A cheap aftermarket block would be really great. Here is why it's likely not going to happen. Where and how are you going to take half the cost out of it? Cast iron is cheap, cheap, cheap. So little savings there. Take 50 lbs. out of the casting, save $50.00? Core cost would remain the same, core box cost would remain the same. Lower the quality of the iron, save another $50.00? Use cast iron caps and crap hardware, save another $200.00? OK now your $3000.00 block is $2700.00 and a marginal piece. The ONLY way I can see substantial savings is to have them cast in China, and that's no guarantee of huge savings. There is an FE Ford block cast in China and a really nice casting. I have been involved in a build of one. It was still over 3K for the block, cast in China. Steel caps though. Chevy blocks are cheap because thousands of them are made and sold every year.
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