New Heavy Duty 351C Block, by Tod Buttermore

More info would be great. I am a Pantera purist who feels only a Cleveland block should be in a Pantera. Someday there will be a new engine in 2511, and a stout brand-new 351C block for a starting point would be great.

Larry

What is your email?
W

Tod, we are all looking forward to the results of your test blocks. Please post your email address or send it to me at
richard@hitecheng.on.ca
Thank you
RichardT.

my email is tlb427@sbcglobal.net

The interest is growing and i plan to make a form spec sheet to respond to all of th questions.

tod

Tod it may help just to post the specs on this site 351C is the motor of choice so your in good company here.

Ron

Todd. I've been asked by others on the realbig board about cost and improvement details . Can you post these so I can forward it to the members?
Thanks, Will

this is copied & pasted from the Cleveland Forum:

Specifications of Tod Buttermore's new Cleveland block.

Siamesed bores. Cylinder O.D. is 4.550". Bores allow 4.125" overbore while retaining 0.212" walls. 4.185" bore will have 0.182" walls.

Priority Main oiling system. Sump, oil filter, crossover in front, up to main oil galley along side of the cam, from main oil galley to criss-crossed oil connection in rear of valley, through lifter oil galleys that are currently set to be 0.3125" diameter like Tod's FE block.

4 bolt mains.
Solid pan rails.
Billet caps. (Splaying will come later)
9.200" decks. (Possible 9.500" special order)
0.630" Deck thickness.
Screw-in freeze plugs.
Round water outlets at the decks for those who wish to tap and plug the holes.

External: Same bolt bosses as a stock Cleveland block, including the clutch pivot.

Finish: Bores unfinished. Will need to be honed to your pistons. Cam and crank bores unfinished. Hone to size. Decks squared to 0.002"-0.003".

Price Estimate: Iron will be $2200-$2300 and aluminum will be $2800-$2900.

Thanks George.

Hey Todd,I like what I see so far.I'd like to be kept up to date.

I am posting this info at Tod's request:

So far, here is a list of those interested in at least one block.

Tim Halstead
George Pence, cowboy from hell
Dave Wharan
Bruce (fomoco)
Randy (sellracing)
Travis
Shaneus
Jim Foster
Mark Skwarek
Canada Kaz
Ron Hammer
Vince Shanahan
Lyle Gilmore
Scott Popham
Chuck Engles
Jim Petersen
JF Jim
Bernhard Goldbach (Berlin, the Old Country!)
Rob Wehrli
David Thompson
Brenden Will
Jim Goodman
Ron Lombardo

Those who have expressed interest in dealing blocks:

AFD Dave
CHI John
Survival Motorsports (the great Barry Rabotnik)
Steven Toth
Paul Tattersall
Ty Lofstrom/TLI Racing
Mark McKeown/MME Racing

I haven't discussed anything with Kaase yet.

If you want on the list or taken off, please respond.

I meet with the bank on Wednesday and need as complete a list as possible for the initial wave of sales.

Thanks,

Tod

If you want to commit to the purchase of a block, you must contact Tod directly at:

tlb427 at sbcglobal dot net

Tod may not get your message if you only post it here

Me ... Ron Lombardo ..count me in for the Aluminum Version.

Tod has posted a quick blurb on the Cleveland Forum:

Quote:
"by the end of next week we will cast one"

Are you telling me that soon we will be able to buy an all aluminum engine from Mark McKeown, that will make 600 horsepower and all you gotta do is bolt it in??? Are you serious?? Do you know what this could lead to?? Have you no sense of social resposibility??? My God man, think of the ramifications on the social fabric of our poor belegured nation. This could be the straw that breaks the camels back!! A bunch of killer Panteras running amok??? I shudder to think!!!!

DT? An aluminum block C? I guess about $12,000. Your wife said you can get one? Great. I like her.

DT I think 600hp is conservative .. have we heard the projection of what HP this block is capable of ? Is it comparable to the DART Block.

quote:

An aluminum block C? I guess about $12,000.

