World Products/Bill Mitchell 427 small block

[streetk14]

I've decided to scrap my blown 383 motor plan in favor of a big-inch small block. I am very interested in a 427 short block from world products (built by Bill Mitchell). I plan to use my existing heads, intake, etc. Just wondering, does anyone know if the Motown blocks are built to accept factory ('86 up) roller cam components? I have a late model block in my car now, with factory roller lifters, retaining plate and a Comp Xtreme Energy 294HR. I would like to use all of these parts if possible. My cam might pose a problem, I think a small base circle is required. I e-mailed World Products, but didn't get a straight answer. Thanks,
Andy

[sfpaintball]

I've got a buddy that was running a Motown Lite aluminum 427 small block. He bought it as a short block and built it from there b/c he wanted to recycle as many of his parts to save $$$ as well. Then he broke his cam, and now wishes he just bought the long block with warrany from them.

Just a thought.

[ProdigyCustoms]

FYI, If you watch the Pigeion Forge videos, the black 67 SS nova has a 427 Bill mitchell motor in it, 550HP or so.

[streetk14]

I'm pretty sure that you have to buy a complete, dyno tested motor to get the 2 year/ 24,000 mile warranty. I'm not looking at spending that much money, and I have many top-quality parts that I think may make better power numbers than the ones included in the complete motor. The complete motors also only come in hydraulic flat-tappet or solid lifter models. I'm a big fan of hydraulic rollers, and would like to run one in this motor.
SFpaintball, just curious how the cam broke. Was it a flat-tappet cam that had a lope wiped out? I'm all for warranties, but I've been beating the hell out of my nearly stock short block for years and have yet to inflict any kind of injury to it. The Bill Mitchell 427's are supposed to be built with durability in mind, but you are right, sh*% happens sometimes.
-Andy

[Lowend]

I do not think the World block can be used with late model roller lifters.... there is no provision for the anti rotation plate in the lifter valley

[Rick Dorion]

There was quite a discussion a while ago where the internals weren't what was advertised and the warranty was not very satisfying. Perhaps it was an anomaly but in any case, I would get a bare block and have it assembled locally if that's the route you want to take.

[indyjps]

check out some quality circle track engine shops. they have been building 434's for years and they are used under pretty extreme conditions, might even be able to score a decent rotating assembly or short block pretty reasonably.

[streetk14]

I'm trying to keep the displacement to 427ci for durability reasons. The World products 427 has a 4.125" bore, so there is still plenty of meat between the cylinders (World claims 4.250" max). The engine features some high quality parts, and I don't think I could come close to matching the short block price at a local shop. I'm not worried about a warranty, I don't think any engine shop really warranties short blocks. The reasons I'm intersted in the Bill Mitchell motor are price, build quality and proven performance. I don't want the hassle of piecing something together. American Speed makes a mean 427 small block, but they only sell complete, dyno tested motors. Speed-o-motive offers a selection of strokers, but none of them really interests me. I'll keep checking my options, but it seems like a pretty good deal for what you get.

[Lowend]

I am gonna have to bust out the engine building speech again....

All machine shops pay about the same for their parts, a really wide profit margin on any part of this nature is 25%. That means that everyone have to sell their parts for about the same amount in order to be competitive and to make money. That said there is some amount of play in the prices of machine work; but no one is going to give it away (that isn't a good way to stay in business).
Take those facts and consider this: If you see any place selling an engine for signifigantly less than most anyone else, there is SOMETHING that they have either left out or substituted with an cheap piece.
Think about it...
and Speed-O-Motive sucks

[sfpaintball]

streetk14 - I have no idea, but he was b1tch1ng that when they got the motor apart what was in there wasn't what was supposed to come with it. I didn't listen in detail, I started thinking about a zz4 and backing my build down a bit b/c I'm building a street car and his lives @ Thunderhill (when it's running). If you wanna call him for more details, I'll ask him if it's kool and pm you his cell#.

[streetk14]

Ok, I've been doing a bit more research. I think that I'd be better off getting my motor from Shafiroff. I checked out their web site, and their prices are very fair. They are also a custom engine shop, not a crate motor builder like Bill Mitchell. Rather than buying an off-the-shelf short block, I can have a motor built completly to my specs (including paint color, etc.) for the same price. I also spoke to Nick at shafiroff who was by far the most knowledgable and helpful person I have ever spoken to at an engine shop. I also spoke to someone at Bill Mitchell, and the guy really didn't seem to know much about the product. I think this is the route I'll go unless someone has a good reason not to.

Lowend, I know that you get what you pay for. A buddy of mine just paid a hefty price for a stock 350 short block rebuild at a local shop. We really only have 2 good, local machine shops, and they both over-charge. He could have done much better getting a mass-produced crate engine for his application (350hp w/ Vortec heads, mild cam). I also don't have any shops in my area that I trust to choose the right parts and build a 427-434ci small block. I'd really like to have someone who specializes in these things to do my work. BTW, is speed-o-motive really that bad?
-Andy

[Lowend]

I have in in the biz for 9 years and have yet to speak to anyone who has had a good experience with SOM

[72NovaSS]

I second that SOM blows!

[justanova]

I'll third the SOM Blows, I found out the hard way why they are cheaper

[Damn True]

I have in in the biz for 9 years and have yet to speak to anyone who has had a good experience with SOM


I sure wish Main Auto in Los Gatos (the joint that was next to the High School) was still there.

They built a couple of motors for me in the '80s that were stupid fast, and both are still running.