olddog,
Absolutely no insult taken and I really appreciate your personal feedback.
The points you raise are completely valid. A diet beats $4500 any day!
The great thing about this forum is the diverse group that contributes here.
There-in is the extension of your comments.
The block (and engines) we are offering are designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of users. You apparently desire a street application and the cost involved plus the weight savings are of no benefit to you. Which is totally valid. I can't "sell" you one. (Maybe not even
give you one!) Your comments about FE power and percieved value are also on target. Re. your thoughts about "turning higher RPM... and total destruction"- We test our street engines to 6500 and warranty them for two years. (Drags to 7200 but no warranty).We make sure nothing "lets loose" 'cause it would cost us money. We build 450 engines per year-the math is painful..
Having said all that, I know many Cobra and a few GT owners who just live for the eye-popping appeal and the "look how much I spent!" of aluminum parts, braided hoses and polished components of every type-regardless of cost. Their only requirement is to exhibit.
There are a few who truly enjoy the
dynamics of a car built to thrill with speed and handling. Open track cars, autocrossers and drag racers-they may find more cause to investigate our parts, and they are here on this forum too.
As you imply, there are only two reasons to have aluminum blocks. Weight savings (provided your application requires lightening or balance adjustment)- and wow-factor. It's well known that aluminum blocks of the same design as iron do not make more power. (However, a blocks
truness can add 20HP as Joe Sherman taught us at Engine masters) The introduction of our new cylinder heads
will show new power gains but that's a story for another day.
Drag racers find a tenth or two (which is valuable to them) with a 100 lb reduction. Bill Laskowsky has run our iron version of this block at 2800HP with a 42 psi blower to a NMRA Super Street Outlaw, 10.5" tire class record 188mph. If this aluminum block can "only" handle 1800HP, we'll be happy.
Open track racers desire lightness not only for better lap times but for the corresponding decrease in brake sizes, wheel weights and chassis gusseting-thereby further reducing weight.
We've got sprint guys, drag racers, "Silver State" unlimited speed crazies, custom and rod builders and two LSR guys showing interest in this block.
Our desire here is to inform the Cobra and GT owners-if their interest lies in an alternative block or crate engine choice, we're it. This thread about the CHI "Clevor" combination is an example of how we're trying to give the market what it may want.
But olddog, I've found the
real reason I can't sell you our block-that GIGANTIC Roots blower in your gallery! How do you get that under your hood scoop?
