There is no argument that the traditional Gen I small block Chevy is one of the most popular, and swapped, engines in the world. Yes, the LS has had a strong run the past few decades, but the SBC swap has been around since the debut of the engine platform in the 1950s. We dare say that there are more of Henry’s Model As running around these days with SBC power than with Ford power of any sort. Not to mention the thousands of kit cars powered by the venerable small block Chevy, SBC V8 Fiero swaps, and so much more. The Gen I small block is indeed the king of engine swaps.
Traditionally, building something with an engine that was never meant to be installed in it would require an engine hoist, an actual engine, and a spotter or two keeping things in check while measurements were taken, parts tack welded, and so forth. It’s not an easy or quick process, and it can be dangerous with a 400 plus pound engine dangling on a chain over your hands (or head!). While this may have been how your father did engine swaps in the past, there is a better, and safer way to mock up a small block Chevy engine in your project, and that is with the Speedway Motors SoloSwap™ steel SBC mock up engine block.
Even if you have your small block Chevy engine all apart down to the bare block, that bare casting is still a couple of hundred pounds to try and roughly move into place to figure out your engine mounts, headers, and more on your project. Using replica engines to mock up your SBC swap for your project is much safer and your back will thank you for your efforts.
Past mock up options included a plastic engine block or foam engine block, which, while being light and easy to maneuver, these plastic engines often did not hold up well to repeated usage or the installation of heavy components like long tube headers or a turbo manifold with turbo bolted to it. They’re also not the best option when localized welding and grinding is happening to fab engine mounts/brackets either. Plastic blocks can easily be damaged from grinding or welding sparks. This is why we designed our SoloSwap™ SBC mock up block system from laser cut 12-gauge steel with all accessory mounting holes accessible from the back side for simple “nut and bolt” assembly of your accessories for engine mock up. No more thread inserts that work their way out of the foam engine block material or even needing the factory hardware during the mock up phase. Just grab yourself any fastener of the proper length and diameter, saving the good installation hardware for final assembly.
Furthermore, our SoloSwap™ SBC engine mock up block, which is available in short block and long block options, ships unassembled, saving you shipping costs and storage room when not in use. Simply assemble the mock up pieces following the provided instructions with the fasteners included and your mock up engine block is ready to use in minutes. Our steel mock up block can also be easily disassembled for storage, unlike some steel mock up blocks that utilize folding tabs. Once those tabs are bent over the block stays assembled. Store your disassembled mock up block wherever it will easily fit, such as under a workbench, on a shelf, or other location that a full size plastic engine block or real engine block wouldn’t fit or have the weight capacity to handle (ever try storing a real engine block on a plastic shelf?).
Our patent pending SoloSwap™ steel small block Chevy mock up block weighs in at just 18 pounds for the short block and 29 pounds for the long block (that’s only eight pounds heavier than the foam engine block version we mentioned), making it easy to handle and position all by yourself safely in the engine bay of your project. If you opt for the long block version the included 12-gauge steel cylinder heads provide mounting locations for your intake manifold, exhaust manifolds or headers, and even your valve covers.
This allows the complete mockup of an assembled and dressed engine, right down to your choice of valve covers, heads, and more to confirm fitment, clearances, plumbing, wire routing, and so much more easily. Even if you’re just using the short block, you can confirm fitment and engine location by mounting the oil pan, timing cover, water pump, and accessory brackets to our mock up block easily. The SoloSwap™ short block also accepts all stock and aftermarket as well, so feel free to bolt up your actual cylinder heads for your mock up duties if you like! Use the best suited for your project and get to work mocking up your engine.
We did all the homework for you when designing our new steel SoloSwap™ SBC mock up engine block assembly. We have provided all mounting holes to replicate the engine block and heads of a Gen I small block Chevy engine. We have incorporated adjustability into our steel mock up block assembly to provide adjustable deck height of the short block to allow replicating all common deck heights (9.025”, 9.325”, and 9.500”), adjustable cylinder head height to replicate classic or Vortec style heads and their matching center bolt or perimeter bolt patterns, one or two piece rear main seal oil pans, and much more to provide the most adaptable SBC mock up block on the market.
Now you can quickly and easily confirm you have enough clearance for radiator cooling fans, power steering rack, fluid reservoirs, and other items commonly found at the front of the engine compartment. So, whether you plan for a sole small block Chevy swap in your home garage, or your hot rod shop is looking for an easier way to make SBC swaps happen in your customer’s cars, our SoloSwap™ bolt together steel SBC mock up engine block will help you get the job done safely and quickly.