[Excaliber]

While a 428 may be 'weaker' than a modern block you have to keep that in perspective, a 428 is certainly 'strong enough' for 99% of the applications it will be used in. As for the block 'splitting' that tendancy is at high rpm when built to max horse power, not really an issue unless your reving and racing it hard. As for modern blocks AND rods there are numerous examples of catastrophic engine failures. Going 'new' is not a gaurentee everything is going to be OK!