[73 TRANSAM]

Any interest on a Main Girdle like a Ford Style but is two piece so that it can fit on a stock main caps? Trying to see if there are any interest on this. Thanks.

[pontbil]

I would be interested in 1 or 2 if they were ready soon

[DarcyL]

I would also be interested, will a stock oil pan fit?

[Jay S]

FWIW, I have the halos done for a totally stock pan. I am actually working on it as I post this. The engine is up on an engine stand sitting in my office next to computer. I am modeling it all on SOLIDWORKS. FWIW, Not much room on the front mains cap to clear the stock pan for much support. It is a cage girdle system emulating a deep skirted block. I suppose someone could just run the halos though.

I say go for it. Maybe one of us will get it right.

[slowbird]

If a stock type pan can be used im in

[Johnny406]

I'd be very interested but will need it sooner than later.

[PAUL K]

I think there would be a market for one that will fit a stock style pan.... If anyone get this far PM with pricing.

[73 TRANSAM]

I am just trying to figure out if there is an interest on this. It will be tough with the number 1 cap tied in but I'll see. Its probably going to be a stock type main cap application. I'd like to put one on my IA2 block but I have a 400 block that I can test fit.

[AIR RAM]

Id be interested... got any pics.drawings of what it would look like and how it would mount?

SPEED SAFE, NICK

[Alex_F]

I have thought about making one of these for awhile, always debated how effective they would be. I could burn some out on steel on a laser quickly if anyone was interested. I will draw one up see what can fit later this week.

[AIR RAM]

Originally Posted by Alex_F

I have thought about making one of these for awhile, always debated how effective they would be. I could burn some out on steel on a laser quickly if anyone was interested. I will draw one up see what can fit later this week.

I am interested. I know there are several people who say they are not worth the time yet they quickly follow up with "Just get an Aftermarket block"... In my opinion they have completely lost touch with the average person who just can not afford an aftermarket block and all the additional prep that goes into building one. Just the block alone is a $3500-$4000 price of admission. I just want to add some reliability into the block I am building.

SO if I can help "Minimize" the chance of the mains from walking I'm all for it.

How thick are the Olds girdles and what material are they using?

SPEED SAFE, NICK

[Lee]

I've personally experienced cap-walk issues - with Ford Windsor blocks. But have NEVER seen anything similar with Pontiacs. With the doweled mains, deep registers, and large bolts, I do not see a need for a girdle in a Pontiac block. You'll break a lifter bore before you ever have cap walk with a Pontiac block.

Even WITH a girdle, Windsor guys will (reluctantly) admit that the girdle basically just minimized the carnage when the block DID fail, rather than preventing failure.

[JSPONT]

Originally Posted by Lee

I've personally experienced cap-walk issues - with Ford Windsor blocks. But have NEVER seen anything similar with Pontiacs. With the doweled mains, deep registers, and large bolts, I do not see a need for a girdle in a Pontiac block. You'll break a lifter bore before you ever have cap walk with a Pontiac block.

Even WITH a girdle, Windsor guys will (reluctantly) admit that the girdle basically just minimized the carnage when the block DID fail, rather than preventing failure.

Add boost to a 2 bolt main, you will see cap walk with a Pontiac. Had plenty of it until I did program billet center 3 caps

[Scott Stoneburg]

I've seen some evidence of cap fretting or cap walk on a 428 and a 455 I have built. 428 was factory 4 bolt. The 455 was a 2 bolt with ARP studs. Both were high compression NA motors. I'm not sure if a girdle would have helped. But if I was re-doing a stock block I would want the added insurance a girdle would provide.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by JSPONT

Add boost to a 2 bolt main, you will see cap walk with a Pontiac. Had plenty of it until I did program billet center 3 caps

Then why wouldn't you go with an aftermarket block? If you have enough boost to tweak the mains, you are tweaking the entire block.

[taff2]

A halo girdle that just fits over the main caps will help prevent the caps 'waving in the wind', just like a valvetrain stud girdle does. It won't stop a stock block from cracking up through the mains, this is caused by the angular direction of the power pulses fed into the main journals-the main bearing saddles are spread apart by these pulses - not helped by the thin main bearing bulkheads and lack of material in the lifter valley.
This is why the splayed caps work to a fashion -the bearing saddles are pulled together by the angled outer bolts.
IMO ,a proper block girdle needs to have a 1" thick steel halo over the milled flat top mains caps which is also bolted through steel side skirts into the oil pan rails. This creates a sort of ladder over the caps/saddles which helps transfer the angular power pulses into the stronger oil pan rail area of the block, and the mass of the girdle should help to dampen the harmonics which may or may not be a part of the problem. A girdle like this with splayed caps would be about the best scenario I can see for a stock block , but machining and material costs start getting high at this point.(splayed caps,laser cut girdle top plate and side rails,ARP studs,custom oil pan, cap milling,maybe a line hone etc ).
A cast iron/steel clamshell girdle could be a cost effective solution , but I feel the lack of material in the valley is still a problem area that needs to be looked at.

[JSPONT]

Originally Posted by Lee

Then why wouldn't you go with an aftermarket block? If you have enough boost to tweak the mains, you are tweaking the entire block.

Been running a stock bock for years with boost. Can't see spending 4 k on a block the 2k more to fix all the issues with them. It's not in my budget. Just keep your tune in check and freshen every few years and have been fine.
By the way 8-10 psi will give you cap walk, so that's not much boost at all. Cap walk does not mean your "tweeking" the block either.

[GTOGEORGE]

I think a girdle is a great idea.....someone should get a hold of Jeff at KRE or Don at DCI, they are both on Facebook!


GTO George

[ponjohn]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...88#post5033488

[charlie66]

Its not the amount of boost , its the amout of power the engine is producing that walks the caps.....