would get a increase everywhere, including the cylinder bores. So, it would make to bore areas stronger, but all the other too. kind of a "Selective Information" bit.

Hey Streets not dead, I just feel like it. Guess that chemo took more out of me then I realized. After a 15 hour day I just fall out.
I don't have the stamina any more, and I'm working 6 days. This is the only site I attend or read. On my only day off I've been trying to get stuff around the house done. I'm pouring three big cement slabs my self and a buddy from work. One for a big new work shed I'm going to build on it, in the back of the house. One slab the side of the house, for welding and sand blasting the 65 Ranchero Project. And one more slab in front of the house with spanish style arches,with rod iron in the openings to make the wife happy about the rest of the changes. Plus when I get the Ranchero Project done I can admire it from my new porch swing that I have already built. I've recently acquired some new tools a chop saw for building the new porch swing, a new pro mig welder and grinder for the rod iron in the soon to be new arch ways. this new welder has nothing to do with the ranchero project at all, HE! HE! HE! Oh and I got a new engine hoist. I love doing new stuff around the house. I always seem to find a new tool I need to fix up the house, not cars HE! HE! I Ho I Ho It's off to work I go. UH-OH I need another tool!!!!!


~ Vegas ~