My thought on this are:
Is it really worth $2179 for the iron block just because it has 0.15" more bore/21cid more than a stock $350 block?
I don't think there is that much difference or gain to justify that price for an iron modular block.
As for the iron BB, it would make more sense to just step up to a iron 5.4L block for $550 rather than pay such a premium for so little gain.
The same goes for the aluminum FR500 5.0L block v/s stock WAP aluminum blocks. Is it worth the extra cost for 0.15" more bore/21 more cid for $4250? And only save 45lbs for all that cash over the iron version (about 2x the cost)?
It's cheaper to send a stock aluminum block off to a place like Modular Performance to have a dry sleeve BB done. For about the same price you can get a complete 3.70 big bore shortblock from them.
Complete BB Short Block is $4,299
Customer supplied Alum block & crank (get out of j/y or if your car already has an aluminum bock..)
Diamond piston pins and rings
Manley rods w/ARP2000 rod bolts
HP main and rod bearings
ARP main studs
Rear seal/retainer, cobra oil pump
Degrease your aluminum block and install sleeves, deck, line bore and hone
All completely balanced and assembled
My point is compared to stock blocks, the prices are jacked up for what you’re getting. Especially when stock Teksid/WAP BB's are handling tons of power and can be found in j/y's on the cheap for dry sleeve BB's.
Example: If I wanted to do a BB shortblock, I could just send off my stock Explorer WAP and have a dry sleeve done and come out with a fully built BB shortblock for the price of that bare FR500 5.0L aluminum block with no machine work and no rotating assy.
Folks have been doing this reliably for a while. That said, I think Ford will be sitting on the aluminum blocks more than selling them. It’s simply cheaper to get a j/y aluminum block and have a BB built. Since the iron block is cheapest, I suspect it will be the best seller of the FRPP BB's.