Now, if the block is about $2900 - as posted above, I doubt you would NEED to spend another $9000 to get a complete engine - if you shop wisely and wrench yourself.

If you just write a check to MME, then $12K may be close.

Now where can I find $12K??

HINT: who needs GRP 4 tail lights?

Great, Doug, Ron and Larry you prove my point. Every Pantera owner will want one. They will have two and a half times the power they were designed to handle. You guys will go out and become public menaces and Nancy Pelosi will ban Panteras as being too dangerous to allow ordicnary citizens to own. Only Police and military should be allowed to have assault Panteras. You mark my words, you hot rodders will screw it up for the rest of us.
Man those grapes are sour. :P

Maybe this has already been discussed, but is this block machined, bored, and squared ready to go. Most race block I have seen require thousands of dollars in additional machining just to the block.

quote:

Finish: Bores unfinished. Will need to be honed to your pistons. Cam and crank bores unfinished. Hone to size. Decks squared to 0.002"-0.003".

I think that is about $500 right there.
I don't like the idea of line honing but that's what they do. Hone everything till it fits.
Since it is always on a go, no-go basis, I'm alsways afraid of the mains being just a little to loose.
I think that I'm a wory wart.

I'm not sure you can determine whether the deck is .002-.003" until the mains are finished, but I do like that number.

I know it is a "Cleveland" but is it cut for 9.2"?

quote:

9.200" decks. (Possible 9.500" special order)

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Mensen:
...is this block machined, bored, and squared ready to go. Most race block I have seen require thousands of dollars in additional machining ...

Engine builders like to perform the machining work themselves, or have their preferred machine shop do the work. They don't trust the block manufacturer to get everything as "square" as they would like it. and they're probably right. So block manufacturers leave the block partially unmachined to satisfy the engine builders, it gives the engine builder more block material to work with.

I am building a 351W SVO block. in some places in the bores there is evidence of slight casting texture. This is going to require a little more then a HONE ... cost ??? I estimate if I was doing the work ?? it may need a slight hit with a boring bar then a hone ... the deck will need to be checked if its square ?? then the main caps need to be milled and block line bored and or maybe a slight hone ... can should also be honed ... in my guestimation ?? this is time and money. Buying a block could mean 1000.00 in machining ... money well spent ....

BUT AND I SAY BUT ... Tod has been involved in the manufacturing of a few other very successful FE blocks. So expect this C block to be of high quality ..which probably reduce that 1000 figure.

R

I must be a really spoiled old timer. Maybe just plane lucky.
I was looking to reduce compression on my Clevelands and FE's.
I never had to aligh bore, or deck any of them.

$2900 plus the shipping and another $1200 to $1500 is a lot for an engine that doesn't need a full race prep.

What happens on the first rebore with new pistons and a new pin height? You have to do it all again?

It doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money on the block. What you are tring to do is equalize the compression stokes on each cylinder.

A production block won't even care about that until 8000rpm.

Does this block have more in it then 8000rpm?
You are into titanium everything with that you know?

That's the territory where the NASCAR "hot shots" put a Hank the Crank recip assembly in the LeManns Pantera and it blew up because the welds couldn't hold the Mallory metal in the crank at that rpms.

I wouldn't trust anyone with a NASCAR background. They can't even make a bobsled go fast without blowing up.

Doug,

This is by no means intended to debate you. BUT !

Any new Amunium Block for 2900.00 with Ductile Iron sleeves and the heritage that this block has ( GENESIS, POND and 460 TRICKFLOW ) my guess and hope is it will need minimual machining less then 1000 ..but when I build a motor costing 2900 for a block totaling 12k complete I have my engine builder check everything.

MME just built CL's motor with low compression and 700hp ... not full race prep ...but close.

On the first rebore the block has already been squared up ..but I would check it again. Remember years ago .. the drag racers used to use a new block in the tow vehicle to season it prior to machining it for race prep ..thats why I would check is again.

