Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

First, before everyone starts raising heck and trashing the thread, please understand this.  While yes, the intention of the class is to be an affordable entry to the sprint car ranks, in some cases affordable or "cheap" actually costs more.  The reason this block has been introudced is because of 2 main reasons:

1. In some area's, guys are struggling to find good core blocks to start with and

2. Some of the OEM 305 blocks are not holding up.  I can name 2 local racers who broke motors last season because of block failure.  The cost of buying the Dart block was well overspent in repairing their blown up motors.

I understand that not everyone has the 2 issues listed above so not everyone needs to spend the money to get a Dart block - you people are fortunate and many wish they could have had the same fortune you have had.  The block will not make your motor any faster and will not be a performance advantage for those who can afford to spend the money and buy this block. The smaller dollared racers should not feel at a disadvantage or be upset about this rule change.  It won't hurt or affect you guys at all!

With all that said, the new Dart block for the 305's that has been approved by RaceSaver is now in stock and available.  We're offering these blocks for $2,350 if shipped to a business or $2,400 shipped to your home doorstep.  Price is for the block and shipping (tax not included but required if shipping to Texas or Michigan). 

These blocks are fully prepped and ready except for cylinder bores, you must bore and hone the cylinders to your specs however, the mains and lifter bores are honed and ready for assembly.  For more information on the blocks, please visit http://www.dartheads.com/dart-news/the-new-5-liter-engine-block-the-little-m-305/  

Feel free to give us a call if you need futher information or help or to order.

www.racesuppliers.com
[email protected]
888-571-4157

Seems understandable why aftermarket blocks and other parts are neseccary. With these blocks now having to come out of old pickups and cars that are no longer made theres only so many still available. I know another item that is more and more a hot commodity is the old powerglide transmissions, there hard to find, then you have to have them gone threw and then when they let go alot of times they break the case so they are worthless and your back on the hunt again. It sounds like this year Wissota is going to allow the Bert transmission to be used in the Midwest Mod. class. Seems like a reasonable desicion since the powerglides are getting hard to find and end up costing more because of rebuilds and the constant chase to find another but there are some that don't like it cause the have a couple of built powerglides in the shop already. Though I don't believe the rule says they couldn't still use a powerglide.

Wolfgang makes a valid point in his book that when he ran a low-dollar IMCA sprint after his burn and was winning some, people were claiming his motor thinking he had some hot setup, when in actuallity it was as cheap as they could build it. The difference was his driving ability and setup knowledge.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

here we go ...just let us do this.. then let us do that ..how come these 305 motors are now getting so expensive???

if you are not carefull its the ascs 360 deal all over again..engines that were 15k that are now 50k..watch what you do cause its going to bit your arse in 2 years

I knew it wouldnt take long for one of these "the sky is falling" naysayers to pipe in on this thread. Anyone who can't see that a DART block actually will SAVE racers money doesn't understand the dynamics of race motors being built from factory crap castings and how often they fail due to manufacturers defects. Core shift, poor castings, inaccurate machining, etc etc are all very real issues dealt with in OEM blocks. I applaud DART and the series that support the use of these blocks in this move. 

Cheers!

Their not saying you have to buy this, you can still use a regular GM 305 block. Its simply an option for someone who is tired of rebuilding or trying to find more undamaged 305 blocks that are 25 years old.

When your old AC unit goes out in your house you can run around and try 3 or 4 used ones and maybe find 1 that works or you can buy a new 1 and know it will work. Everybody approaches stuff differently, doesn't make the person who fixes something up wrong, but it also doesn't make the person who buys new wrong either, just different approaches.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

 I think it would be even more affordable if they allowed aluminum blocks because of the repairability of aluminium. Might be the last 305 block you ever buy yo.

I agree to a degree. A part of the problem is that as you try to stretch the power output of any motor you will start to see failures, and racers never go backwards. In other words, if a guy figures out that he can be faster at 8,000 rpms but he breaks the block the next logical answer is to get a better block, not turn the motor less. This is just an example, but it is part in parcel with how economy driven classes end up not being economy oriented 10 years or so after their inception. 

I am not saying that the Dart block is necessarily a bad deal, but it is representative of the very problem in our sport. The flip side to that is you can blow an engine up even with the expensive block, so we won't really know whether or not it will be a money saving deal for some time. Yes it will be stronger, but even high dollar blocks can fail. The other side of the argument is that I know of 3 cars that are running the same stock block that they started with 5 years ago and they are still running fine. No one really knows for certain. 

Never hit stationary objects!

Thois msg is for speedkills. I got about 200 core powerglides. How many do you want? Yes case breakage can be a problem. Useing a Ultrabell usally solves the problem.

I can ask a couple guys I know if they have any interest but I'm thinking that with the rule change that now a Bert can be used, they will likely not be.

I've just been told from guys that you will likely only end up ever buying 1 Bert unless something strange happened, like a crash that cracked it or something and in the mods that is not impossible but less likely. And supposedly to have them regone through isn't that expensive either. I'm just going by what I've been told, but the guy I help out has raced Mods for probably 25 years in quite a few different states and does know what he's talking about so I do trust his opinion.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

a Dart block will last a long time if you buy  650 HP rods and a good quaility crank and good forged pistons.  You will probably never bust a rod or crank.  We have tried real hard to destroy a Dart block, but we still run it (360 cubes).  Key is to buy good parts and your 500HP Racesaver probably will run a long time.  I do not know of many who would want a alum. block because of price.  It would make no sense.