Concrete Block? Good or Bad?

Cknight199

Cknight199

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I have looked high and low on info for a concrete block for a duramax and I have always wondered so I just want some clarification. Maybe I am just missing the threads that talk about them, but why do people do a concrete block? I have always been under the impression that they do it to keep the cylinders from cracking, or splitting the block but I have never heard of that happening with the exception of one motor that cracked a cylinder and they just sleeved it.

What exactly entails "filling a block with concrete?" I was under the impression that you fill most of the coolant passages, etc to strengthen the block. I have also heard that they run extremely hot, and can only make about one pass before needing to sit and cool down. Is that true?

What about "half filled block?" I have heard of only filling the block halfway.

I have heard of more blocks being filled for sled pulling than drag racing, so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Caden
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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Filling a block is where you fill the water passages in the block (surrounding the cylinders) with a very hard filler. A block can only take so much pressure before it will split. Filled blocks are a little stronger but they dont use water to cool the engine, so it must cool down on its own in between runs. A half fill is just that, the block is only half full of filler, allowing some cooling abilities from the cooling system.

Guys still split fully filled blocks, that is where a deck plated sleeve motor comes in.
 
Cknight199

Cknight199

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Dirtymaxx03 said:
Filling a block is where you fill the water passages in the block (surrounding the cylinders) with a very hard filler. A block can only take so much pressure before it will split. Filled blocks are a little stronger but they dont use water to cool the engine, so it must cool down on its own in between runs. A half fill is just that, the block is only half full of filler, allowing some cooling abilities from the cooling system.

Guys still split fully filled blocks, that is where a deck plated sleeve motor comes in.
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So people DO split duramax blocks?

Care to elaborate what a deck and plated block is? I understand the sleeved part :)
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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Cknight199 said:
So people DO split duramax blocks?

Care to elaborate what a deck and plated block is? I understand the sleeved part :)
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Yes they do.

In a nut shell, they remove a couple inches from the deck of the block. So if they remove 2'' they will make a 2'' deck plate to put between the block and head. This deckplate is much stronger material than what the block was made out of. then they bore over the cylinders and install liners. The liners are much stronger material than what the block is made out of also. Its like having a billet block but waaaay cheaper lol

Im on my phone driving so sorry if that seems like a terrible explanation lol
 
Cknight199

Cknight199

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Dirtymaxx03 said:
Yes they do.

In a nut shell, they remove a couple inches from the deck of the block. So if they remove 2'' they will make a 2'' deck plate to put between the block and head. This deckplate is much stronger material than what the block was made out of. then they bore over the cylinders and install liners. The liners are much stronger material than what the block is made out of also. Its like having a billet block but waaaay cheaper lol

Im on my phone driving so sorry if that seems like a terrible explanation lol
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Thanks for taking the time to explain! Makes good sense to me.
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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No problem. If you really want to learn some crazy high hp engine tech, log on to compD and start reading in the extreme engine tech section. There are guys doing some crazzzzzy ass stuff.
 
Mile_high

Mile_high

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Mountain High Performance in Arvada, CO is sleeving duramax blocks. I spoke with them a while back and they swore up and down they could put a sleeve in that would increase rigidity more than half filling a block. But the cost is much higher.

deckplates and filling are very different solutions to one problem.
 
Cknight199

Cknight199

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Chevy1925 said:
how much HP are you after?
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A lot... I don't want to put a number out there because I can see a lot of people doubting me along the way, and I really don't want that. I just want good tech info :eek:

Edit: I'm more concerned about the motor holding together to make several 10 second passes or faster at 6800lbs-6900lbs. It's a lot easier to get a motor to hold together on a dyno than at the drags.
 
PACougar

PACougar

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Cknight199 said:
A lot... I don't want to put a number out there because I can see a lot of people doubting me along the way, and I really don't want that. I just want good tech info :eek:

Edit: I'm more concerned about the motor holding together to make several 10 second passes or faster at 6800lbs-6900lbs. It's a lot easier to get a motor to hold together on a dyno than at the drags.
Click to expand...

For those goals the block should be the least of your worries. Our blocks have proven to be pretty robust and there's a good reason you don't see a thread called "The split block count":roflmao: Now the crankshafts are a whole nother game.
 
Cknight199

Cknight199

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PACougar said:
For those goals the block should be the least of your worries. Our blocks have proven to be pretty robust and there's a good reason you don't see a thread called "The split block count":roflmao: Now the crankshafts are a whole nother game.
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Yea unfortunately there aren't any "100% fixes" for that though :/ but I guess while we are talking about it, do they still product NEW LB7 cranks? Ill just throw one of those in to put my mind better at ease.
 
PACougar

PACougar

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Cknight199 said:
Yea unfortunately there aren't any "100% fixes" for that though :/ but I guess while we are talking about it, do they still product NEW LB7 cranks? Ill just throw one of those in to put my mind better at ease.
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I believe they do, but I don't think it makes all that much difference. Regardless of any possible breakages with a AF cam, I'd say based on all of the positive feedback it's still the best option.
 
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