Engine Choice

[ffindling]

Originally Posted by STL Mark

The 427 has an option between iron block or aluminum block. So my question is what are the preformance, reliability, and maintenance issuses with that choice. Why would I choose one over the other (considering the price difference between the 2)?

Mark

There is some difference in the iron v. aluminum block choices for Windsors.
Iron blocks will typically allow a maximun bore size between 4.03" and 4.06"
which is usually combined with 4.17" stroke crank to get the size up near
the desired 427. The Dart sportsman aluminum block will take a 4.125" bore
and that is combined with a 4.0" stroke crank to make a 427. Some builders
only do 427 Windsors on Dart blocks, others will do both. The rod length/
stroke ratio is better with the Dart-based setup compared to the iron block
setup. There has been considerable debate on this issue in the forums,
especially over performance and longevity of both big-inch Windsor
setups and if use of the Dart block is worth the extra cost for building
big-inch Windsors. You may want to look back through those and see
what people have to say on the issue.

....Fred