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Some folks talk about the great muscle car wars of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it’s hard to find a car guy who experienced it, enjoyed it and still owns the same car. At 66 years of age, Mike Overly was able to experience the muscle car era during his twenties, which is the perfect time to go fast in a cool car. The car seen on these pages is a ’70 Mustang, one that Overly has owned since 1970. Less than a year old, the Mustang sat at a used car lot in Indianapolis, Indiana, wearing black paint and an asking price of $2,300. From his inspection, Overly knew the original owner had already upgraded to a Boss 429 hood and scoop, so it may have been raced in its short life—the 2,000 miles on the odometer were probably not the easiest of miles.

GET IT HANDLED
Before the advent of the “smoothie look,” people were slicking down the lines of their cars and trucks in numerous ways, and shaving door handles was one of the more popular mods. Today the trend is to fit later-model door handles rather than no door handles at all. This still provides a simple way to clean up your vehicle with very little effort, yet retains the convenience of manually opening the door. If you have the patience, talent and imagination, you can borrow the parts from a donor car or truck and fit them to your own project, thereby achieving a cool, smooth look that will be unique to your vehicle.

LIKE A ROLLING STONE
Bob Dillon built an F-100. Okay, so it’s not that Bob Dillon, but in this case it’s better. How, you ask? Well, there are two Bob Dillons: Bob Dillon owns this truck, but he does so with his wife, Bobbi. See, that explains it. Now let’s move on. According to the Dillons, “We did 90 percent of all the work” on the truck, and only had the guys at Cars do the final sanding, paint and assembly. The Dillons bought the 1955 Ford F-100 nearly 12 years ago and have worked at it off and on ever since. They had a definite vision for the truck, if not a timeframe, and judging from the results, it was time well spent.
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Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
Lightweight Muscle for Serious Builds
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of Bill Mitchell Products
Precision Dimensions for Big Performance
The block sports a 9.240″ deck height with 4.115″ cylinder bores and 4.400″ bore centers, perfectly engineered for aggressive builds while maintaining true LS compatibility. Five billet steel main caps, all four-bolt and cross-bolted, keep the crank planted no matter how hard you push. Torque the studs to 75 ft-lbs, the cross bolts to 30 ft-lbs, and you’ve got a bottom end that laughs at high RPMs and boost alike.
Rebuildable and Engineered for Longevity
Each cylinder comes with a replaceable dry ductile steel sleeve, pressed to exact tolerances for maximum durability. Builders can safely bore up to 4.165″, opening the door to serious displacement upgrades. And with priority main oiling and dry-sump provisions, this block ensures your engine gets the lubrication it demands under even the harshest conditions. Screw-in freeze plugs, cam plug, all dowel pins, and pipe plugs come included—this block is ready to go straight from the box to your build.
Built for Builders
Every detail of the BMP‑086515 is designed with the engine builder in mind. Standard GM LS bearings, camshaft placement, and lifter bores make assembly predictable, while the block’s LSX head bolt pattern and drilled-and-tapped motor mounts give you flexibility for retrofits or high-performance swaps. From oil passages to bearing alignment, Bill Mitchell has dialed in the details so your build goes smooth and fast.
Quick Specs
Application: High-performance GM LS replacement
Material / Weight: 357T6 Aluminum, 135 lbs w/ caps & sleeves
Deck Height: 9.240″ (standard) | Bores: 3.990″ or 4.115″, replaceable dry sleeves
Main Caps: 5 × 4-bolt billet steel, cross-bolted
Cam / Lifters: Standard GM placement & tie-bar lifters
Oil System: Priority main, dry-sump provisions
Stroke Clearance: Up to 4.250″ steel rods
Head Bolt Pattern: LSX standard | Motor Mounts: OEM & SBC retrofit-ready
Freeze Plugs / Starter / Water Pump: Stock
Why the BMP Aluminum LS Engine Block Stands Out
This isn’t just another LS block—it’s a high-performance weapon. Lightweight, rigid, and engineered for serious horsepower, it’s perfect for boosted monsters, high-revving naturally aspirated screamers, or retro LS swaps into classic rides. If your goal is power, precision, and bulletproof reliability, this block won’t just meet expectations—it will crush them.
Classic engineering. Modern muscle. Builder-approved.
👉 Ready to turn your LS vision into reality? Grab the BMP Aluminum LS Engine Block today at BillMitchellProducts.com
















