New SHP Block

[Dart Vader]

Hey everyone,
I know lots of people have been asking about our new Special High Performance block so I thought I'd give you some concrete info on it. A few things in the production process have changed in the past month or two, this info should answer a lot of questions.

A quick run-down on the blocks is below, I have also placed links to info and spec sheets for the blocks and for the short block assemblies at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

SHP Blocks:
The Special High Performance (SHP) small-block meets the need for an affordable, precision-machined cast iron block. Designed for high-performance and heavy-duty applications requiring up to 600 horsepower, the SHP block is priced hundreds of dollars less than a full-race block.
The SHP block is tailored to the most popular performance and racing applications, with a choice of 4.00" and 4.125" siamesed cylinder bores and 350 main bearings. The decks are even and parallel, and the lifter bores, camshaft and main bearing tunnels are finish machined.
Special High Performance blocks are manufactured using some innovative techniques to reduce cost without compromising quality. Among the cost saving features are the all new foundry tooling which produces an extremely clean casting incorporating many features to reduce machining operations. The machining fixtures were also redesigned to achieve a finished block in fewer machine set-ups.
The SHP block eliminates the expense, time, and frustration of scouring the junkyards for a block. The supply of usable cores is exhausted in salvage yards, and 400ci small-blocks are virtually extinct. In contrast, the SHP block is a brand-new, American-made casting, manufactured to precision tolerances on CNC machining centers.

SHP Block Tech Sheet (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP%20Block%20Tech%20Sheet.pdf)

SHP Block Info Brochure (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP%20Brochure.pdf)

SHP Short Block Assembly Sheet (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP Short Block Flyer.pdf)

Edit 1: Changed the tech sheet link to just specs and added a link to a much more detailed brochure.
Edit 2: Moved this thread to the new SHP forum. Please post SHP related questions and what-not there!

[1989TransAm]

Thanks for the update. I bet the new block will sell like hotcakes. ;)

I placed an order with my local dealer and he said Dart was producing around 75 blocks a week. So I should get mine around the middle of July or so.

Reading the description on Jeg's it looked like the new block was comming with the cam bearings installed. Your new post cleared that up.

Edit: looking at the picture it does not look like the block is drilled for the waterpump bypass hole.

[Dart Vader]

You are correct, it's not drilled for the water pump bypass hole.

Glad this info was useful, we'll be putting all of the SHP stuff on the website in a few weeks.

[1989TransAm]

One more thought. I think another market niche would be an aluminum block based on your SHP block. If it was posible to make one that would sell for around $2000 I bet it would be a good seller. I know I would have gone that route. :D

[Awesome Bill]

that won't happen, the least it would be around $3000.00-$3500.00. Aluminum blocks are good but I would take a steel block any day. ofcourse, if its a billet piece, that would be different.

[Trmnatr]

Hey everyone,
I know lots of people have been asking about our new Special High Performance block so I thought I'd give you some concrete info on it. A few things in the production process have changed in the past month or two, this info should answer a lot of questions.

A quick run-down on the blocks is below, I have also placed links to info and spec sheets for the blocks and for the short block assemblies at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

SHP Blocks:
The Special High Performance (SHP) small-block meets the need for an affordable, precision-machined cast iron block. Designed for high-performance and heavy-duty applications requiring up to 600 horsepower, the SHP block is priced hundreds of dollars less than a full-race block.
The SHP block is tailored to the most popular performance and racing applications, with a choice of 4.00" and 4.125" siamesed cylinder bores and 350 main bearings. The decks are even and parallel, and the lifter bores, camshaft and main bearing tunnels are finish machined.
Special High Performance blocks are manufactured using some innovative techniques to reduce cost without compromising quality. Among the cost saving features are the all new foundry tooling which produces an extremely clean casting incorporating many features to reduce machining operations. The machining fixtures were also redesigned to achieve a finished block in fewer machine set-ups.
The SHP block eliminates the expense, time, and frustration of scouring the junkyards for a block. The supply of usable cores is exhausted in salvage yards, and 400ci small-blocks are virtually extinct. In contrast, the SHP block is a brand-new, American-made casting, manufactured to precision tolerances on CNC machining centers.

SHP Block Tech Sheet (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP%20Block%20Tech%20Sheet.pdf)

SHP Block Info Brochure (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP%20Brochure.pdf)

SHP Short Block Assembly Sheet (http://208.122.50.56/ftp/SHP Short Block Flyer.pdf)

Edit: Changed the tech sheet link to just specs and added a link to a much more detailed brochure.


A real world test would be good for this new block. If the block is good for 700hp {and i think it is} do an article in CHP or SC where the engine is making 550-625hp and this will show that the block is indeed stout - I myself think this block should be good for 700hp at 8,000rpm just by looking at the features

I myself would like to see some real world tests with it, We already have a customers engine that may use one when they become available as they are sold as fast as the warehouse gets them in

[Trmnatr]

You are correct, it's not drilled for the water pump bypass hole.

Glad this info was useful, we'll be putting all of the SHP stuff on the website in a few weeks.


Also, is their a BB version or will there be a BB version ?

[Awesome Bill]

Real world test would prove nothing, just make it and watch it fly out the door. Splayed cap version blocsk of the Little M will be making 1000hp with multiple stages just as soon as it gets out. We have patched up old GM castings and done that with splayed caps and filled to the top, so this block will be tested very well by everyone who knows how to push a buttton!

[Dart Vader]

A real world test would be good for this new block. If the block is good for 700hp {and i think it is} do an article in CHP or SC where the engine is making 550-625hp and this will show that the block is indeed stout - I myself think this block should be good for 700hp at 8,000rpm just by looking at the features

I myself would like to see some real world tests with it, We already have a customers engine that may use one when they become available as they are sold as fast as the warehouse gets them in
Some articles with testing are on the way in various publications, be on the lookout very soon for some of those.

There isn't currently a BB version or a Ford version in the works, but it's never out of the question.

As far as an aluminum version goes, it's not really practical at this point since aluminum is much more costly than iron, and most of the guys running aluminum blocks want full on hard-core racing blocks.

[1989TransAm]

Gotcha. Thanks for the reply.