It brand new block I would spend the money for this block for high HP other wise purchase a 1500 SVO block for the street ..NO? At this price I dont think your buying it to compare to a production block .... I think this block is for excess of 8000 rpm ..the only man who can answer that is TOD.

Titanium ?? I;m into that now on the motor I;m building anyway.


" welds couldn't hold the Mallory metal in the crank at that rpms." ..... sorry bro but I;m a certified welder in Stick and Tig and that dont sound right ..

NASCAR is another story and a subject for another day .. you got big money, big sponsors, a lot of fans, hot shot drivers,

Ron

I wouldn't trust anyone with a NASCAR background. They can't even make a bobsled go fast without blowing up.

I will say one thing. I think $2900 for an aluminum block is a really good deal, and very tempting for me.

You are right. If you are going to "invest" in a real high performance engine, you have to spend what is necessary to give it the best odds of lasting.

I suppose that there is sufficient technology to make these blocks good investments. That is as long as you don't switch over to a Chevy.

These new blocks seem like a good ideal to me. If you are shooting for 500 plus HP why gamble on a production block that will only probably be able to be bored (Rebuilt) once before tossed in the trash because the cylinder wall thickness is to thin.

Not only that it will save you money if the bottom end doesn't fly apart and bend rods, break your crank and crack your high dollar heads.

I might be interested in the aluminum block myself as I'm sure the weight savings in the rear of my car would help me go around the corners a little faster. But I sure like the longer stroke in the 9.5" blocks

You can build a 427 Clevo with this block Mark:

4.125" bore x 4.00" stroke.

Even at a bore of 4.125" the cylinder walls are nominally 0.212" thick, plus you have a Windsor-like priority-mains oil system. Screw in freeze plugs and other little goodies.

George, my whole life I have wanted a car with an all aluminum 427. This is something I want to have very badly but I will never be able to have. You talking about it just makes it worse. I have wantitis so bad it is causing me bouts of depresion. Please don't keep rubbing it in what I can't have. It is making me bitter.

Ok sorry not to burst your bubbles, but has anyone thought (maybe I missed this topic/forum) about a World Man O'War 460 Ford "small block" aluminum block and heads??? see links below:

http://www.worldcastings.com/prods_pages/102075.htm

http://www.theengineshop.com/clevor.htm

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles...allblock/0510em_war/

http://www.worldcastings.com/ManOWarAluminumHomepage.htm

THIS IS A SMALL BLOCK FORD CRATE MOTOR THAT I GATHER IS PRETTY MUCH A BOLT IN MOTOR/HEAD COMBO WITH A 24 MONTH WARRANTY AND 600+ HP!!!

No bubble to burst, this one is a Cleveland block.
Some people feel that is what is supposed to be in the Pantera.
Go figure?

Dart, World Products and Ford Racing all sell WINDSOR blocks in alloy. If a 100% Windsor or a Clevor is your bag, then that's a good way to proceed.

The one difference you'll notice, with it's 9.2" deck height, the Clevo is limited to a 4.00" stroke. The Windsor is available in either 9.2" OR 9.5" decks, that extra 0.3" of deck allows the Windsor to fit a crankshaft with a longer stroke, up to 4.25".

However, when installing a non-Cleveland motor in a Pantera, you have to ask what exhaust systems are available. In this case, a 460 cubic inch CHI headed Clevor has no off the shelf exhaust systems available for installing it in a Pantera. All of the exhausts available for 9.5" deck motors are designed for Windsor style heads. Exhausts designed for Cleveland heads are designed for 9.2" deck blocks.

I hope that clears up some of the issues involved.

cowboy from hell

DeTom had just mentioned that he'd been dreaming of an aluminum 427....so an aluminum 460 is even better...The amazing thing is how much weight you lose and the inches you get without going to a big block. Yeah there may be some draw backs, but what a blast to drive, less weight (only 375 lbs) and a bunch more power.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom@Seal Beach:
DeTom had just mentioned that he'd been dreaming of an aluminum 427....so an aluminum 460 is even better...The amazing thing is how much weight you lose and the inches you get without going to a big block. Yeah there may be some draw backs, but what a blast to drive, less weight (only 375 lbs) and a bunch more power.

Detom is a fool with champain dreams on a beer budget. Don't listen to him. He is just jealous because everyone else is getting cool stuff for their cars that he can't afford. Detom is just a Pantera "cool guy" wantabe. Just ignore him and he will go away.

Latest news from Tod Buttermore, Tuesday May 22, 2007 ....

Quote:
"The mold is assembled, I am set to cast Wednesday morning. Despite some set-backs today outside of the foundry I was able to assemble a mold for the first sample casting. The molder is on vacation this week so I had to do alot of the work myself. The mold went together very well. I did spot some areas I want to increase metal thickness in, but over-all I am very pleased. One of the foundry guys watching and helping said he thought the set-up went together better than my FE mold does. Hopefully I will have the casting shaken out by tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned.....Tod"

ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALIZING A DREAM

Latest news from Tod Buttermore, Wednesday May 23, 2007 ....

Quote
"We poured the first block this morning at 8:30 and shook it out this afternoon at 1:00. Not bad. Had one mis run flaw that was welded while the metal was still warm. Once it is heat treated and cleaned up I will put the old yardstick to it and see if it needs any dimensional attention. I may have to use a tape measure for more accurate readings.....Tod"

picture 1 of 5

picture 2 of 5

picture 3 of 5

picture 4 of 5

picture 5 of 5

HEY George, it looks like he fixed that weak spot between the mains and the cam bearings. I bet this block would let you turn ten grand easy as pie.

quote:

Originally posted by accobra:
Remember years ago .. the drag racers used to use a new block in the tow vehicle to season it prior to machining it for race prep ..thats why I would check it again.

I used to work at an authorized Ford remanufacturer in Edmonton, Alberta, and I have bored, sleeved, and decked hundreds and hundreds of Ford V8 blocks.

The oil patch went through these motors like salted peanuts, and of course returned the core that they replaced. Often, that core was an engine that we had already rebuilt.

My observation was that a "new" block took as many as a dozen passes to get its decks square and flat, whereas the slightest kiss with the surfacer made a previously remanufactured block clean.

My conclusion was that the cast iron moved around quite a bit as it was seasoned, but once seasoned, it was very, very stable.

Aside: operating the boring bar in a production line environment is the world's most aptly named job.

quote:

Originally posted by DeTom:
Great, Doug, Ron and Larry you prove my point. Every Pantera owner will want one. They will have two and a half times the power they were designed to handle. You guys will go out and become public menaces and Nancy Pelosi will ban Panteras as being too dangerous to allow ordicnary citizens to own. Only Police and military should be allowed to have assault Panteras. You mark my words, you hot rodders will screw it up for the rest of us.
Man those grapes are sour. :P

Nancy will allow them under an amnesty program that allows migrant workers on her fram to keep them under the "no strikes" and you're in program. This will be attached to a bill in the Senate banning full term fun at short term functions.

That is very cool to see. Reminds me of making fishing weights in shop class - only a million times more complicated

But a serious question - Is this an aluminum alloy? Do we know what the recipe is? Or purity? I would think this is a concern for a block of this type & size.

This is not an issue for me. Tod Buttermore knows what he's doing, he has a proven track record. He's not a young man and his career is in the foundry business (he's a pattern maker). He has been involved in at least 2 other successful engine block projects (both 427 FE blocks). So he's no newcomer to building engine blocks, this is not a one-time deal for him and he has a reputation to maintain. However I'm sure if you asked him he would tell you both the alloy and the heat treat he plans to use, why he selected this alloy, his experience with the alloys he used in the past, what the industry standard is, etc.

cowboy from hell

A second round of 5 pictures. I am assuming this is a second block. This one "looks" perfect.

1 of 5

2 of 5

3 of 5

4 of 5

5 of 5

George,
Any idea as to how long it might be before we could buy one of these things?

Art(broken engine)Stephens

Sorry Art, no.

