Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I have the opportunity to pick up a 302 Mexican block for my Super Stock GT Mustang build. I've read that it's stronger than the stock 302 but with two bolt mains, not the BOSS four bolt. Would there be any fit issue with this on the bottom end for a Scat or Eagle crank? I intend to do a complete rebuild and I can sell my current engine outright if I buy a block.

Thanks for your time.

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Cranks should drop right in.I'd fill the block to stabilize the cylinder walls and use it.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

As much money as it costs to build a SS motor I would use a Boss block. You are probably going to be turning that thing 9,000 rpm. You will be money ahead with the best block you can buy.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Thanks for the quick replies. My car will probably be SSGT/L to M Auto, and I don't think I can get 9000 rpm out of my first racer. BOSS would be the way to go, but they cost a lot. I can get the Mexican for around $300.

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

You're stepping over dollars to pick up dimes.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I'm going to paint that on my garage wall. Kind of dumb to put $3000 in just heads and a rotating assembly on a stock block.

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I agree a Boss block would be the way to go if you can afford it.The stock block deal has been done before too.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

If you have the money get the boss block it's alot better than the stock block..but I know a few SBF guys that are running the stock block with no issues in SS.. I would def put hard block in it. I have a Mexican block in my mustang and has run some 10.30s...with a stickshift at 7400rpms..

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I don't know about filling a Ford block, but I've filled three GM 283, and 327, and 350 blocks in my life. I would NEVER fill a block. Every time we've done it, when you get ready to re-hone, the chatter from the stones going down in an oblong bore, is deafening. They NEVER stay round. On the other hand, when not using filler, the block was WAY straighter. And yes, we use a plate.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Randy,
Curious as to what you filled the block with ? I had the same experience years ago with a block I did for a customer that he had filled. He used one brand of filler that I had never used and his block did move around a lot on the first freshen-up and a little bit the second time.

I have always used Hard Block and have never had it move around ?

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

When filling I use Halco Machine Grout and leave the block sit for at least a month with the mains and both heads torqued, then I bore and hone. If you're in a hurry it becomes a compromise situation.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Got an email from this fella and it's still for sale. He says it was last bored 50 over. The NHRA limit is 80 over, so is this block weakened if it's a total of 60 over stock?

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I ran a 302 Mexican block in my hr/sst car a couple years ago, it was 60 over and not filled. Made over 400 passes with never a problem and it turned 77-7800 when running 1/4 mile.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Is the Ford Motorsport block legal?

Part number M6010BOSS302K

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

That's the interesting part. it's not a BOSS block. It's a 302 replacement block made in Mexico and used by Ford for a lot of warranty stuff. It's a little stronger that the stock 302 because it's a bit thicker and has beefier mains, they are still 2 bolt, though. Bore, stroke and deck height are stock equivalent 302. Just stronger.

It's still for sale and has only been bored out the 50 over. I'm going to look at it next week. It's a little more sane for me as a hobby racer on my first build.

And, yes, the 6010 is legal in SS.

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

If it is .050 over already, save your money and try and find a standard bore block. He is selling it for a reason, usually not good.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

I read up on Mexican Blocks before using one in my street rod...(55 F100)....please understand that this engine is intended to "sound good" and I don't care how fast it it.....it is a 302.....I understand that the Mexican block is better because it has more nickel (SP) content....I don't know why that is better, it is just what I was told.....I never run the streetrod over 6,000 so this might not be a good example...no sleeves, no light weight parts....."It sounds really fast........but it isn't".....LOL (that is what street rods are supposed to do)

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

The Mexican block can be identified by, for example, C8AM stamped on the block (unlike the C8OE or C8AE). The M in the # is for the Mexican block. They have a higher nickle content for strength and wider main bearing caps. Buying a Ford racing block might be a better option. They are available for under $300 if you can't find the mexican block. They are fairly rare.

easy Id on a mexican block is the two large humps cast into the block, right below the heads. They only had a higher nickel content.

Many have the belief that Mexican means something sub-standard to US standards....that is not the case...These blocks meet the standards of Ford Motor Company or they would not use them....it is that simple.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

.050 on a windsor? I'd be sonic checking the thrust side before I laid any coin down, I don't like over .030. they're thinwall castings.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Ford BOSS or Dart for SS MY stuff is north of 9500 on every pass I wouldn't waste my time or money on a taco block for a stocker much less a SS MOTOR, spend wisely and spend it once we built many nice reliable bracket motors out of Taco blocks I have been doing this a long time and have been using Ford Racing blocks since the A-4 Trans Am blocks became available in 1982 and still do if you want to make power from a little motor you need good ring seal, to get good ring seal you need a good block while better than a stock 289/302 unit, a filled Taco block will still never do the job that a aftermarket FRPP or Dart can..

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Bill, I think they used Hardbloc, but not sure. Been 10 years ago. There may very well be a way to do it right. I know lots of people swear by it, and some of them are hitters. I'm just giving my little bit of experience with it. On one .90 over 283, (I know that's a weird bore size) it never stopped moving around, even after 4 hones. It was an SS\CS 287, north of 600 HP with iron bowties.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

I have read that the nickel content is not higher but the casting is a bit thicker and the mains are wider. Stronger than stock but not BOSS strong. It's been mag and pressure tested and the decks checked. I need to see the documents for that as well as photos of the block numbers before I move ahead.

My other option is to build using the current block which overheated and locked up on the way home from the purchase of the car. Read: No option.

Dale

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Save your money and buy a svo or boss , You will save money in the end.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

If it was standard I would probably use it if you have it..
As plentiful as the blocks are do not waste the money on a 50 over block...

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Dale, there is a B-50 “sportsman” block that Ford was making that was a “new” casting of the “mexican” block. I put about 100 passes on this type of block turning 9500 rpm around 580 hp without block fill and without a stud girdle. Just make sure and have quality machine work done and use ARP studs throughout. As soon as I could afford it I went to the “Boss Block”. There is a WORLD of difference between these blocks. The boss block is around 20 pounds heavier than the B-50 block I was using. There is a TON more material in cylinder wall, lifter bore area, cam tunnel, deck and mains. = more HP

The machining cost is the same on a production block and boss block. The Boss block is REALLY “cheap” at $1800.00 Figure a Used block, machine work and then if you are crazy enough to try and use hard block, dealing with the overheating from the block filling, ring seal etc, believe me go with the best parts first. You are going to end up buying it in the future anyway.

Whatever you do, do not bore over 0.040” in a production block, test the wall thickness with US, the production blocks are super thin.

Happy building.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Gary,they also should have a "green card" also.

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Re: Is a Mexican Block Worth the Trouble?
 

Delete