[65nss4spdGTO]

Originally Posted by p4msi1

Does anybody know what the brinell hardness of a stock pontiac block would be? I have a chance to buy a blemished IA2 block but it is a little soft at 180 brinell. Do you think it will hold 800-850 HP reliably on the street? Thanks

Steve

Brinell testing is mearly a snap shot. It doesn't take into consideration heat cycles and prolonged load cycles. I've ground on blocks that on the surface seem hard, but once material is removed, you find casting porosity that weakens the block.

Btw, I've not seen any casting or porosity issues with a factory block.

Calvin Hill
Hill Performance
708-250-7420

[p4msi1]

Originally Posted by 65nss4spdGTO

Brinell testing is mearly a snap shot. It doesn't take into consideration heat cycles and prolonged load cycles. I've ground on blocks that on the surface seem hard, but once material is removed, you find casting porosity that weakens the block.

Btw, I've not seen any casting or porosity issues with a factory block.

Calvin Hill
Hill Performance
708-250-7420

Calvin,

I'm trying to decide if I should chance my current 455 with a street 800 HP or would this "softer" IA2 be a better option. I might just buy a regular IA2 and just skip this "softer" block. I drive this car out on trips and play with it a lot, the last thing I need to do is break the block when I'm 8 hours from home.

Steve

[Marty Palbykin]

Buy a good block it is the foundation.
Because if 800hp is good 1000hp is better.

Good luck

I'm trying to decide if I should chance my current 455 with a street 800 HP or would this "softer" IA2 be a better option. I might just buy a regular IA2 and just skip this "softer" block. I drive this car out on trips and play with it a lot, the last thing I need to do is break the block when I'm 8 hours from home.

Steve[/QUOTE]

[p4msi1]

Hey Marty, you been seeing my boy, Micah, Lately? Oh, Thanks for the advise.


Steve Prudhomme

[Marty Palbykin]

Originally Posted by p4msi1

Hey Marty, you been seeing my boy, Micah, Lately? Oh, Thanks for the advise.


Steve Prudhomme

Yes he a good man.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Marty Palbykin

Buy a good block it is the foundation.
Because if 800hp is good 1000hp is better.

Good luck

I'm trying to decide if I should chance my current 455 with a street 800 HP or would this "softer" IA2 be a better option. I might just buy a regular IA2 and just skip this "softer" block. I drive this car out on trips and play with it a lot, the last thing I need to do is break the block when I'm 8 hours from home.

Steve

[/QUOTE]

So very true Marty, as you well know.
BOOST IS ADDICTIVE! YOU WILL START OUT SAYING IN GOOD FAITH THAT I WILL NOT GO OVER 800 HP. Then the Boost Fever comes and you want 1000 hp or more.

Agree with the NA deal not being as big of an issue because you can't add 300 more hp with just the turn of a screw or pulley change like a boosted deal.

Buy the better block in the beginning for boost.

Tom V.

[p4msi1]

Tom, you and Marty pushed me into a new block, Thanks?

Steve

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by p4msi1

Tom, you and Marty pushed me into a new block, Thanks?

Steve

Hopefully saved you some money at the end of the day and you have a really durably block (where like Charlie66 in the boost forum) you can grow with the boost levels that you dial into the engine combination over time and not worry about the block.

Tom V.

[65nss4spdGTO]

Originally Posted by p4msi1

Calvin,

I'm trying to decide if I should chance my current 455 with a street 800 HP or would this "softer" IA2 be a better option. I might just buy a regular IA2 and just skip this "softer" block. I drive this car out on trips and play with it a lot, the last thing I need to do is break the block when I'm 8 hours from home.

Steve

It sounds like you are making a good decision.

Calvin Hill
Hill Performance
708-250-7420