That sure is pretty!

Wow thats a thing of beauty ... so when ????

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by accobra:
... so when ...

Quoting the Cleveland Forum

"Several people have asked about release of blocks for purchase. At this time I am looking to buy my own machine to machine these parts and other parts that have presented themselves lately. If I have to depend on someone else to do my machining for me I might as well stop where I am, cut the pattern into little pieces, and move along. I am looking into financing and have a few machines I am considering. These things move at a glacial pace it seems, so bear with me as I do my best to get to the final stages of this project. I'm doing what I can when I can...Tod"

PROGRESS REPORT

Quoting the Cleveland Forum

"I have machined the bottom end of the sample block and am very pleased with the part so far. I am making very slow progress due to several hinderances. At the pattern shop, not only did a massive amount of work come in to interupt my time on the block project, but their CNC controller went down after a storm and I had to pull the whole CPU box to ship it for repairs. It first started acting up while I was cutting waterjacket core boxes. Then it went down completely while I was cutting something for them. Moving has slowed me down quite a bit. And now it looks like I have a shot at a project manager's position at a very prestigious aluminum foundry. They just lost their man and were recommended by my machine shop owner friend to call me. We talk on Tuesday. It's an hour away but the money and work seem to make the decision for me. I may have to pass off all machining to my friend's shop.

On other notes, Pro-gram Engineering has offered a deal to be the main-cap supplier for all blocks...Tod"

I have been in contact with Tod and have this update for everyone:

As posted on the cleveland forum, Tod will be delivering blocks to engine builders soon, and expects to produce his first run of blocks soon afterwards. He is readying to begin production.

The following is copied and pasted from the Cleveland Forum:

I am heading into the machining phase of the project so it is just a matter of time now until blocks will be ready for test building and then sales. I have avoided taking deposits up till now lest people attach the Genesis debaucle to my project. They took deposits without even having a pattern completed. I have a partially machined block with tooling and fixturing underway. I have invested quite a bit of myself and my money into this and thus I am not fearful to say that I am at the point where I am comfortable to take deposits on the first blocks that will be produced.

My plan is to do aluminum fist, since it is easier to machine, and my machine shop has gone through the learning curve on the FE blocks already. I have some 25 people interested in the aluminum already and another 25 interested in iron. By this I mean I have that many names on file. I imagine that once I begin taking deposits takers will come out of the woodwork. Guys on the Cleveland forum have been loyal and patient supporters of my efforts so far, and so I would like to offer my promised discounted price to Cleveland forum members.

Those who want aluminum are looking at $2600.00
Those who are going to want iron are in at $2100.00

I would like to see a 30% deposit on the discounted price. When these things start to ship I will be completing the sale according to the order in which deposits were made. I believe to be fair that I must refuse to take full payments.

For members of the Pantera International Forums:

Any member of the PI forums who is willing to make the 30% deposit shall receive the same discount that was offered to the members of the Cleveland forum, this includes members who expressed interest previously AND any members who have just made the decision to purchase a block.

Tod Buttermore
tlb427@sbcglobal.net

Members interested in purchasing the new block, please read the above post.

I need clarification of what machining will be done to the block ??? I'm up for giving him a deposit on the Aluminum version. Whats the address.

Ron

Ron,

the subject has been covered here (above) and on the Cleveland forum. The block will be delivered to you requiring the same amount of finish machining as would a block from Ford Racing, Dart or World Products. The block is not ready for assembly, because an engine shop would not want it that way. Engine builders prefer to perform their own final machine work.

You may want to review the posts above, or on the Cleveland forum. Beyond that, I'd recommend you contact Tod directly at his email address:

tlb427@sbcglobal.net

Tod is out of town this weekend, so if you email him, he will not respond immediately.

cowboy from hell

George,

I knew that but up until the time when it was said they were getting sold thru a Engine builder I thought different. But I went back and reviewed ..thanks for clearing that up.

Ok I;m ready ...just in time ... my 351W SVO block has not been touched yet ... do you think my SCAT crank and rods would fit the C block .. it would right ..I ordered in with C mains.

