Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

[Larry E.]

Have to tax some of our older members recall ability on this one. Thinking in the future to add to my trophy/awards room
a engine stand with a "mock" L36 Big Block. I seem to remember someone/somewhere where making a HD
(Some type of Plastic) Small & Big Chevrolet Blocks for show purpose only. You could add Stock Heads and Intake Manifolds to it.

It would make for a nice "showroom" non function engine. Does anybody remember these? If so can they still
be bought? I got a lot of Chevy Parts so I thought I would put them to good use. Thanks in advance. Larry

[John H.]

Re: Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

Larry -

I remember those from 10-15 years ago, and I think they're still being made; they had steel thread inserts so you could bolt things on them, and were used primarily for mockup purposes when building hot rods, etc. I used to have a link for the manufacturer, but I can't find it. A neighbor of mine had one of the small-blocks, and had a big-block on order just before I moved many years ago.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

Larry, I saw one many years ago (probably roughly around 2004 or 2005), and it was molded in some sort of hard rubber. Due to it's composition, it was fairly heavy, not a lightweight plastic composition. The one I saw was being used at a speed shop for display of engine components (highrise aftermarket intakes, aftermarket aluminum valve covers, etc.). The parts would just lay on the molded block.

I asked an employee about it and was told it was very expensive to purchase. Several hundred dollars, but I cannot remember the exact price, nor where the speed shop was (I travel across country a lot),

If you are internet searching for one of these, try using the word "rubber" in your search. I'm pretty sure this was the item you are thinking about. It was molded in a Chevrolet orange color.
Wish I could help more, Ridge.

[Dick W.]

Re: Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

Go here for replica motors

[Norris W.]

Re: Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

I'm not familiar with the one Dick linked above, but have a Payr one that I've used for mockups in some of my hottroddy projects. I've got a BBC one and a set of old alum. bare heads that I bolt on it to use for accessory mounting. They have inserts so everything including oil pan, waterpump, heads, bellhousing, etc can be bolted on. They also offer them more complete with heads permanently attached, but I like the bare block so both short deck and tall deck can be duplicated with shims. This made evaluating header clearance for a tall deck 572 crate motor doable. There stuff is really nice but it ain't cheap.

http://www.payr.com/

[Larry E.]

Re: Plastic Big Block; What?? Where can I find one?

OK thanks to all. Googled it and found some more. Very expensive though.

Larry