They're just not there. All of the hack shops are out of blocks. Nobody offers short blocks without core problems or a core, for any format. There are no options except a fairly over-priced entry point for the 8.2, 9.5s don't exist used as an aftermarket block, and 9.2s are exotic and only for, I guess, speculation.

I'm not aware of ONE engine shop in the 'net who is honest about cores. Nobody has any. Lead times are months. Everyone is hostile because they're lying.

The SBF industry is kaput. You have to completely buying brand-new parts, or scrounge for now-rare parts and pay a fortune for shop work, often arcane and who knows if 'your guy' actually knows anything. Months to get into big reputable shops.

That's it. So where do we go from here? Ford's new offerings are sub-par for what Ford trucks are. I don't want an exotic multi-valve, complex engine in my truck, and neither does anyone else except for those way up the scale who can afford to mimic Cleetus McFarland. I can't.

And now there are two options for cheap, reliable, old-school power. The LS and the SBC, offered widely across the internet as a bolt-together option with rock-solid short blocks festooning my Summit catalog with multiple piston options.

Used to be, a Ford fella could put somethin together to compete with that. It's GONE.

Absent.

Ayyy. Wall.

It's over.

 

Cash for clunkers was the beginning of the end. Have you noticed they're closing every scrapyard they can find? The economy being in a depression since 2008 has been a big part of the death of the hobby as well.

I've also observed that lots of indie car dealers and traders are gone too. Noticed this with indie thrift stores as well.

People need to to accept this stuff is being done on purpose.

 

Head up north or to the southwest. Look on fb marketplace. roller cam 5.0 in millions of CV, GM, Lincolns. You just need to look. I have a roller in the garage, non-roller in dent side that runs and 78 with bad crank.

 

Considering the last SBF was ~2002 in Explorers, that's 22 years ago! The last 351W was 1997, so over 27 years ago! 1997 for the last of the 460s as well... Yes, those engine are starting to dry up. My local junkyard still get them in...I can still get 'core' engines for ~$250, core meaning no warranty, or return.

 

Yes, they are getting rare, but they do still show up occasionally. Look for Explorers and Mountaineers; many were made with the 5.0 v8, they are still or will be available in the scrap yards.

 

I think that a lot of this depends on where you live in the country. Where I live in central Missouri those engines are quite plentiful. I think that the ones that are somewhat hard to come by around here are roller cam 351W blocks, cores etc. A good thing is that parts interchangeability is quite good on those so putting together an engine that's a combination of old and very old parts is not difficult.

 

Welcome to what happens when you get old.

 

Hence when I see one locally I buy it. 200-300 dollars for running stock 5.8 rollers.
I have one on the stand, one in my truck and one spare. There’s lots out there.

 

Being in northern Illinois, I see them all the time. 289s are a little few and far between but 302s are out there and pretty cheap to boot. I know of two 302s (non-roller) within 30 minutes that are less than $200. Granted, they need a rebuild (are offered as "cores") but appear to be complete. SBF not dead here.

 

They are out there, just gotta look. American Muscle for example.

 

good cores are hard to find in some places today, luckily the aftermarket has stepped in with new budget friendly 351W and 351C blocks today...

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...67163389uaut6V

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...4db0b424Mw43Dl

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...4b54691cihRh5T

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...4f43481cwQZEXY

 

OMG! Do you really think those are even options? Absolutely nothing good is cheap. Sure, there are those rare times, but as far as I am concerned, none of those are options.

Did you read the fine print? Two of those options say they are sold 2 or more. One of them has an option to sell one but they want $750 for shipping. The last one, well they must be rejects because they are substantially cheaper than the other three options with a $100 shipping cost. All of them say they are Cleveland blocks. Don't forget something that big may have a customs charge.

I see nothing good with those links. They are even too expensive to be boat anchors.

I thought people learned with the Brooklyn bridge.

 

i have bought 4 of them in past for under 2grand, both rated for 1500 hp and even being sold up here in cnd now

https://www.performance-world.com/En...k-p/364351.htm

think there are 3 - 4 casting versions of the 9.5" 351W being sold now from different suppliers and i believe 2 versions of the 9.2" 351C

I originaly found out about them from TMeyer as he has used these offshore blocks many times in past

SBF 454 Stroker Circle Track Engine Build - FordMuscle

these are the ones i bought... https://www.fordmuscleforums.com/thr...t#post-1639721

 

I don't know, but I suspect TMeyer does not take one of those off the shelf blocks without doing a whole bunch of work.

I've always said China can make some good stuff, but it take some influence for them to make that stuff for you. If you wanted to buy 1,000 blocks and were willing to meet with them in China, they probably can put in the effort to pump out some good stuff. Like all manufacturing, there are some that do not meet specs. Where do you think they go? I always believe they are sold individually at a discount and shipped halfway around the world to some sucker.