[tekuhn]

I'm not sure how I feel about this information. I thought I was buying a RA-IV SR block. It has the correct RA-IV block part number with an A added, yet it's clear it was intended for replacement of a RA-III with 4-bolt main caps. There is no difference in the block, only the pistons that were fitted to it. Does this information diminish the value of the block somewhat? Is a "B" block worth more than an "A" block if they were in identical condition? Could someone restoring a '70 RA-IV vehicle use this block and it be considered correct? With what I now know, I would have to say no.

I realize this is all subjective, and I didn't buy the block as an investment. I bought it to pair with a set of 614 heads for a '70 Judge I was building. After I bought the WY RA-V crate engine for the Judge, I stopped any plans to build the RA-IV. I no longer have the Judge or the RA-V engine.

[Rocky Rotella]

Originally Posted by tekuhn

I'm not sure how I feel about this information. I thought I was buying a RA-IV SR block. It has the correct RA-IV block part number with an A added, yet it's clear it was intended for replacement of a RA-III with 4-bolt main caps. There is no difference in the block, only the pistons that were fitted to it. Does this information diminish the value of the block somewhat? Is a "B" block worth more than an "A" block if they were in identical condition? Could someone restoring a '70 RA-IV vehicle use this block and it be considered correct? With what I now know, I would have to say no.

I realize this is all subjective, and I didn't buy the block as an investment. I bought it to pair with a set of 614 heads for a '70 Judge I was building. After I bought the WY RA-V crate engine for the Judge, I stopped any plans to build the RA-IV. I no longer have the Judge or the RA-V engine.

I don't know that I'd be too concerned with the situation. Whoever would potentially buy the block for their vehicle is buying it for the stamped part number and not necessarily the pistons. In fact, with the way things are today concerning aftermarket parts availability (with COVID) notwithstanding, from a performance standpoint there are much better piston options than what Pontiac developed 60+ years ago.

Where the "real" application is concerned, I believe that it being for a Ram Air III actually increases your potential buyer base. Based on the stamped casting number, the block is the correct SR unit for any 1970 R/A III or R/A IV and that's what most people are concerned with. I don't think anyone but those that reads this particular post (and believes me!) will have any idea what the A/B means. And it was limited to the 1973 castings as best as I can tell so far.

In the end, no matter how you look at it, you still have an NOS 9799915 SR block!