Historically, Chrysler has had some unique block related history.  When I found out they had just come out with three new aluminum blocks for the 3rd Gen Hemi I was (considering the circumstances) quite surprised.

I am sure the drama goes back further than I know, but the first block-snafu was associated with the very first running prototypes of the well known 426 Race Hemi.  Chrysler was building a ringer that would win NASCAR, and they had a very tight schedule to work within as they planned on debuting the engines at the 1964 Daytona 500.  Normally these things would have R&D time measured in years, not months like the case was back then.  The block issue was core shifting due to the casting process at the foundry, and the problem took so long to sort out that the final blocks that did not have core shift problems were actually driven to Daytona in the backs of pick-up trucks.

When the race happened Chrysler swept the field with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place victories.

The second block related history lesson happened in the late 1970’s when Chrysler was (for the first time) on the brink of bankruptcy.  While time waited for Lee Iacocca to come save the day, there were still employee’s in charge of racing operations that had obligations to fulfill, but that was hard, considering there were no blocks at all to build engines with.

It was so bad that former Chrysler employee Dave Koffel (now engine builder and B1 heads owner) had to buy used Challenger T/A’s and AAR Cuda’s so Chrysler could pull the 4-bolt main 340 “T/A  block” engines for use in their NHRA Pro Stock cars!

So considering all the bad that has happened to Mopar in the past year, you have to hand it to them for coming out with three 6.1L based aluminum blocks.  One is a direct replacement for the iron block SRT8 6.1L.  The other is designed to fit a crank and pistons that will net you 426 cubic inches, and the last is a rough piece with more meat on it so you can go as big as 468 cubic inches, all while weighing 100 lbs less than an iron block.

If you are heading to SEMA this year, stop by the Mopar booth and check them out.

• SEMA 2009: SpeedFactory Challenger 440 with 700 HP
• Underrating horsepower, back from the 1960’s.
• Report: 2012 GT500 to get Twin Turbo “Road Runner” V8