Thanks Bigchief. I do plan on limiting RPM to about 5400-5500 for dyno runs coming up and probably 5000 for my street use. I think I will be around 400whp. A note: when we opened the motor it had burnt and cracked pistons (forged). Machinist said block showed very little wear. So someone beat the snot out of it with nitrous or something in short order after a build. Block held up pretty well.

Probably in hindsight I would have tried to pick another block if I would have gotten wind of this detail before. Then I would have been in the camp of believers that repeatedly warn people of the 557's are 'terrible' without knowing it to be true or not.

However, its at this point, I have to ride this bull, but I do get the sense feel the misinformation is causing people to sign off the 557 blocks too quickly. The community could use more 'facts' on builds and failures with these blocks.