400-230 block main web strength

[Garys1969RR]

Found out after I bought this 230 block, that the ones produced after 10 10 71 DID NOT have the massive main bearing supports. Only the ones produced before that date. Well I lucked out, this one has a casting date of 9 3 71! So I'll pull the crank and check it, to be sure. And also

in a thread on A Bodies, they state that the later produced 630 blocks have the thickest cyl walls, which is what you really want.

 

[moparmarks]

Correct. There are 2 different 230 blocks.

 

[m79ded]

Correct. There are 2 different 230 blocks.

I wonder why that was done? I have no idea
I found a 630 cast feb 72 and it seems ok built my 451 from that.I was reading it's not as good as the block Gary has but it's adequate and a good alternative. I read from a few that they are a bit better than the later 530. Either way the 400 is a good block

 

[cryplydog]

Years ago Richard Eherinberg of Mopar Action wrote a very interesting article on the questioned 230 blocks. I don't know the issue # but it lent some great speculation into what the factory race engineers were trying to brew up with this heavy block. I hope I still have that copy.

 

[m79ded]

Years ago Richard Eherinberg of Mopar Action wrote a very interesting article on the questioned 230 blocks. I don't know the issue # but it lent some great speculation into what the factory race engineers were trying to brew up with this heavy block. I hope I still have that copy.

I wonder if engineers were thinking Ball Stud hemi?? HMMMMMMM perhaps????? you never know

 

[cryplydog]

E Berg loosely stated if I recall correctly that it looked at that time they were trying to come up with a new low deck BB with the new at that time mopar stroker crank and new heads for the upcoming race season and or a new factory street brawler engine but the ax fell overnight due to the new oil embargo and pretty well all race program stuff was basically scrapped in short order. Remember, this is a rough over view of what I read in mopar action many years ago and therefore could be partially incomplete and the facts questionable but the same article is out there some where and someone more computer savvy i'm sure could find it. The Heavy 230 block is all that remained.

 

[m79ded]

E Berg loosely stated if I recall correctly that it looked at that time they were trying to come up with a new low deck BB with the new at that time mopar stroker crank and new heads for the upcoming race season and or a new factory street brawler engine but the ax fell overnight due to the new oil embargo and pretty well all race program stuff was basically scrapped in short order. Remember, this is a rough over view of what I read in mopar action many years ago and therefore could be partially incomplete and the facts questionable but the same article is out there some where and someone more computer savvy i'm sure could find it. The Heavy 230 block is all that remained.

That makes sense, Too bad, never know how things might have turned out if emmisions and oil embargo didn't happen

 

[andyf]

I have a cross-bolted early 230 block in my Coronet.

 

[m79ded]

I have a cross-bolted early 230 block in my Coronet.
View attachment 697182

That's awesome, now I realize how this is so much better than girdle

 

[mopar 3 B]

There were many complaints about the early thin wall castings. Warranted or not overheating and cracked cylinder walls come to mind.

 

[66Satellite47]

My experience with 400 blocks & later 440 blocks, was not dependent on the year or casting number. I sonic checked more than dozen 440 & 400 blocks. Year didn't seem to matter much. Don't think I ever had a 230 400 block to look at. Both my 451 400's didn't have main web problems. But did break a main cap. 7400 - 7600 RPM is to much for stock 440-400 parts. Stock 440 cranks don't last that long at 7000 rpm. Keep it 6500 and you will likely be good.

 

[1967coronet440]

I still believe if you make enough power to break a 440 block it’ll break a 400 block, no matter the casting dates. JMO

 

[Bighead440]

The mega-thick main web "230" blocks (in my experience) have the BOLD casting numbers. IDK what that means, because I have seen mid '60s 383s with a similar bold casting number. ??

 

[400sforever]

Sweet I've got an early 230 block as well. . Had to go look at my date

 

[Garys1969RR]

Sweet I've got an early 230 block as well. . Had to go look at my date

View attachment 697539 View attachment 697543 View attachment 697544

Yours was built 26 days before mine! LOL. Mine is 9-3-71. And mine is a 230-4, while yours is a 230-3. Interesting the way they did the blocks back then.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Looks like our blocks were built just a few weeks before the changeover date of 10 10 71.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Oh, mine is 9- 3, while yours is 9 -29. Looks like yours had the Turquoise paint.

 

[andyf]

Yes, the early blocks have the casting number in a bigger font than the late blocks. The 230 crossbolted block that I have in my Coronet is a 9/29 block which is near the end of the line for the HD main webs.

 

[400sforever]

That is strange with the engine paint change up going on there like that!

 

[Garys1969RR]

That is strange with the engine paint change up going on there like that!

I wonder what is the correct color for that year? Mine may have been re painted orange. I thought turquoise was the original color, and I'm leaning towards that color when I re build it.