Dart Releases SHP SBF block

[mlowry1260]

Dart Releases SHP SBF block
Following on the heels of their successful Chevy Special High Performance block, Dart is introducing a Ford 302-style SHP block for the Blue Oval faithful. This cast-iron block is made in the USA on all-new tooling and is designed to span the gap between a full-race block and a reworked factory piece, with a price that will put it within the budget of both the street performance and sportsman racer markets.



The block, which features a standard-height 8.2-inch tall, .625-inch thick deck with blind 1/2-inch bolt holes, can be ordered with your choice of 4.00 or 4.125-inch siamesed cylinder bores, and can safely take an overbore all the way out to 4.185-inches, with a minimum wall thickness of .230. The number 1 and 5 main caps are two-bolt, while the center three are splayed 4-bolt - all are steel, and use half-inch bolts for strength. The valley is machined to accept factory-style roller lifter guides and retainers. Unlike factory blocks, the Dart SHP has true priority main oiling, and Dart recommends it in applications all the way up to 600 horsepower.

Source:

Dart
Web: www.dartheads.com
Phone: 248-362-1188

Original Dart Press Release Text Below:

You asked for it...

Our SHP block has been the subject of much discussion and excitment of late, and a lot of people have been asking us "Where is the Ford version?"

Well, ok, we hear you loud and clear...

We are introducing a new Special High Performance Ford 302 style block.

Following up on the success of our SHP Chevy small block, our new Ford small block meets the need for an affordable, precision machined, cast iron block with superior features. It's made in the U.S.A. on all-new tooling and priced hundreds of dollars less than a full race block, the SHP delivers exceptional value.

The SHP Ford block is tailored to the most popular performance and racing applications, with an 8.200" (302) deck height and a choice of 4.00" or 4.125" siamesed cylinder bores which can safely be bored to 4.185". Steel main caps are splayed 4-bolt on the center three and 2-bolt on #1 and #5, and utilize 1/2" bolts. The valley is machined to accpet factory roller lifter guides and retainer (spider).

Designed for high performance and heavy duty applications producing up to 600 horsepower, the SHP Ford block is the ideal starting point for hot rodders, drag racers, curcle track competitors, off-roaders and high performance marine enthusiasts.

SHP blocks are manufactured on Dart's in-house CNC machining centers to precision tolerances. The SHP block's siamese cylinders have a .230 minimum wall thickness at 4.185" bore diameter. other features include a true priority main oiling system that ensures reliable lubrication at high rpm, .625" thick decks with blind 1/2" head bolt holes and clearance for long stroke crankshafts. The SHP block retains the Ford small block's original dimensions and is compatible with most stock components.

You asked for it... you got it.

[wick]

Its about time

[Killercanary]

Mark, are there any details out yet on how this differs from their sportman block and what the price point may come out at?

[gmkillr]

Most guys are saying its going to be in the $1500-1600 range.
Which isn't much cheaper than the sportsmen at $2000
This should be priced in the $1200-1300 range and they would sell like crazy!

[wick]

Most guys are saying its going to be in the $1500-1600 range.
Which isn't much cheaper than the sportsmen at $2000
This should be priced in the $1200-1300 range and they would sell like crazy!

Like hot cakes!!!

[Rio94gt]

Only good to 600 HP? What good is that gonna do.

[gmkillr]

Only good to 600 HP? What good is that gonna do.

It's supposedly very underrated and should easily take 800-900 hp.

[Rio94gt]

Blah, too overpriced then. Might as well save a lil more and get the better Dart block.

[gmkillr]

Blah, too overpriced then. Might as well save a lil more and get the better Dart block.

Yeah, for $400 more you can have the better block.
Does not make sense to me..............

[Ares]

Really how does this block compare to Fords new Boss block which I think you can get cheaper then this Dart block?

[MBH]

Only good to 600 HP? What good is that gonna do.

that's what I'm sayin

[crazylou]

junk. spend the extra 400 and just get the rite 1 the 1st time...they are under rating hp for a reason...if ur worried about 400 bucks do it really cheap stock block main girdle and take ur chances... 600 hp LOL WHAT A JOKE...

[mlowry1260]

Bill,

I suspect the 600 hp rating is way conservative. With thick siamese bores, splayed caps & beefy mains I would think this block would be safe to 800-1000 hp.


Here's another source of information.
http://bbs.hardcore50.com/vbulletin/...ad.php?t=48210

Brain aka ScatStroker wrote:

"With DART's introduction of the SBC SHP line they're discussing bringing the same features to a Ford block at a lower cost.

What they've initially dicussed:

8.2 Deck
4.165" max bore
4 bolt Iron Caps

Priority Main Oiling
Siamese Bore
Hyd Roller Drop in
All stock component compatibility

Currently SHP blocks run in the $1499 range retail... They expect a Ford version to be roughly the same cost. I thought "Hmm...sounds like a Boss block but no specialized components, closer finish work, correct length cylinders."