Ron

YES!!

I'm up for sending a deposit .. where do we send it.

Ron

Tod hasn't given out that info yet.

He went out of town this weekend.

The best thing to do is email him, tell him you're up for the deposit, and wait for his reply.

cowboy from hell

I got a response from Todd and he says he will take deposits when he has enough "for real" takers. Apparently out of all those previously interested only 10 have stepped up so far.

This has gotta be a great option for Pantera owner's to keep with a true 'Cleveland' and the pricing is better than a Dart or Fontana aluminum block. I might not build it straight away, but I'm damn sure I'm gonna get one while they are going who knows when this opportunity will come around again. Heck, if I could afford it I'd get two.

It's apparent that he isn't making any until he fulfills his minimum, in advance. He hasen't stated what that number is.

It sure looks pretty. Aluminum blocks even look pretty broken. Too bad there isn't going to be any durabilaty proving before you put it in your car.

LOL the thought has crossed my mind ?

Ron

It's a fantastic deal for $2600. I don't think I can finish everything up in a shop for another $500 though. I think more.

Take Note...

Tod Buttermore has a NEW email address:

tlb351@zoominternet.net

This is the latest from Tod:

Times Up

At this point I have 16 people interested in deposits. That's pretty good, I think, especially considering that they all want aluminum. I will be in touch with everyone regarding contact info.

Tod

Any update ??

Ron

Hi Ron,

Without contacting Tod directly, I've asked around, and nobody had any information beyond what we've already discussed.

take care, George

Tod has a new email address:

tlb427351@yahoo.com

Thanks G !

Another brief update from Tod:

Quote: "The fixtures are being made. I can't do much until the fixturing is ready. In the mean time I am working on several other projects. A couple of deposits have been sent in. I am working on setting up my company and getting space to run this thing out of. Harmony Castings is very busy. I fall asleep alot."

Is there an expected delivery date for the first blocks? Aside from the initial orders, I think there are many of us "sitting on the fence" waiting to see how these turn out. If all goes well I might just sell my left nut for one of these blocks.

quote:

Originally posted by ParaPantera:
I might just sell my left nut for one of these blocks.

You won't get much for it. There are a lot of them on Ebay this time of the year.

Forget about gold, diamonds and platinum Santa, I want aluminum.

Any word on these blocks yet?

Ron,

Tod has not made any further public announcements, I have no additional news. You may want to write him an email at tlb427351@yahoo.com

I need my 'luminum!

I corresponded with Tod a couple of weeks ago when I sent my deposit in.
He estimated he was 4 to 6 weeks out on the first blocks to go to two
engine builders for testing. He subsequently made the following post:

"Anyone have a 50 taper horizontal? Minimum travels 28 cubed. Coolant
thru needed. Helical interpolation. Rigid tapping not necessary.
Preferably within driving distance of Youngstown, Ohio. I need to
have blocks machined. I need other work quoted too. Please do not
respond in this thread. Email me privately. tlb427351@yahoo.com"

So it looks like he has castings that need to be machined into finished
blocks. Tod is a man of few words. Another poster explained the above
means he is looking for a horizontal machining center and that 28 cubed
means 28 inches of travel in all 3 axes (most horizontals will have a B
axis meaning the table spins to allow 360 degree access). 50 Taper is
the size of the tooling in the spindle. 50 tooling is big heavy and very
rigid for heavy cuts and fine boring. Thru coolant means coolant is
pumped at relatively high pressure (100 psi) thru the spindle to get
directly to the cutting tool as opposed to flooding with coolant via an
external nozzle.

Dan Jones

Here's another update from Tod.

Quote: "I'm ready to start machining but can't get near a machine. The machine I was going to have time on is busy with my former blocks and has been sold on top of that. My fall-back machine is busy through March. I keep taking a back seat to everyone. I have been talking to my bank about financing my own machine so I can machine blocks when I want, plus all of the other machining that is coming my way."

