chinese "knock off" blocks

[chevyCowboy]

dose anyone know how to tell a chinese know off block from a real one iv seen some talk about them but never how to tell the difference

 

[SmithvilleD]

I've read some comments claiming the knock-offs typically all have the same casting date. Could make sense the reverse engineers don't bother to update/change the casting patterns.

Granted for that to be meaningful, prolly means you'd need to see a few of them to spot the pattern.

 

[ak diesel driver]

Hopefully you don't mind the hijack but what I want to know is when will the amg engines in the hummers start coming on the market as part of the replacement process? Wonder if they will be available at auction like the others were?

 

[BigBlueChevy]

Hopefully you don't mind the hijack but what I want to know is when will the amg engines in the hummers start coming on the market as part of the replacement process? Wonder if they will be available at auction like the others were?

For WHATEVER reason, GEP doesn't seem to want to put the optimizer block out the the general public. I forget who actually called, but someone here interested in doing a serious engine buildup contacted GEP about purchasing one of there new 6500 optimizer blocks with just the bottom end. And after a little persuasion and a long conversation, he said they wanted $6700 for just the block and bottom end

Long story short - I don't think they will have much of a market except us guys and maybe a person or two "over there"

 

[ak diesel driver]

I think you misunderstood my ? As the hummer engines get replaced as part of miltary service when will those ex military engines be available thru auction. There are military 6.5 takeouts available now this way. So sooner or later the upgraded blocks their putting in them should be available.

 

[SmithvilleD]

Interesting thought to consider. Anyone on the forum have experience w/ what the military uses for engine replacement criteria?

I figured the ex-military 6.2/6.5's currently out there were largely the result of some re-power initiative relating to so many Humvee's being up-armored, heavier, & engine failure rates became too high.

Suppose with so much military action over the past 10 years, some/many engines could have been just plain worn out.

I'm with 'ya though, on liking the thought of these new, better long-blocks becoming available at the Gov't liquidation auctions.

 

[ak diesel driver]

I've heard but nothing substantiated that they replace after so many hrs of use. Maybe someone with some military background can chime in with some real knowlegde on the subject.

 

[bison]

dose anyone know how to tell a chinese know off block from a real one iv seen some talk about them but never how to tell the difference

notting wrong with chinese blocks,they are all 506 castings however. Some have 506 and the diamond in the valley and are machined for mid mount turbo drain,others have just 506 in the bell housing. To tell a rice block from stock is the casting seams in the camshaft/lifter gallery are rather sharp versus rounded off in the stock block.

 

[Missy Good Wench]

I have had close contact with the ones that Clearwater is selling.

These blocks are wonderful looking Iron.
The finish is just great.

Two have been built locally and both engine run sweet.

The builds included Clearwater heads a scat 9000 crank and used the pistons and rods from a stock 6.5.

The heads were fastened on with standard TTY bolts from Felpro with felpro gaskets.

Clevite 77 bearings across the bottom end. The rotating assembly was ballanced.

The original cam, lifters and valvetrain was reused off the GM engine along with the cam sprockets and gears and a new Chain.

Sheet metal was reused as was the factory oil pump.

JUST BE SURE that if your original engine was a non squirt Block that you replace the pump with one designed for a squirt block.

Failure to do so will result in little to no oil pressure at idle when the engine is warm.

All the salvageable parts off the original unit will cross right over and go back to work.


Both units that I have seen using the China blocks have been running now for about a year.

Clearwater sells these on ebay for $1250 on a regular basis.

Personally I would not hesitate to buy one from Clearwater if I needed a new block and a good GM one was not forth coming at a reasonable price.

I paid $350 for the one I used on DaHoooley and then had to deck it, bore it and some other work to ready it for use.

$1250 for a fresh block starts looking very good.

Missy

 

[bison]

amen

 

[Anubis]

I was cruising evilbay and came across a new Canadian block for the same $1250 as I see for the chinese blocks........

I thought Clearwater made a big deal about how their new engines were not the chinese castings?

 

[daustin]

Interesting thought to consider. Anyone on the forum have experience w/ what the military uses for engine replacement criteria?

I figured the ex-military 6.2/6.5's currently out there were largely the result of some re-power initiative relating to so many Humvee's being up-armored, heavier, & engine failure rates became too high.

Suppose with so much military action over the past 10 years, some/many engines could have been just plain worn out.

I'm with 'ya though, on liking the thought of these new, better long-blocks becoming available at the Gov't liquidation auctions.

