Ever since primitive man learned how to smelt iron roughly 3,000 years ago, it has been synonymous with durability and strength. Okay, maybe there are not many of us that actually care who first made iron. But as auto enthusiasts, we do care about engine blocks. They are made of iron, so that makes it important.

Splayed four-bolt mains with billet caps.

The problem with most engine blocks (like the small-block Chevy), is that their cast-iron construction makes them very heavy, and weight is something we all try to reduce from our cars. Thankfully, Speedmaster Inc. has stepped up to help with this automotive obesity problem by developing an aluminum small-block that is lighter than the cast iron original, able to accept a larger stroke, and could very well be considered an excellent upgrade.

Replaceable steel sleaves.

We asked Jay Vurduzco, operations manager at Speedmaster to tell us a little more: “We developed this block with the ability to accept a 4.155-inch bore. We also addressed the issue of the lifter bore dimensions. We’ve found that many times, the lifter bores in factory blocks were too tight, and we make sure that each bore is right.” Jay continued, “We also added priority main-bearing oiling so guys can run a dry sump oil system.”

Features:

• Splayed four-bolt main caps
• Main bearing priority oiling
• Chamfered oil passages
• Accepts all factory small-block components
• Weighs 113 pounds in the wooden shipping crate

If you want to reduce the weight of your engine, and build one that is fitting of your ride, check out Speedmaster’s new aluminum small-block by clicking here.