Got to thinking of a nutty v8 swap, and came to the conclusion I needed to grab a mock up block and play with engine placement, header routing, etc.. Then got to looking a prices for said plastic engine blocks.....WHAT THE?? 300$ for a plastic brick with threads for accessories, heads, pan.....huh? it's plastic? umm there's gotta be a better way..... I got to thinking, I've got 3 or 4 old 305 blocks laying around here. Hmmmmmmm any ideas on making them lighter? Take a torch to the inside of the block and take most the guts out? dunno, Anyone tried it? tips or tricks?
Thanks
Screw mock up blocks. I found a real version of the motor you are looking for, for about $350. Lets each buy one and see if we can get a deal.
I thought about taking a junked block/engine, making a mold, then casting my own mock block with expanding foam. It would be light and easy to move around in and empty bay.
MrJoshua wrote:
Screw mock up blocks. I found a real version of the motor you are looking for, for about $350. Lets each buy one and see if we can get a deal.
Gotta wait till January then I think it may be on.
My wife came up with the idea of a paper mache engine....then came the engine shaped Pinata's, did I mention the doctor gave her new muscle relaxers for her back today?
Carson wrote:
I thought about taking a junked block/engine, making a mold, then casting my own mock block with expanding foam. It would be light and easy to move around in and empty bay.
This may be an idea worth looking into....the 305's are pretty much going into the next scrap load if the price of scrap ever get's back up.
Maybe you can pick up an a'sploded SBC sitting behind your local speed shop for $free. A sizable hole on the side might make it a little lighter and easier for you to haul off too.
I've got one of those plastic engines - an LS. It's great. I can lift it in and out of the engine bay without any effort. When I'm done, I'll sell it.
if I still need one at that point I'd prob be interested if I haven't found something else to work with yet.
I to got all excited about foam mock blocks and transmissions, and like you was shocked at the price. Never mind!
build one out of pink/blue foam insulation boards. A little construction adhesive and one of theose electric turkey carvers can easily get you into smallblock proportions in a hurry.
Buy one... use it and rent it out for $50 a weekend
Seems like it'd be a pretty easy 'glass job if you had a spare laying around to copy. If it didn't have to be pretty, I would just slather the 'glass over the old block, cut it out, and instead of using that as my mold, I'd just glue it together and say 'close enough'.
http://www.smooth-on.com/ has a lot of good mold making supplies, It could be done pretty cheaply, you just wouldnt be able to screw anything to it.
Spinout007 wrote:
My wife came up with the idea of a paper mache engine....then came the engine shaped Pinata's, did I mention the doctor gave her new muscle relaxers for her back today?
I want one for my birthday!!!
In reply to Carrera4:
What? Muscle relaxers? I just got an email for great rates on Rx b0n3r pi11z from Canada I can forward on to you. They might be able to help you out with some muscle relaxers too.
glass or foam may be an option as well, one sheet of the 2in thick stuff would prob get me real close to the real thing if stuck together over and over.....Hmm
Could be a really fun casting project, and when you're done you have a master mold to mock up blocks for the rest of us 
just use that foam rubber stuff with a glass shell, not sure about the other mold prep but what could possibly go wrong!
gluing blocks together works too, I see folks using those electric turkey carving knives to cut the shape.. always wanted to have a go at that.
I was thinking more like a box with slightly angled sides and a really wide top...but doing the make-a-solid-block-out-of-foam-sheeting-and-carving-out-a-engine-shape-with-a-electric-turkey-carver idea might do the trick too 
I have my rainy day project
actually, you could order the expensive block, make your mold, send it back. Not sure how youd keep it undamaged though.. hmm 
I dont think theyd enjoy the little bits of silicon rubber stuck in the threads.