Last year i bought 2 of the ex-military hummer 6.5's from Govt auctions. Both looked just about new inside after dropping the oil pan although one had a little rust in the cylinders - looked like some water had gotten in one side (cylinders 2,4,6). The other one looks great, i'd bet neither was ran for more than a few thousand miles. The second one is going in my '93 3500 this summer, the first one needs a new home as i don't need 2 lol. Both are '07 AMG/GEP castings complete with the captains bars and diamonds in the valley. The army guy that ran the loader said that a lot of these are being replaced with complete turbo engines because of the heavier armor on the hummers. Very very interesting, thought i'd pass that along.
Don

 

[Odlaw]

For WHATEVER reason, GEP doesn't seem to want to put the optimizer block out the the general public. I forget who actually called, but someone here interested in doing a serious engine buildup contacted GEP about purchasing one of there new 6500 optimizer blocks with just the bottom end. And after a little persuasion and a long conversation, he said they wanted $6700 for just the block and bottom end

Long story short - I don't think they will have much of a market except us guys and maybe a person or two "over there"

SSD carries a GEP longblock - for around $6500 IIRC.

 

[bk95td]

For WHATEVER reason, GEP doesn't seem to want to put the optimizer block out the the general public. I forget who actually called, but someone here interested in doing a serious engine buildup contacted GEP about purchasing one of there new 6500 optimizer blocks with just the bottom end. And after a little persuasion and a long conversation, he said they wanted $6700 for just the block and bottom end

Long story short - I don't think they will have much of a market except us guys and maybe a person or two "over there"

It doesn't sound that way here http://www.amgeneral.com/vehicles/gep/products.php

 

[jrsavoie]

Last year i bought 2 of the ex-military hummer 6.5's from Govt auctions. Both looked just about new inside after dropping the oil pan although one had a little rust in the cylinders - looked like some water had gotten in one side (cylinders 2,4,6). The other one looks great, i'd bet neither was ran for more than a few thousand miles. The second one is going in my '93 3500 this summer, the first one needs a new home as i don't need 2 lol. Both are '07 AMG/GEP castings complete with the captains bars and diamonds in the valley. The army guy that ran the loader said that a lot of these are being replaced with complete turbo engines because of the heavier armor on the hummers. Very very interesting, thought i'd pass that along.
Don

Which Government auction did you buy from?

 

[Brooklyn Tow]

Where does the P400 (I think thats what they're called) fit in with all this?

 

[BigBlueChevy]

Interesting thought to consider. Anyone on the forum have experience w/ what the military uses for engine replacement criteria?

I figured the ex-military 6.2/6.5's currently out there were largely the result of some re-power initiative relating to so many Humvee's being up-armored, heavier, & engine failure rates became too high.

Suppose with so much military action over the past 10 years, some/many engines could have been just plain worn out.

I'm with 'ya though, on liking the thought of these new, better long-blocks becoming available at the Gov't liquidation auctions.

I can chime this in at least. My truck is an EX Air Force Crew Cab. I even have the nonclemature in the engine bay designating it gov't owned property.

So far, I have been able to determine that at some point in January of 2001, Jasper did a job on my engine. I havent gotten deep enough into the engine in order to find casting #'s or any fancy info like that, but all that will come when the engine is pulled for whatever donor engine I use.

The quallity was decent on the job. but there are spots where oil leaks and crap seems to blow around the engine bay. But for the most part its clean. The engine runs great and I've really never had any issues with it. But other than that I really can't say.

Doubt its one of them fancy Optimizer blocks, but its still a nice engine never the less.

 

[Anubis]

I can chime this in at least. My truck is an EX Air Force Crew Cab. I even have the nonclemature in the engine bay designating it gov't owned property.

So far, I have been able to determine that at some point in January of 2001, Jasper did a job on my engine. I havent gotten deep enough into the engine in order to find casting #'s or any fancy info like that, but all that will come when the engine is pulled for whatever donor engine I use.

The quallity was decent on the job. but there are spots where oil leaks and crap seems to blow around the engine bay. But for the most part its clean. The engine runs great and I've really never had any issues with it. But other than that I really can't say.

Doubt its one of them fancy Optimizer blocks, but its still a nice engine never the less.

it wouldn't be an optimizer. You're truck was a Former GSA vehicle.... no "M" designation..... so it would just be off the shelf GM parts for your truck....

 

[daustin]

Which Government auction did you buy from?

I went to one down by Warner Robbins AFB in southern GA. What shocked me was the bidding on the 6.5 and 6.2's. I figured that as old as they were there wouldn't be that much interest, WRONG!! I wound up paying more than i had planned for, but i got the updated blocks/heads on both engines i bought. One is an '07 i think, the other is an '03. Both looked darn near new inside.
Don

 

[ak diesel driver]

So they are already starting to appear