Alloy let/xe block

[bazil]

I was looking at these earlier and at £2500 they ain't cheap but for a high spec let build are they worth investing in? At 19kg lighter than a standard block that's the first advantage

[Andy]

waste of money.2500 could buy more than enough power to make up for 19kg heavier

[Mike]

TBH thats the kinda block youd start with if you were building a monster of a motorsport engine really.

[bazil]

I was thinking about alloy block all steel bottom end etc etc but doing over the course of 12-18 months, all new parts and going for big power build

[Mike]

I was thinking about alloy block all steel bottom end etc etc but doing over the course of 12-18 months, all new parts and going for big power build

Easily done if youve got the dollar sunshine

[bazil]

I know it ain't cheap, that's why I'm looking for the advantages of an alloy block, apparently the also have ability to be bolted up to a ford bellhousing so it's not just confined to the vauxhall range, so in theory it's got many applications which is a good point.

[Stuart]

hmmm I'd be a little concerned about flex as they look to be just an XE Iron block copied and not added to for the weakernessss (new word) of ally

[bazil]

Stuart, for sure there is a concern with alloy blocks but the YB blocks are good and QED know what's good so I'd trust it's all good.

[Stuart]

oh yes, of course, they wouldnt farm it out the cheapeset supplier possible etc...

[philip]

Its a millington made block so for the money it should be an awesome bit of kit, but tbh as said its only for mega spec xes imo wher building a wel balanced btcc car.


Btw whats you idea of a hi-spec let. What are u thinking spec wise? I could spec a top long motor but would be a serious bit of kit. Depends what power and budget you have, but would give u a rough idea whats needed

[djbrowney]

Having bough nearley everything for my big spec let this year/last year, i didnt even consider using the alloy block. it's not proven on any high power let engine only on n/a engine's !!!

what sort of spec engine are planning on building, i hope you have deep pockets i certanly didnt anticipate how much money i was going to have to spend/still have to spend !

[yayoboy]

Budget 10k plus matey my xe is running 250 bhp, and although I looked at the ally blocks, I don't think the gain would have outweighed the cost

[djbrowney]

spec on xe please buddy, any dyno print outs ^ :)

[yayoboy]

See project thread also have dyno prints will upload them once back from nurburg :)

[Saloony]

With the ally block your only gonna see advantages in the handling stakes.

[blue_peg_16v]

i thought with the alloy block they could be bored slightly bigger than the iron one i may be wrong tho

[yayoboy]

It's thicker as being ally aposed to steel, it needs to cope with the stress of the engines workings I wouldn't be decreasing the wall size of an ally block by much tbh

[blue_peg_16v]

thought max on iron was around 2.1 but alloy 2.2 then when stoked to you can get the alloy to 2.4 iirc

[mk1nova_rich]

the alloy YB blocks have proper steel liners so maybe these are the same?!

[djbrowney]

you will only get a 2.1 from cast block if you buy one off pistons, nobody mate 88 mm pistons a 87 mm is 2049cc :)

[Iain]

thought max on iron was around 2.1 but alloy 2.2 then when stoked to you can get the alloy to 2.4 iirc

88mm max bore size and 2.3L according to QED website.

http://qedmotorsport.co.uk/qed-shop/vauxhall-xe-c20xe/specials/aluminium-engine-block

[yayoboy]

Wossner make 88mm I have them......

[djbrowney]

for na not turbo !

[yayoboy]

My mistake sorry xxx

[mk1nova_rich]

for na not turbo !

im sure they could make them for turbo. would just need skimming down for a more suitable CR

[philip]

its heat that you have the problem with thats why you dont go above 87mm with a turbo, walls between bores are too thin.

and as said if you want an **** hot engine i wouldnt even bother setting a budget. my XE has cost £7k and i do all my own work!

[Rick Draper]

TBH thats the kinda block youd start with if you were building a monster of a motorsport engine really.
:roll:

[mowgli]

remember this sobering fact.............

ally block competition engines, like the millington are built for national level unhomologated rally use, or for club racing. the sort of people who buy one will be very rich, they will expect to have a mid season rebuild, so these wonderful engines only have a design life of about 500 miles between stripdowns. they really aren't worth it for any other use