Let me know what ya'll think about the listed parts and spec, any suggestions...looking at buying a block and starting from scratch...

Merlin III race block
4.5" bore 4 bolt splayed caps

Merlin cast heads
345cc intake, 119cc chambers, 2.3"/1.88" valves
(possibly rollers)

Eagle ESP Crank and ESP rods
4.5" stroke, 6.385" rods? Not sure
on the rod length

SRP Pistons
Flat top 4.5" approx. compression 9.2:1
I would like forged JE pistons, no luck finding then so far any thoughts?

Total Seal TS1 rings

Clevite Tri-metal 77 bearings

Not sure of cam size yet, but I want as big a cam as I can get for it.

Not sure on the intake either.

I do want the same carb as I have on my 71 SS right now.

I would like any and all suggestions on this parts combo and suggestions on were I can get the JE pistons for it. Also, what is the advantage to the tall deck and the 9.8" short deck?? With what I have given youis there anyone that can guess about the power out put in HP and mainly Torque? If you need more info let me know and I will try my best to answer it.
Thanks in advance.

JE told me they would do a custom set for my recent build but I went with a set of SRP's. Can't remember the website - just do a search, you'll find em.

Go with the Dart block - for a few hundred more you get the tall deck. Short deck? Deck it once - it's over....at least that was G&G's opinion. But since I already had the WP block, I stuck with it - this time. Next motor definitely Dart. Call Richard Maskin, Dart owner or one of the techs - they'll fill you in on the differences (248-362-1378).

What is the difference between the Dart Tall Deck and the Merlin III tall deck

SRP = JE, they're the same company. incidentally SRP has a shelf stock piston for the the slightly smaller 4.5 x 4.25 engine and the 4.6 x 4.25. That 4.6 x 4.25 is a 565, and off-the-shelf pistons are a Very Good Thing.

If you do the tall deck or raised exhaust port heads be prepared to do some hassling with getting headers to fit in a Chevelle frame. I've yet to see a tall deck block in a Chevelle unless it had custom built headers. Around $1000.

Tom

Yep, Tom's right SRP=JE. The SRP's in my motor were off the shelf and had a higher si content anyway. JE would have had to custom make the size I needed. Also, Wiseco is under the same umbrella - the mucho cheaper version of big bro SRP.

Also, correctomundo on the tall deck or raised ports. Even Lemons couldn't make headers for my 67 - well, they could but I just didn't want to hassle with outside the frame. So, we cut up a set of super comps', put em back together and had them coated.

Merlin comes from WP. Their advertising would lead one to believe they want to sell a lot of stuff along with that block. Dart is still rock solid about their core competency - blocks, heads, manifolds. It may be just a point of preference, but Dart seems R&D centric. WP seems more "packaging" centric - they want to sell more stuff along with their blocks - like rotating assemblies they have little control over the quality of save for maybe balancing. This simplistic view leads me to the opinion that Dart has a higher "quality density" - meaning they have fewer processes into which errors can be introduced. Call Dart and check them out - they'll talk about metallurgy, casting, forging, machining, etc. all day long if you want. Also, they are not name droppers. WP is still talking about Scotty Richardson's year 2000 wins - my calendar says its darn near 2004. Maybe he's using Dart now - don't know.

I bought a Dart Big M low deck for an upcoming project. It is truly a nice piece. I ran it over to Reher-Morrison to have it final honed, squared, o-ringed, deck height set and the lifter bores trued. All David said it needed was to be honed and o-ringed. Everything else is right on the money. This thing is so beefy that I'll have it for years unless I stick a rod thru it. It weighs 37lbs. more than a Mark IV block and it's all in the main webbing, walls and deck. The detail on this thing is beautiful.

Randy

Tom Mobley.. You just hit on my biggest concern after buying a set of new coated headers last week. I'm running a GM TD Block in a 64 Malibu( 65 Elky Chassis ) They are the 2 1/8" pri. Super Comps with 1 tube on each side on the out side of the frame. I just about bought some heads with raised exhaust ports and that really got me thinking. For now I'm going to look for a set of heads with a std. port location and just have the sawzall and mig welder ready when I'm go to install the engine. I also bought a set of JE shelf pistons for it ( 4.373 x 4.250 ) and useing the 6.535 rod. They were cheaper than the SB pistons I had them make a few yrs back

so i should go with the short deck from Dart, and other than that the rest of my goodies are good for a high HP and Torque buildup?? Also anyone heard a bit about Procharger's F3-R intercooled setup??

Don't know anything about the F3-R, but another member (Bomber '67) has gotten impressive results with a D2-R on a hydraulic cammed BB. I think it's 461" or so. He's not running an intercooler and using it as a blow-thru carbed setup.
I have a complete D2-R with all options that I'll be putting on the above mentioned Dart Big M to make a 509" BB. I'm not planning to run the intercooler either as the boost level will only be about 10-12psi. It should make plenty of power even at that level.
Check with Bomber '67 on the details of his setup or do a search for his combo and dyno results.

Randy