Longtime users of the small-block Ford pushrod engine platform are aware that there are a number of common issues that can occur, potentially causing catastrophic failures when the block castings are pushed to and beyond their strength limitations.

The engineering team at World Products has been in the game for a long time, and identified many of these common failures through their own internal testing as well as that provided to them by their customers. As a result, block designer Dick Boyer and his team have focused on a number of areas and corrected those deficiencies with their Man O’war line of aftermarket engine blocks.

“The material has been upgraded to a 50,000 psi iron alloy for greatly improved strength over stock and other aftermarket blocks. World has also increased the thickness of the main webs, adding .080-inch more material to the front bulkhead and .030-inch more to numbers 2, 3 and 4,” says World’s Jack McInnis.

The net effect of these upgrades is the increased capability of the block to handle those extreme situations where power-adders are employed and the block’s capabilities are stressed.

Another area where they’ve gone against the grain is by developing the main fastener area to better handle power.

McInnis says, “The standard 1/2-inch main cap fasteners have been changed to high strength ARP 7/16-inch fasteners, which further strengthens the main webs by retaining more material in critical areas.”

This adds strength; while reducing the fastener’s overall dimension, the improved fastener material combined with World’s four-bolt, stepped and dowelled main caps helps to add stability to the bottom end.

Stay tuned–we have an in-depth article coming soon on the small-block Ford engine design.

For more information on the complete line of World Products engine blocks and other parts, check out their website.