Highwaystar
Well-Known Member
Looking on the East Coast
Who has the best 451 crate motor with cast heads that makes 500 HP
- Thread starter Highwaystar
- Start date
- Local time
- 4:50 PM
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2020
- Messages
- 6,533
- Reaction score
- 14,298
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Indy Cylinder Heads could likely fix you up.
Never heard much good about dealing with Indy directly... Most folks say buy Indy components through authorized resellers not Indy directly....
Cojohnso1
Well-Known Member
I am hearing 400 blocks are becoming harder to find? I have not heard of a 451 crate? This build once upon a time I called. "Poor man's stroker?" When 440 forged cranks were still in scrap yards. Chevy's poor man stroker is the 383/388 SB.
I keep an eye out for 400 bare blocks.
I keep an eye out for 400 bare blocks.
Indy is under new owners/management!
Mike
Mike67
Well-Known Member
There is a company called Renee Country Auto, he is retired Army and builds nothing but Mopar in N.Carolina. Moderate level performance +/-450-500hp
I've spoken to him once or twice about possibly doing a build. Sounded knowledgeable and price was a lot better than the big name builders. I just can't speak to actual quality. He has a store on Ebay. Also his reviews are all very positive.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...FjADegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw0h6bDHFxyScMj79Vt4zKJY
I've spoken to him once or twice about possibly doing a build. Sounded knowledgeable and price was a lot better than the big name builders. I just can't speak to actual quality. He has a store on Ebay. Also his reviews are all very positive.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...FjADegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw0h6bDHFxyScMj79Vt4zKJY
Last edited:
wish4hemi
Well-Known Member
As stated, Indy is under new management, so I would expect that customer service to have improved. They’d be worth a call. See here: https://moparconnectionmagazine.com...aft-secure-the-future-of-indy-cylinder-heads/
Well hopefully the new management gets things straightened out... Indy builds some nice parts...
Another builder worth giving a call would be Barton... Or Best... Or Hughes...
Another builder worth giving a call would be Barton... Or Best... Or Hughes...
Highwaystar
Well-Known Member
Cast Iron Heads, Intake to oil pan as Crate, Has anyone used Muscle motors??
Cojohnso1
Well-Known Member
I've looked into Muscle Motors. It turns out it's now Bulldog Performance. Muscle Motors looked to be the answer to a lot of build options with "The Block." Richard Bradshaw of Bulldog has had issues delivering on purchases. Not sure if that has been cleared up today? But I wouldn't recommend at this point.
padam
Well-Known Member
That's a horrible interview. The answers sound like they were written by an internet bot.
Highwaystar
Well-Known Member
Likely make more money on custom engines, and don't really have to warranty rotating assemblies. Warranties are stuck on the local machine shop..
Cojohnso1
Well-Known Member
I believe it's a shortage of blocks. 451 is on the 400 B-block platform. I have not seen an aftermarket B-block. (Although that certainly doesn't mean they don't exist.) Mopar Performance focused on RB platform for its aftermarket.
68Dart470
Well-Known Member
As someone who's building a low-deck, 400 blocks are not plentiful at all, especially early blocks. They just weren't kept and mostly crushed with the cars as they weren't desireable for most hot-rodders. One I had as a spare turns out to have a water jacket crack and the one I just scored is frozen and trying to "unstick". Had to travel out of state for that one. After this b.s. , I may just save up for an aftermarket next time.
Challenger340
Well-Known Member
I don't think there is any such thing as a "451 Crate" out there at 500 hp under the Cast Iron Head criterion you are expecting ?
for the very simple reason.....
that your "500 HP" criterion implies a "250 cfm" Head Flow from those Cast Iron Heads that would cost MORE $ to rebuild/Port properly with Parts & Labor than any entry level Aluminum Head that would outflow those expensive 250 cfm Cast Iron Heads ?
Bottom line here is it would COST MORE $ in Parts/Labor to rebuild a set of Cast Iron Heads to the 250 cfm Flow level for your 500 hp criterion ?
than conversely...
just going out and purchasing for example some STEALTH Aluminum Heads that Flow ~265'ish CFM as delivered for $499.
Remember the 'rule of thumb' here OK ?
If you are targeting a 500 hp engine ?
Each 10 HP requires roughly 5 cfm Head Flow..... meaning that for a very "rough target" during feasibility.... that if you are thinking about a 500 hp Engine you should also be thinking "250" cfm Head Flow ?
for the very simple reason.....
that your "500 HP" criterion implies a "250 cfm" Head Flow from those Cast Iron Heads that would cost MORE $ to rebuild/Port properly with Parts & Labor than any entry level Aluminum Head that would outflow those expensive 250 cfm Cast Iron Heads ?
Bottom line here is it would COST MORE $ in Parts/Labor to rebuild a set of Cast Iron Heads to the 250 cfm Flow level for your 500 hp criterion ?
than conversely...
just going out and purchasing for example some STEALTH Aluminum Heads that Flow ~265'ish CFM as delivered for $499.
Remember the 'rule of thumb' here OK ?
If you are targeting a 500 hp engine ?
Each 10 HP requires roughly 5 cfm Head Flow..... meaning that for a very "rough target" during feasibility.... that if you are thinking about a 500 hp Engine you should also be thinking "250" cfm Head Flow ?
Cojohnso1
Well-Known Member
The thread is BB. And most all the 70s 400 have been plucked or crushed. The problem wasn't the block. The problem was put into crappy cars. Not just Mopar. Crappy design was everywhere in the mid/late 70s thru some of the 80s. It was turbulent times in the automotive industry. Gas embargos, Production focus on quantity, not so much quality. The rise of the Japanese import? It was strange days.
Similar threads
