Thread: Sbf Roller Blocks

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Ford guys help me out here.
In a fully prepped 86-92 roller 5.0 block with a main girdle what, in your opinions is the max. hp this block can handle?

I've heard all kinds of numbers but I would say 450fwhp safely. If your planning a power adder and a bunch of racing get an aftermarket block. I here ford has a new 302 block with 4 bolt mains and screw in freeze plugs called the "Boss". My buddy was telling me its in their catalog. What are you going to do with the motor?

later

dennis

When you start to get close to 500 and your launchin it,then they start to break in half.Drag strip launches bring a quick down fall with meats in the back,I think closer to 550 600 hp if your on stock tires.You may even break it in two at 400- 450 hp if you have moster meats.Lots of these at about 400-550 hp on the street with turbos or superchargers that live along time because of the standard stock type tire size and few launches from a dead stop.

Originally Posted by dennis kelley

I've heard all kinds of numbers but I would say 450fwhp safely. If your planning a power adder and a bunch of racing get an aftermarket block. I here ford has a new 302 block with 4 bolt mains and screw in freeze plugs called the "Boss". My buddy was telling me its in their catalog. What are you going to do with the motor?

later

dennis

I am trying to find someone who has a lot of dyno time with the 5.0 roller blocks.
My shop builds mostly sbc,and bbc.
I bought 60 of the 5.0 core roller bare blocks.
Just trying to figure out what to do with all of them.

Not sure what the max would be Erik, I've had one at 417 on the engine dyno. No problems with it after a couple years in an '83 Mustang..... Street tires only, never did get it to the track.

Short track roundy-rounders can split them and a big shot of nitrous can divide them too. They're pretty tough until you start with the power adders like too much boost or too big a shot. If you are going to do that, then buy a Dart block. Or just wait for this to happen. http://460ford.com/viewtopic.php?t=6597

Originally Posted by w2zero

Short track roundy-rounders can split them and a big shot of nitrous can divide them too. They're pretty tough until you start with the power adders like too much boost or too big a shot. If you are going to do that, then buy a Dart block. Or just wait for this to happen. http://460ford.com/viewtopic.php?t=6597

We had a 400 sbc look about like that.
It was in the 590 hp area.
After seeing that I think I will limit the builds to the 450 hp level.

Pretty much a one word answer to most cranks sawed in half and blocks like that. Detonation. Just my opinion from listening to old rodders. I try to make it to the Old Country Buffet in South Hill Puyallup the first wednesday of each month for brunch. Some of the first and best rodders, builders and racers get together then. I'm just a kid but I hung around them as a wee tyke.

Originally Posted by w2zero

Pretty much a one word answer to most cranks sawed in half and blocks like that. Detonation. Just my opinion from listening to old rodders. I try to make it to the Old Country Buffet in South Hill Puyallup the first wednesday of each month for brunch. Some of the first and best rodders, builders and racers get together then. I'm just a kid but I hung around them as a wee tyke.

I would have liked to see the pistons.
In the 5.0 block shown above.
If he had holes in the tops of the pistons or chunks missing I would agree.
But the 5.0 blocks are known for being weaker I just did not know how much.
I still believe that torsional force's are to blame for some of the problems.

They are really thin above the mains. There are some valley web pieces you can buy that supposedly help. I expect they mostly help the manufacturer with his wallet though.

i've seen 5.0s that are supercharged pushing ~800 on the dyno and not break, its a matter of how well its tuned and if you keep the maintenance on em up very well...... but of course its gonna break a lot faster at that power range than it would stock