would a 79 350 small diesel DX block be a good start for a moderate to street/strip build? Just looking for input. Thanks. Robert.

 

I think it goes without saying the 350dx is one of the strongest blocks you will find, and the ability to put a 425 crank in it and bore it to make around 440 cubes is a real novel idea. I even had a 350dx and 425 crank once to do it myself, but sold it all. However, for a "moderate street/strip build" I think you will find your much better off just building a 455, as there is more cost involved prepping a 350dx. You have machine the injection pump drive port, if you use a 425 crank, you need have it modified. the lifter bore diameter is larger, so you need to bush it down to a normal size, or have someone do a custom cam for you and use the original roller lifters. I believe Bill Trovato had a cool youtube series on building a 350dx where he did a custom cam and re-used the lifters. if you go that route, you really need to get some of t
Its really up to you with your goals, i just went through this with a friend of mine. We hopped up a 350 and now we are building a 455 because he wants to be able to boil the tires at any time or speed. The 350 runs very well, but its just not the stump puller he really wanted...

 

IMO, with options that have become available recently, NO, the DX will just cost you a bunch more money to build than a gas block.. I did mine over 15 years ago when options were slim. I wanted increased displacement, something that had a bulletproof bottom end that I could do a cam & head renovation if I wasn’t satisfied with the power, while keeping all my SBO underpinnings. It is quite sufficient, even with too small a cam & unported heads. That said, it’s a great combo.

AFAIK, you COULD use that DX with the stock crank without incurring too much extra expense but you’re limiting yourself to 350ci or so.

My suggestion would be to build a BBO, or a stroker 350 gas block, either one based on a rotating assembly kit. There are some nice builds documented on this site, with the main purveyor being “cutlassefi,” aka Mark Remmel. Sell that DX block to someone that needs it & find a decent, gas based 350 core or see if builder has one. Personally, I wouldn’t rule out a 403 core, but that’s going off the mainstream script.

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Thank you guys for the replies. I did not buy the block, I'm just trying to learn the what's and why's before I start gathering parts for a build. I realize I need to know what I want for the end result, now I understand about the dx block. Great info and people on this site. Thanks again. Robert.

 

You can check out some of my small block builds in the “Racing and High Performance” section on here. That may be helpful to you.

 

Thanks, I have been looking and reading. When you build an engine, does the customer supply you with an engine core, heads, crank, etc... or do you prefer to do that also? I'm really trying to learn here. Thanks! Robert.

 

I provide the core in most cases.