Grout Filling the block, as the Aussies say

[Magnified]

Any of you guys ever done a complete or half fill of the block with grout (or cement) like the Australians do?

 

[Marc W]

Any of you guys ever done a complete or half fill of the block with grout (or cement) like the Australians do?

Doing mine this week. Just got it back from cleaning and it’s ready to start the process.

 

[BULL]

Inform those of us who are ignorant.

Why in God's name would you do such a thing

 

[Magnified]

Strengthens the block, and if you do a full fill bc race car you dont even need the water pump. Though Id still go w an oil cooler personally.

 

[Marc W]

Inform those of us who are ignorant.

Why in God's name would you do such a thing

It’s a specific mix that matches the iron content of the block. When the water jackets are filled to just below the water pump, it increases the strength of the block while still allowing cylinder and head cooling sufficient for a drag motor. 1500+ hp is pushing the limits of what even the early Hellcat block can take, so this, along with a lot of stress relief and precise machining will increase the chances of getting away with it.

 

[SilverBillet]

Haven’t US drag racers been filling blocks for years? The Australians didn’t come up with the idea?

 

[Marc W]

Haven’t US drag racers been filling blocks for years? The Australians didn’t come up with the idea?

Yep. Nothing new.

 

[Magnified]

Haven’t US drag racers been filling blocks for years? The Australians didn’t come up with the idea?

True, but i think its more widespread there.

EDIT: Especially on street cars.

 

[Hickster]

Why tha Aussies? Day stole my radit e ator C134 idea. I used to lay alot of thangs. Fire tile waz 1 of em in multi story boilers, 30 story eeze sum of em. 1 in Clarkesville, Tn, 1 in Tex ass. Linder story. I waz sent frum Chattanooga 2 ware dat place in Tx da plase ware our member is frum. Lufkin, Tx. We built a boiler there. Box truck all da way dare. Owneer of da cumpany had me take 1 bag of cement and 1 palaet of brick 2 texass. 3 days 1 way of driven. While dare pick up 3 cases of beer. Butt while dare I picked up 22 cases of beer. Coors beha. Couldn't sell to da east of da Missippi River den. Owmer waz a high ranken member of da UT club. I sold dem cases of bea fer $30 a case and cost wa $12 a case. My time, hotel, gas, food paid fer a week of driven to ander back 2 Lufken, Tx. Snot a bad weak.

 

[1971demon]

True, but i think its more widespread there.

EDIT: Especially on street cars.

Street cars....and with the heat down under...no cooling issues.......not something I would consider...

 

[MJS73]

Haven’t US drag racers been filling blocks for years? The Australians didn’t come up with the idea?

But they fill them from down under.

 

[Jack_Toepfer]

Super common up here, for factory castings. Once you go billet you get to keep the water flowing

 

[fumanchu182]

Or just buy a SMX and not have to worry about head gaskets or water jackets ever again. Can someone lend me 45k?

 

[Magnified]

Street cars....and with the heat down under...no cooling issues.......not something I would consider...

Yes, but they get away w it. Lowest i saw was maybe 950 at the wheels and it was not a real daily, but they did only a half.fill so they could still notionally drive it areound as needed.

 

[1971demon]

Yes, but they get away w it. Lowest i saw was maybe 950 at the wheels and it was not a real daily, but they did only a half.fill so they could still notionally drive it areound as needed.

Still...once its done...it's in there forever...couldn't do it...plus is that the weakest link in these engines

 

[SilverBillet]

Yes, but they get away w it. Lowest i saw was maybe 950 at the wheels and it was not a real daily, but they did only a half.fill so they could still notionally drive it areound as needed.

How many Aussies do you know who have done this?

 

[DavidKFla]

Or just buy a SMX and not have to worry about head gaskets or water jackets ever again. Can someone lend me 45k?

You have the other $30K?

 

[Magnified]

How many Aussies do you know who have done this?

Four, all in street cars; but they say it is really common there. That's why I asked the question. I'd seen it here once in a great long while and the impression I'm getting is that there it is common place. Though I think some of that has to do with the upscale / up power nature of the circles where these guys hang out. They may be giving the impression that its "every other car, mate" when it's not really that prevalent.

I've never done it myself, mainly because I have not seen the need, but also because I am leery of the all or nothing nature of it. Once its done, it can't be undone.

 

[Marc W]

The only reason to do this is if the target power level of the build is going to exceed the capability of the stock block. We’re talking 2000hp here 😳. That being the case… there’s a lot more to it than just pouring some stuff in the block. There is a sequence of steps in doing this right. That includes precise (expensive) machine work, cleaning, pouring/filling with temperature control and then more machine work. Of coarse the other option is one of the billet blocks available now for around $15k. With another couple $K in finish machine work. I’ll have $5k total in mine when done.

 

[Jack_Toepfer]

You have the other $30K?

And consider the car and components wrapped around an SMX… geesh. Race cars are expensive.