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Stock 360 bocks are jet washed and then magnafluxed to ensure we are starting with a good core block. We then sonic check all core blocks to make sure all blocks have adequate cylinder wall thickness. Blocks with excessive core shift or thin cylinder walls are scraped. Good cores then have all casting flash removed and we enlarge oil galleys that feed the main bearings. ARP main studs are installed and the main bores are align honed. We then bore and hone the cylinders with deck plates to the first acceptable bore size (usually +.030). Blocks are then measured and the deck surfaces are parallel decked. The cam bearing bores are measured and honed to proper size for perfect cam fitment every time. Blocks are then final washed and cam bearings and brass freeze plugs are installed.
Rod and piston wrist pin sizing is checked and the rods are hung on the pistons. Ring end gaps are measured and filed for proper end gaps. Rod and main bearing sizing is checked on the balanced rotating assembly and the short block is then assembled by and recorded on a build sheet and all short blocks are supplied with a copy of this build sheet.
All of our stroker engine blocks are prepared the same way. First they are jet washed to remove all dirt and debris. A jet washer is like a giant dishwasher. It sprays a caustic solution that is heated to 180 degrees. This high pressure solution dissolves dirt, grease and oil leaving a clean ready to machine surface. Then the blocks are magnafuxed to make sure there are not any cracks or defects. Then the blocks are sonic checked to make sure there are no core shift issues and all cylinder walls have adequate thickness in all directions. (SIDE NOTE: there is a common misconception that blocks made after 1974 are “thin wall” blocks. THIS IS A COMPLETE FALACITY. I have sonic tested 1978 blocks that are some of the thickest blocks I have ever checked! The only real way to know if you have cylinder walls strong enough to make over 550 HP is to sonic check them. Pre 1972 blocks are made with a higher nickel content cast iron but can be thin. I believe you must sonic check any block to be used in a high performance application. That is why sonic checking is standard procedure on all engine blocks machined at Muscle Motors). After we have determined that we have a good core we then debur the block of all casting flash and enlarge the oil galleys that supply oil to the main bearings. ARP main studs are installed and the main bearing bores are align honed. This ensures not only consistent bearing sizing but perfect alignment of all bearing bores. We then bore and hone the cylinder bores with deck plates to the first oversize (usually +.030 or +.040). Next, we machine the deck surfaces square and parallel for an ideal gasket sealing surface. The next procedure is to grind the block for stroker clearance. Not all blocks need this clearance but we figure it is better to have it and not need it, than the other way around! The next step is to measure and size all of the cam bearing bores for perfect cam fitment every time (see side bar). Lastly the oil pick up is then enlarged to 1/2” and then block is again jet washed a final time. Cam bearings and brass freeze plugs are installed and the block is painted in red oxide primer.