"In the mean time I am doing other work to fill my time and I will be talking to an iron foundry today about casting a sample iron block or two. This will allow me to have both aluminum and iron ready to machine when I either get machine time or get my own machine. Trust me people, I'm more sick of waiting on other people than you are of waiting on me. I have 14 or 15 deposits on aluminum. I don't want to keep these good gentlemen waiting and wondering. (The money is all sitting in it's own dedicated account)."

I saw Tod has posted that he is getting his own mill in about two weeks. Just thought Id let you guys know.
Tod's Newest
Jeff

This is the latest news from Tod linked in Jeff's post:

Quote: "About two weeks and my machine will be here. I am buying a Mazak H500/50. In the mean time I am scheduled to sample iron blocks. When the machine arrives I will be cutting aluminum and iron blocks."

quote:

I am buying a Mazak H500/50.

A little web searching shows that to be about a $50,000 machine.

Larry

That looks to be a nice twin pallet machining centre.
I used to program those things for a living !

Gentlemen,

Tod has hit another delay beyond his control on his way to providing the new 351C blocks. Tod is tired of having to disappoint his customers in delaying filling their PAID orders for his 351C block, he's frustrated by this latest development.

If you have been keeping up with Tod’s posted updates, you know that he has been frustrated in his attempts to have his new blocks machined commercially by others. So, he decided to buy his own CNC machine. He had one located, and put up the funds. Here is an outline of what has happened since.

Tod provided funds to a Dealer to purchase a Mazak H500/50 from a shop (Seller).

The Dealer stated the Mazak would be available in a couple of weeks, based on information the Dealer received from the Seller.

The Funds from Tod were transferred to the Dealer. Delivery was anticipated.

The Mazak would be up and running now except for the new set back:

The Seller’s new machine needs repairs, and will not be available for delivery for up to five weeks. In the meantime, the Mazak is still in use by the Seller. The Seller is delaying the sale of the Mazak until his new machine is delivered.

The owner of the Cleveland Forum has spoken with the dealer and verified this information.


George

GREAT NEWS!

The latest news from Tod:

Quote: "Okay. After all the crap I've endured, the machine I found to replace the one I bought a couple of weeks ago is here. Sitting on the shop floor ready to wire up and level. Everything went off without a hitch."

"On top of this I got the oil slinger and rear seal tools through UPS today (they are perfect) and the Erson roller timing chain set I bought just to use for checking for any possible clearance issues in the front of the castings. It looks great."

"And it didn't even rain."

Tod

Not to be a stick in the mud here but who is going to the durabilaty testing first?

I have a depsoit on one, so I guess I'm one of the 15 or so 'durability' testers for the first batch of Al blocks.

How do we "season" analuminum block? Besides salt and pepper, that is.

That thing is going to squirm around like sillyputty?

I'm sure the big billet main caps with the splayed bolts will help but does anyone know?

Wow! Now I got myself thinging? Look out Doug is thinking again! These blocks aren't going to be too stable for a stroker crank now are they?

I plan on doing a little bit of durability testing myself.

I know when we made the parts for the Corvette we used to artificially 'age' the aluminium. You will find this will be done to the al blocks, to help with stability.

Durabilty or Seasoning .... durabilty ? send it to me and I will put it in my pantera and test it for you .... LOL .... seasoning can be done with a cleaning oven at any engine builders shop or put it in another vehicle and drive it.

Ron

Seasoning is a minor issue with aluminum since it does not retain the residual stresses during the casting process like iron does. Those of you you have an aluminum block coming should not consider it an issue.

The Latest News From Tod:

Quote: "After assembling a mold Friday and having the block poured on Saturday, and waiting all weekend for results, I saw the first iron block come out of shot blast this morning. So far, so good. Aside from some expected burn-in, the block looks good. No holes. Solid in all the troublesome areas. The foundry will work on clean up and this afternoon I will take pictures of the cleaned block. I was very pleased with the results. Now I have aluminum and iron samples, and a machine that is up and running. Get ready boys!"

Tod

More pictures