Engine Blocks
- Mahle®Valley Pan GasketValley Pan Gasket by Mahle®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$20.27 - $77.83
- Standard®Engine Block HeaterEngine Block Heater by Standard®. For over 100 years, professional technicians have trusted Standard® to replace the failed OE part. Standard® manufacturers the highest-quality, best-performing parts for all import and domestic...Quality-designed to warm engine block and fluids, speed up heating of cabin, and increase life of engine components during harsh weather conditionsDesigned to allow a quick and easy start up for the vehicle in cold weather conditions$42.02 - $107.30
- Standard®TechSmart™ Engine Block Heater Power CordTechSmart™ Engine Block Heater Power Cord by Standard®. Standard is to be the leading independent supplier to the automotive aftermarket, providing the highest quality products, competitive prices and the highest reputation for...Quality-designed to warm engine block and fluids, speed up heating of cabin, and increase life of engine components during harsh weather conditionsDesigned to allow a quick and easy start up for the vehicle in cold weather conditions.$53.68 - $81.58
- Enginetech®Expansion Plug KitExpansion Plug Kit by Enginetech®. The Engine Builder's Source, can locate the right part for nearly any rebuild application. Offering a full line of internal engine parts for domestic, import and high performance applications,...Rigorously tested to withstand years of abuseDesigned with innovative manufacturing techniques$2.95 - $25.78
- Enginetech®MDS Solenoid Block-Off PlugMDS Solenoid Block-Off Plug by Enginetech®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.51
- Elring®Crankcase Main Bearing Case GasketCrankcase Main Bearing Case Gasket by Elring®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$21.55 - $27.23
- Elring®Cylinder Sleeve O-RingCylinder Sleeve O-Ring by Elring®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$0.84 - $6.83
- Elring®Engine Cylinder Liner O-RingEngine Cylinder Liner O-Ring by Elring®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect...OE quality parts from top original equipment and aftermarket manufacturersThe finest quality at a great price$2.31 - $12.08
- Elring®Expansion PlugExpansion Plug by Elring®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading materials...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$0.77 - $3.92
- Elring®Valley Pan GasketValley Pan Gasket by Elring®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.35 - $30.74
- Pioneer Automotive®Block Plug KitBlock Plug Kit by Pioneer Automotive®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by Pioneer Automotive features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.98 - $14.99
- Pioneer Automotive®Crankshaft Main Bearing Cap StudCrankshaft Main Bearing Cap Stud by Pioneer Automotive®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by Pioneer Automotive features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$59.10 - $163.50
- URO Parts®Valley Pan GasketValley Pan Gasket by URO Parts®. Replace your worn out engine part with this superior engine component designed by URO to restore your vehicle's factory performance. Manufactured to meet the highest OE standards, this reliable product...Replaces your worn out factory engine part to restore vehicle's performanceConstructed from top notch materials for ultimate strength and reliability$65.09 - $153.95
- Victor Reinz®Camshaft Position Sensor O-RingCamshaft Position Sensor O-Ring by Victor Reinz®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind. It will meet your...Made with precision and quality in mindDesigned to meet your specific needs$1.99 - $4.07
- Victor Reinz®Valley Pan GasketValley Pan Gasket by Victor Reinz®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind. It will meet your needs and...Made with precision and quality in mindDesigned to meet your specific needs$11.24 - $61.56
- Vaico®Side Access Cover PlateSide Access Cover Plate by Vaico®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$5.85
- DNJ Engine Components®Expansion PlugExpansion Plug by DNJ Engine Components®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by DNJ Engine Components features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$8.60 - $34.92
- Crown®Expansion PlugExpansion Plug by Crown®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by Crown features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is manufactured to meet or exceed...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$10.12 - $18.35
- Ishino®Expansion PlugExpansion Plug by Ishino®. Is your vehicle feeling down on power? Do you see dark puddles on the ground when you park? Is your CHECK ENGINE light on? Your engine may be in need of repair, but before you waste your time and gas running...OE quality parts from top original equipment and aftermarket manufacturersThe finest quality at a great price$5.28
- ARP®Crankcase Bolt KitCrankcase Bolt Kit by ARP®. The engineers at ARP spent quite a bit of time developing these highly effective, unique oil pan studs. They're designed to make it as easy as possible to install a pan and seal it properly. You'll note that...Designed to unlock more performance out of your vehicleDeliver a reasonable balance of strength and durability$486.14
- ARP®Main Bolt KitMain Bolt Kit by ARP®. The engineers at ARP spent quite a bit of time developing these highly effective, unique oil pan studs. They’re designed to make it as easy as possible to install a pan and seal it properly. You’ll note that...Designed to unlock more performance out of your vehicleDeliver a reasonable balance of strength and durability$47.63 - $435.60
- ARP®Valley Cover Bolt KitValley Cover Bolt Kit by ARP®. The engineers at ARP spent quite a bit of time developing these highly effective, unique oil pan studs. They’re designed to make it as easy as possible to install a pan and seal it properly. You’ll...Designed to unlock more performance out of your vehicleDeliver a reasonable balance of strength and durability$28.23 - $42.70
- DIY Solutions®Engine Expansion PlugEngine Expansion Plug by DIY Solutions®. If you're seeking to get your steel stallion back to its tip-top condition, then this top-notch replacement solution is what you should definitely look out for. When it comes to quality,...Designed to help restore your vehicle to its former gloryQuick replacement to let you enjoy an awesome ride again$27.49 - $73.39
