New small block

I'm sure it's heavier, and I'm sure it would need everything checked. World, indy, and Dart all have issues too. The best factory machining were KBs and even they had issues once in a while. So it's the cost of the block, and like aftermarket heads, the cost to check it out and fix something if it's off. A friend of mine had 3 World Ford blocks that had cam bearing bores too large for the bearings and had to be returned before he got a good one. However, you will have more than $3K into a factory block to get it close to that strength. And you'll never get priority oiling or the thicker decks and walls. $3100 isnt a bad price at all.