Really neat aluminum 6 cyl block

[JimmyZ]

http://www.dmdaustralia.com.au/block.html

Yes, I know this is not a Z block but it really caught my eye. 295hp and 300ftlbs torque = fun.

[sblake01]

Looks like an aluminum version of the MGC/AH 3000 engine. I'd imagine it will be pricey. The head is $6800, the valve cover/rocker assembly is $3450, the manifold is $975 for tripple or twin S.U.'s, $1450 for tripple Webers, all in AUD, and you'd stiil need to buy the carbs. Lots of money for older school technology than our L series engines.

[JimmyZ]

Oh yeah. I'm sure it's not cheap but 300 hp in a N/A engine with a block that weighs 81 lbs!? Pretty neat to me.

[Arne]

Seems like a whole lot of cash for 300HP. Especially since you'd have to custom fab everything to get it into a Z. Call it $8000US just to start.

On the other hand, for $5000US you can buy a complete, brand new aluminum Chevy small block. Well over 400HP, probably lighter than an L-series (at least no heavier) and lots of people know how to make those fit.

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/store/LS-364440-Crate-Engine-17802134-P1655C53.aspx

Lots cheaper if you can live with a cast iron block.

[JimmyZ]

Quite right. It's just intriguing to me not anything that would be put into our cars. I just think it's neat that someone is making a new I-6 casting. You hear about V-8's all the time but I-6's aren't common.

The fact that someone is reproducing a vintage part and that the engine looks so similar to the Z's with the SU's, etc is neat.

It would be cool if they remade the OS Giken DOHC head for our cars. Not that it would be money well spent but it would be nice.

[Exdamyankee]

Really nice engine (for a Healey).

I can't see putting a low-tech pushrod motor in a Z though, not for 300HP. A pushrod SBC, sure. Even a 3.8 Buick V6, though nowhere near as sexy as the V8 or this aluminum motor, but it's cheaper than dirt, fairly lightweight, and you can coax a tremendous amount of power out of it with readily available performance parts.

Otherwise, I'll keep my OHC L-series. For the money this thing would cost, you could have a hell of a Z-Motor built (think Rebello, etc.).

[red_dog007]

That are some very nice numbers for that old of an N/A motor.

That kind of money though would be better spent pimping out your current L motor. Or even buy a clip from Japan, have someone install it, get performance upgrades for it installed by someone else, upgrade your brakes, diff, paint, interior, and on.