Dart331stroker on HC5.0 wrote:

"Re: DART discussing New Block - Less Expensive SHP Making them for $850.00 retail would be impossible. By time we make have the foundry pour them, freight them in, machine them, finish them, box them and ship them to dealers there would be no way to do that...

Think of it like this, the Dart copy sells for almost $1000.00 retail, they had no engineering cost (being a copy), they make them overseas, with cheaper material, lower quality of part, and lower cost labor, then bring it here and sell it...

Dart wont comprimise its parts with offshore product. We will continue to make that part in the midwest, using American foundries, machining it here in Detroit, and shipping from our Troy Michigan facility.

Now the SHP line in a nutshell is designed to be a step above the factory performance blocks, but now what the full Dart blocks are.

The thought, if we go into production is a better boss, I wish I could get a better boss, anyways that is another story, and a joke...

Using the same principles we went with doing the SBC SHP block, we will make them more of a close tolerance raw casting, therefore less machine time, this will lower cost. Also a nodular iron main cap, still employing splayed 4 bolt caps, hydraulic roller compatible, sure you can run full rollers too, and the siamese bores as well. I noticed someone mentioned 2 bolt caps, seriously a nodular iron cap cost no more to make in 2 or 4 bolt, and the fasteners are minimal cost, you would save like $20.00 retail, that is not where the cost is...

Sure this might be more than the average guy can use, but fills the gap. It will be our version of the mid level block. Unlike the other pieces out there, we will be able to still bore ours to a 4.165" bore and have .230 wall thickness. It will have the longer barrels so no pulling the pistons out of teh bottoms or piston rocking, blind head bolts, etc. All the things we do now, just wrapped up in a lower cost item.

There is NO way to make the Sporty cheaper, it is the same casting as an Iron Eagle, using the same three center caps... It requires a ton of machining as it has multiple capabilites. our sportsman was machined from the race block, no way to make it lower cost.

Again remember Dart makes them here, we dont import them, we hone them here, we machine them here, we cast them here, and we employ people who work here in this country...

We are testing the market with the idea, and truthfully, the SBC SHP block has sold faster than the Ford blocks over the last year, and we think there is a huge need for a GOOD block for the mid level racer...

I personally would not trust any oem piece over 400HP, not with my life, this piece will be able to work with that guy who makes 400-700hp and uses some nitrous... that is what the boss was for, and that is who this will target...

To give you an idea of cost to make something like this, a core box to pour your sand in to create a core box cost about $250k, and machine to machine something like this cost about $650k undressed, there is still pieces needed to make this machine usable. So it is not cheap by any means to make something like this, you figure about a million bucks gets you going. Ford could sell them low cost before as they were a product of production cars, that has since left the scene. The machinery they machined blocks on, referred to as a transfer line, like the assembly line cost well over $40million bucks... They could pump out blocks 10 times faster than us, but they had built in demand, as they were making cars using them.

We will test the waters on this, and if the market is there, then we might jump into it..."

[mlowry1260]

Bill,

here's a video of the sbc shp block. http://video.streetlegaltv.com/video/7821

Even though it's a sbc block, take a look at the main webbing. That should indicate the kind of HP this block could handle. I suspect the 600 hp rating is marketing driven as to not take away from the Sportsman block's market share.

[Killercanary]

.... I suspect the 600 hp rating is marketing driven as to not take away from the Sportsman block's market share.

Its interesting that you state this Mark as I have yet to read anything that tells me what is different between this new block and the sportsman block. Did I miss it somewhere?

[mlowry1260]

Paul,

it's a different casting said to make the machining/finishing process easier at the factory and for the machinist/end user. They are using cast main caps versus the machined steel caps on our sportsman blocks. The lifter valley looks different to me as well. From the pictures I've seen the main webbing is still very beefy, the weak link of the OEM ford blocks. If an old sportsman FMS block could handle 5-600 HP, I'm sure this block would absorb that kind of power with ease. They were careful not to repeat the mistakes made by FRPP on the Boss block (especially the short cylinder skirts). Dart has to walk a fine line here to maintain their reputation for stout blocks yet not take customers away from the sportsman line of block we run.

[yeahloh95]

sounds like the block for me, i wonder what it weighs in at?

[mlowry1260]

Troy,

based on the SBC pieces the SHP lists at 175# vs 205# for the sportsman.

The sbf sportsman is listed at 160#. I seem to remember mine was heavier than that.

I just got a catalog from Competition Products that had a flyer for the blocks & assembled 347 & 363 short & long blocks. I can scan it for you if you like.
http://www.dartheads.com/products/sh...rt-blocks.html

[yeahloh95]

thanks mark i just got the same catalog in the mail and wondered if they were the new blocks