Been shopping around and Wheelerpower makes a 540 or larger all forged internals, internally balanced short block.

They are fairly local so they might be a good platform to move my 502 parts to and of course upgrade the heads,CAM, and intake....goal is rock solid reliable 550 HP with a ton of torque.

Anyone running these and what has your experience been?

Thanks!

Stay away...
Went with a Wheeler 496 back in 2004.. What a disaster.. Block was not line honed properly.. And obviously something else was not done right either.. fried the rear main bearing and tore the #5 piston up good..

Pete Wheeler was not the most caring person in the world..Basically told me to go "F" myself.. So.. I did.. When I was done I went to Shafroff racing on L.I. and got my work done there.. 5 years later still running strong.. Shortly after my 496 blew competition products (whom I went with for many parts) stopped doing business with Wheeler..

Pete was right.. His motors don't come with any guarantee at all..His 496 short block lasted less then 10 hours.. and upon tear down, it was my machinists opinion that Wheeler did faulty work..

Anyway.. you asked.. I gave an honest opinion based on past experience.. and of course losing out several thousand dollars.. Thanks Pete.. Hope the $$ you got from me was worth it.. 6 years later and I still remember..

Thanks John!!!! Just what I needed to know Bro.

Cheap Chinese Junk. They had there Rep drop by some samples at our shop (rotating assemblies) and we sent them right back....not up to par for any quality builder to use.

Glad I could steer you away.. Wish 6 years ago someone did that to me.. I think I threw away 3 or 4k worth of lower end from them.. Plus labor and time putting it together. Plus a wasted summer..

youch - yeah I went through a similar process with my two 502s but they were supposedly "turnkey" - what a cluster

Swamp,
Give me a call when you get a chance. I would be glad to put something together for you. I need to know exactly what you would like to reuse so that I can put an accurate quote together. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks
Eddie
615-216-7449 or
504-416-3607

Yeah.. it’s tough with builders. there are a lot out there.. Who to trust.. who not. References are key.. where to spend your hard (or maybe not so hard) earned money..

There are a ton of guys here on OSO who would be a good choice. Many (like Eddie) take time to answer our questions and give us advice free of charge (they have done so for me) and out of the kindness of their hearts. If I knew then (back in 05) what I know now I am sure I would have picked someone here to build me a long block. Instead, at times, we allow the “wrong!!” people to do it for us and it costs us time and money.. Good luck..

I hear that!

I took the Gil manifolds off my 502's built by Bill's Marine in Fort Lauderdale to put them on my "interim 454 engines". I literally broke half of the bolts despite soaking them with penetrating oil for two days.....when I did get some in tact ones out I found the bolts were not stainless or even marine. Every bolt I pull off those engines are rusty messes.

In comparison, the manifolds came off the 10 year old Mercs without oil and without any fuss.