While there are plenty of mud flaps, bedazzled valve covers, and lame junk at SEMA there’s also loads of cool hard parts that are introduced at the show. In this blog we’re looking at a complete engine and two blocks that caught our eye in the new products displays which are well off of the main beaten path of the schmos that come to SEMA to drink beer at 10am and oogle “booth professionals”. Nope, the rooms that have the parts away from the rest of the show give a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the new innovations and releases that companies both OEM and aftermarket are brining to market.

The first block you are going to see is the Chevrolet Performance Duramax piece. This is a block compatible with all of the first generation Duramax engines like the LB7, LLY, LBZ, and LLM. To this point, every Duramax build we have heard of has started with either the engine coming out of the truck that is being wrenched on or someone grabbing a gazillion mile block out of a wrecked truck. Now you can start with fresh meat and have yourself a truly new motor from the foundation up. Good stuff and definitely a good deal for the ever expanding world of diesel enthusiasts.

This bad boy is the new aluminum 351W Ford block and boy is it bad ass. This is a water jacket block that can be used for drag racing, street use, sprint car engines, hot rods, boosted combos, and whatever else you can dream up. Lightweight aluminum construction takes weight of the nose of your machine and the fact that the thing has billet four bolt main caps, beef area, and the construction of this one takes into consideration the original design’s weak spots and works to make them stronger means that you’ve got one hell of a foundation for your next 351W build. Give ‘er a look!

Lastly but not leastly we have the yeoman entry of the group. Chevrolet Performance is now offering an L96 truck engine as a complete crate motor. The famed 360hp iron block 6.0L engine that so many boosted bad ass LS combos have been based off of is a torque making little motor that would be a great drop in for many hot rods and while they rate the thing at 360hp, let’s be honest. With a set of headers and a tune you are going to have a 400+ horsepower engine in your classic truck or whatever else you are angling to drop it into. This is neat even if it is not some ultra-sexy engine. Good stuff!