- DIY Solutions®Engine HeaterEngine Heater by DIY Solutions®. If you're seeking to get your steel stallion back to its tip-top condition, then this top-notch replacement solution is what you should definitely look out for. When it comes to quality, reliability and...Designed to help restore your vehicle to its former gloryQuick replacement to let you enjoy an awesome ride again$62.17 - $248.83
- DIY Solutions®Engine Heater CordEngine Heater Cord by DIY Solutions®. If you're seeking to get your steel stallion back to its tip-top condition, then this top-notch replacement solution is what you should definitely look out for. When it comes to quality, reliability...Designed to help restore your vehicle to its former gloryQuick replacement to let you enjoy an awesome ride again$111.13 - $198.85
- DIY Solutions®Engine Oil Galley PlugEngine Oil Galley Plug by DIY Solutions®. If you're seeking to get your steel stallion back to its tip-top condition, then this top-notch replacement solution is what you should definitely look out for. When it comes to quality,...Designed to help restore your vehicle to its former gloryQuick replacement to let you enjoy an awesome ride again$19.33 - $54.01
- Febi®Crankcase Threaded Plug with Seal RingCrankcase Threaded Plug with Seal Ring by Febi®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$7.55
- Febi®Engine Block Drain PlugEngine Block Drain Plug by Febi®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$1.67
- Febi®Engine Side Cover PlateEngine Side Cover Plate by Febi®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$4.82
- Febi®Oil Galley PlugOil Galley Plug by Febi®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading materials...OE quality parts from top original equipment and aftermarket manufacturersThe finest quality at a great price$9.10
Just as construction of a building begins with a foundation, assembly of an engine starts with the block. Major components like the crankshaft, pistons and cylinder head(s) are installed on the block, and the block is usually where the motor mounts are installed that attach the block to the vehicle chassis. Engine blocks used to be predominately made of cast iron, but today most vehicles have aluminum blocks with cast iron cylinder liners.
Engine blocks are most commonly identified by their cylinder configuration. In-line engines have the cylinders next to one another in a row. 3, 4, 5, and 6-cylinder in-line engines are common, but years ago many vehicles came with “straight 8s”. V-type engines allow multiple cylinders to be assembled in a much more compact package, with an equal number of cylinders in each bank. The angle of the V is usually (but not always) 90-degrees and there can be anywhere from 6 to 12 cylinders in a modern V-type engine. In the past some Ford and Lancia vehicles were equipped with V4 engines, and in the 1930s luxury vehicles like Cadillac and Marmon came with massive V16 engines. Less common are horizontally opposed “flat” engines, where 2 or 3 cylinders are arranged on either side of the crankshaft. This configuration was famously used in the Volkswagen Beetle but has also been used extensively by Porsche and Subaru.
After an engine block is cast it undergoes extensive machining so other components can be properly installed. The oil pan rails, block deck and other surfaces are machined smooth for proper gasket sealing. The bores for the crankshaft (and camshaft on overhead valve engines) are machined to allow the installation of plain bearings. All the required attachment holes are drilled/tapped to accept fasteners. The block is bored 90 degrees to the crankshaft centerline and honed to the finish required for optimal piston ring seating. When an engine is remanufactured it is common to bore/hone the cylinders, resurface the block deck, and align hone the main bearing saddles.
Engine blocks also include an extensive network of coolant and oil passages. The oil pump usually bolts to the block and passages are necessary to carry oil under pressure to the crankshaft and camshaft bearings and to the cylinder head so the valvetrain can be lubricated. There are also paths for the oil to drain back to the oil pan. The collection of passages cast into the block for coolant flow is known as the “water jacket”. Coolant is drawn from the radiator by the water pump and circulated through the block and heads, absorbing heat from the cylinders and combustion chambers. It then flows out through the top radiator hose back to the radiator where it is cooled. Holes made in the block to facilitate the casting process are sealed by core plugs.
Aftermarket engine block makers analyze the factory product and they know the weaknesses and where improvements can be made. As a result, you can get blocks made with more material to prevent bore distortion and maintain head gasket seal, and billet steel splayed 4-bolt main caps for greater strength. Performance blocks are available with larger water jackets for improved coolant circulation and re-engineered oil galleries and oil feed holes to increase oil flow. Perhaps the best motive for using an aftermarket block is that your engine can be made so much larger. When it comes to making horsepower, there’s no substitute for cubic inches, but the meat in a factory block can limit the size of an overbore, and there may not be enough room inside the crankcase for a substantial increase in stroke. Aftermarket blocks have more material for increased bore size, and some even have larger bore spacing. Blocks are available with the cam located higher up in the block to clear a stroker crank. You can build an engine with far greater displacement that’s still the same physical size.
Browse by Part Name
Featured Brands
Related Categories
- Engine Assemblies
- Motor Mounts
- Valves & Valvetrain Parts
- Pistons, Rings & Connecting Rods
- Oil Filters
- Serpentine Belts & Auxiliary Drive Belts
- Valve Covers
- Timing Gears, Chains & Covers
- Oil Pans, Drain Plugs & Dipsticks
- Cylinder Heads
- Timing Belts
- Engine Pulleys
- Engine Sensors, Relays, Switches & Connectors
- Oil Pumps
- Drive Belt Tensioners
- Oil Coolers
- Camshafts
- Crankshafts
- Engine Management Systems
- Engine Bearings
- Harmonic Balancers
- Engine Rebuild Kits
- Oil Catch Cans
- Balance Shafts
- Engine Swap Kits
- Engine Wiring Harnesses
- Intercoolers
- Throttle Bodies
- Carburetors
- Motor Oils