by 
The Curious Bag
-
Engine blocks can be made of anything from iron to beryllium alloy and form the basic foundation of any engine. This is the one component that practically every other crucial component is either bolted to or rests on inside.
Function
Engine blocks house the rotating assembly (crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and cam on push-rod motors), and provide a foundation for the cylinder heads.
Weight
The weight of an automotive engine block can vary from four-cylinder 45 lb. featherweights, to massive diesel blocks that can tip the scales at nearly 700 lbs.
Overhead Cam vs. Push-Rod
Push-rod engines use a block mounted camshaft to actuate the valves via a series of rods and levers. Overhead cam engines (OHC or DOHC) house the cams above the cylinder heads.
Material
Though most engine blocks are made of nodular or cast iron, many factory performance engines are made of solid aluminum alloy. BMW's newest straight-6 engine uses a block made of magnesium alloy that weighs 40 percent less than an equivalent aluminum block.
Split or Flat Blocks
Flat ( "boxer" ) engines like those found in Porsches and and various Subarus use a two-piece block that squeezes the crank from either side.
Source:
Resource:
Anatomy of an Engine Block (Video)
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC