15 replies to this topic

[Stedz_lc]

Hi all
Just curious which holden six block is the best? I read in old johno's "bible" that the blue 173 had more wall thickness, curious which is better or if there all the same, i have a blue 202 and a black 202 block here that il be gettin sonic tested n psi tested but if the 173 is a better block il try get my hands on one
Cheers
ed

[Heath]

There were a few different ribbing designs over the years... i.e. different eras of blocks have different structures around the crankcase and stuff. I've heard that one or all of the XU-1 blocks was pretty special, but that could be bullshit.

Don't discount the red blocks anyway, an unmolested 179 is an easy way to get a motor that still has a lot of meat in the bores, the 173 might be the same story - I don't know. Any motor designed for a 3" stroke crank will need to have its main journals opened up for the 202 crank.

[yel327]

I heard the group N racers were using black motors (or late blue WB past VK introduction - same thing)

[Peter UC]

As far as I know the 179 have the same core as the 186 and therefore can be bored out to 3.625"

Edited by Peter UC, 19 July 2010 - 12:53 PM.

[Heath]

Don't know what any of the 173s are like, red or blue. All I know is that the early 179 motors had the same cores as the 186 motor hence the whole +.120" thing. They may have even changed that with the later 179s put in HRs?

Edited by Heath, 19 July 2010 - 01:35 PM.

[Bathurst72]

Hi all
Just curious which holden six block is the best? I read in old johno's "bible" that the blue 173 had more wall thickness, curious which is better or if there all the same, i have a blue 202 and a black 202 block here that il be gettin sonic tested n psi tested but if the 173 is a better block il try get my hands on one
Cheers
ed

I know a person who has owned a wrecking yard for years and when I was selecting blocks for my FJ build he said that the best lasting engine he has ever found was the Black block with the 3.3 engine size on the side.

Steve

[greens nice]

ive found that even thought they are old, red 202's had thicker bores. a vb 202 would be the best 202 block.
although if you wanted maximum bore thickness a blue 173 would be the go, as in high rpm, big turbo motor.

[Stedz_lc]

So is the 173 blue actually got thickers(wall thickness) bores or there just thicker becuase of the standard bore of 173ci once taken to 202 is it down to blue 202 wall thikness?
Ive got both a blue and black 202 but im willing to get a 173 if its my best option for my blower motor.
Cheers
ed

[Stedz_lc]

Mint, so aslong as the ive got virgin bore 202 its the same! Now Blue and black or red any difference?

[Heath]

The only differences that I am positive about are the numbers on the side and the coolant transfer ports in the deck.

[rodomo]

Measure the bore or read the stampings on the top of a piston.
Will a wedgie do?