Mike,that block has a casting date,these only have the D number,no casting dateTom

Tom, the first block has significant white and grey corrosion. You might want to passivate it.

Anybody know where these blocks were cast? PMD? Harvey Aluminum?
How many?
Any member here have any info to share about them?

Mike Noun- what is the block in your pictures?

Tom- if you don't mind, I'd appreciate you answering this question.

Jack, what would you call any old aluminum block?

I have wondered what all the aluminum blocks were intended for, or if Mickey just had the pull to have them made, and would use them as he desired....

IAII and MR1 are both available in aloominium

The block in Mike's picture is on display at the Pontiac Museum in Illinois, not sure of casting date thou

Jack,have any idea where I could find just any old pontiac alu block?These have a D number so im sure PMD foundry cast them.Who knows they might just go under a nice piece of glass and will be my new desk.Tom

My factory all alu engine was cast in April 1959 and it had a 61-64 bell pattern.It was a 3in main and was marked V 370 on the face of the block.Tom

Tom, first congratulations on obtaining these rare blocks. It's truly amazing parts like this, un-machined are still out there in the nooks and crannies of the Pontiac world. Looking at your pics one item really stood out to me. I am surprised it appears the area where the main caps would bolt-up is a cast-in area with voids from a core? I would think they would just be drilled and tapped into the solid aluminum? I didn't see any partial bolt hole locations anywhere else on the casting. The two primary machining datums for the block are not located on that block. From the factory, the large hole on the pan rail where the later model starter pad is and the one on the front face near the cam bearing area are the first two machined items I think. Dimitrie Toth could probably verify this since his father and he both were "on the line" for decades during machining and casting. You will have a wonderful time working with that hiustoric hunk of aluminum. I am pretty jealous as well.

That was the first thing I looked for on these blocks.The 2 later alu blocks had exactly those holes in the pan rail.BUT those blocks had the pan rail machined when I got them.Dimitrie did not have any knowledge of the early blocks as many were cast in the late 50s.They might have had a outside foundry cast them also.The later ones were cast I think about 1972.No clue on these 2 blocks.Im taking them to my machinist this week to have him take a look at them.Monetarily wise it makes no sense to do anything with these castings as they will never be as good as the aftermarket alu blocks avail.I have never been accused of having good sense.Tom

I think the mojo trips your trigger :) I can dig that.

The journey is the reward?Tom

Maybe. But as you know, the two I have (and 1 or 2 you had) also had 'D' numbers and were definitely cast by Harvey Aluminum. Admittedly the 'D' numbers were stamped- but that doesn't mean that PMD couldn't have called for cast-in 'D' numbers by an outside foundry.

Where to find "... any old aluminum Pontiac block..." ??? You can answer this better than I can. But I think you'll agree that these two certainly aren't "any old" ones.

I can only answer regarding the half-dozen Harvey Aluminum blocks (two of which I bought from Mickey and Tom S had at least one). I have copies of documentation of the following:
They were for a 1961 study by PMD to evaluate plated (non-sleeved) bores in aluminum blocks- one of mine had remnants of chrome-plate on the bores, and marks where a thermocouple had been clamped between the deck and a head. It was a failed attempt. Mickey knew about the blocks and somehow(??) acquired them. These blocks were in no way race-oriented, as Pontiac merely loaned Harvey the sand-casting patterns of a 389. The main webs (and possibly the decks) were slightly thickened, but the bare blocks only weigh 69 lbs.

Jack, yes, the MT block I posted photos of is at the Pontiac Museum. I have more detailed photos (hi-res), but PY reduces the image size.

The all-aluminum engine that appeared in a 1962 Catalina at the POCI Nats was another one I thought of.

Mike

Mike,that was my engine I built,it was in my 63 lemans wagon when I sold it.The engine then went in one of those 62 bubble top cats.Tom

The codes on the block in the Pontiac Museum:

D-42042
EO-3617
BLK NO-8
V370AL-3


Mike

Does that look like change 56?Tom