[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

There are better alternatives out there in the 455 world. I recently bought 2 early 70's 455's for $500.00 for the pair. They are still out there. Both standard bore. 2 bolt main. To properly install and surface 8 sleeves, then torque plate hone the block, you are looking at close to $2200.00 around here. That aftermarket block starts looking pretty darn good at that point. When your done, you still have a lower grade iron block with a compromised deck. Unless a numbers matching trailer queen, I would start fresh with a better block. JMO. On the flip side, I had a customer with an early street hemi in a numbers matching factory lightweight Plymouth. We welded up 6-8 external cracks in the block, put 8 sleeves in it, welded a repair in the block to hold 2 center caps and band aided it back together per the owner's request. He had well over 5K in the block repairs. It survived the dyno. No idea how it did after that. No warranty of any kind on repairs like this .

And saving the numbers matching engine increased the value of the car considerably more that the cost of repairing the block.

Good job Mike!