Ready-To-Assemble Short-Block Kits From Summit Racing

Are you looking to build a Chevy engine for your hot rod, but finding a core is tough? Summit Racing has teamed with Dart, and can alleviate that problem. The part’s retailer now has short-block kits available that have the foundation you’re looking for. Kits start with Dart’s SHP and/or Big M Sportsman blocks. The blocks are brand new and semi-finished, so you can set clearances to suit your application. The included rotating assemblies are forged and available in a variety of compression-ratio combinations.

The small-block Chevy and LS-based blocks start at 4.125-inch bore, with the big blocks coming in at 4.600-inch bore. This gives you a great starting point with plenty of room to grow in the future. Dart blocks are also stroker friendly with minimal machining required. The rotating assemblies are also designed for easy assembly.

By teaming with Dart, Summit Racing makes makes building a high-performance small block, big block, or LS short block almost as easy as opening a box and bolting stuff together. You will need to have minimal finish machining done. The blocks are bored within .010 inch of finish hone and are clearanced for stroker cranks – up to 3.750 inches for the small block, 3.622 or 4.00 inches for LS combinations, and 4.250 inches for big block. The bore and stroke combinations let you build a 400 cubic-inch small block, a 397 or 427 cubic-inch LS, or a 565 cubic-inch big block.

short block kit

Looking for an easy way to build a potent LS engine? Here’s something you’re sure to like.

The Dart SHP blocks for small Chevy and LS feature splayed four-bolt mains, priority main oiling, extra-thick cylinder walls and main webbing, and improved water jacketing. The small block has provisions for OE hydraulic-roller cams, and the LS block has extended cylinder bores to better support the piston at Bottom Dead Center when using long-stroke cranks.

The Big M Sportsman block for big blocks also features a splayed four-bolt main arrangement and priority main oiling. It has a standard 9.800-inch deck height and provisions for a sixth head stud in the lifter valley for better head gasket seal.

short block kit

The SBC kit is a traditional hot rodders dream.

The Summit Racing/Dart Short Block kits come with K1 Technologies 4340 forged-steel cranks and H-Beam connecting rods with ARP 2000 bolts. You also get forged pistons to build an engine between 9.5:1 and 10.5:1 compression ratio. If you mill the heads, you can increase that to 11.5:1. They even have a big block kit that lets you build a 14.0:1 compression brute using heads with 119cc combustion chambers.

Final details of the kits are a set of file-fit piston rings; main, rod, and cam bearings, brass freeze plugs, and galley plugs. The kits will require balancing and final cylinder honing, which any good machine shop can do for you. Lifter bore final honing may be required as well.

It’s easy to put together a new engine by reaching out the folks at Summit Racing and simply telling them what you want to build. What are you waiting for? Order yours today.

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Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
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