main cap ?
- Thread starter sean
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The Devils Own Chariot
Active member
Re: main cap ?
This to me makes no sense. If this were all true I cant imagine why anyone would be doing it. I can maybe see the splayed caps drilling into the water jacket; but making the block weaker? Most engine failure is from moving parts. I know RPM and Capbell do 4 bolt main conversions. They know the 4.3L just as good as anyone and they have a record to proove it. I dont think they would waste their time with something that weakens a build. Yeah, the extra bolts might weaken the block in a scientific world but that does not out-weigh the gains of keeping the crank down.
This to me makes no sense. If this were all true I cant imagine why anyone would be doing it. I can maybe see the splayed caps drilling into the water jacket; but making the block weaker? Most engine failure is from moving parts. I know RPM and Capbell do 4 bolt main conversions. They know the 4.3L just as good as anyone and they have a record to proove it. I dont think they would waste their time with something that weakens a build. Yeah, the extra bolts might weaken the block in a scientific world but that does not out-weigh the gains of keeping the crank down.
bezerk
New member
Re: main cap ?
as i believe it makes the crank last longer, instead of weakening or strengthen the block itselve.
Also i had a misfortune with spun bearing with a leaking 4 bolt conversion.
not going to let out some names again, anyway, he kinda blamed me, and since than he uses RTV on the bolts. :dunno:
as i believe it makes the crank last longer, instead of weakening or strengthen the block itselve.
Also i had a misfortune with spun bearing with a leaking 4 bolt conversion.
not going to let out some names again, anyway, he kinda blamed me, and since than he uses RTV on the bolts. :dunno:
The Devils Own Chariot
Active member
Re: main cap ?
Wouldn't a good shop know if they drilled into a water jacket? If you dont have splayed caps then problem solved. There are no jackets strait down.
Wouldn't a good shop know if they drilled into a water jacket? If you dont have splayed caps then problem solved. There are no jackets strait down.
bezerk
New member
Re: main cap ?
as some people say 4 bolt mains make a swiss cheese out of the blok doing it., i agree that non splayed caps are a waste of money, because you are going to put the tention on it 1 on direction verry close to eachother, as in splayed make the stretch go into an whole other direction and guide it away from the stock 2 bolts. than again, drilling into the waterjacket ain't no big of a deal if sealed.
as some people say 4 bolt mains make a swiss cheese out of the blok doing it., i agree that non splayed caps are a waste of money, because you are going to put the tention on it 1 on direction verry close to eachother, as in splayed make the stretch go into an whole other direction and guide it away from the stock 2 bolts. than again, drilling into the waterjacket ain't no big of a deal if sealed.
The Devils Own Chariot
Active member
Re: main cap ?
How is it a waste with regular 4 bolt mains? You still have more surface area holding the main cap down. not as easily twisted because the cap seating is wider. I agree splayed will be stronger. But I dont think un-splayed is a waste.
How is it a waste with regular 4 bolt mains? You still have more surface area holding the main cap down. not as easily twisted because the cap seating is wider. I agree splayed will be stronger. But I dont think un-splayed is a waste.
autoaddictions
Active member
Re: main cap ?
Ask yourself this. How much power am i going to make . If its less than 400 you wasting your money and there for HGAS. leave it 2 bolt. You will need to line bore the block for the 4 bolt mains.That adds alot of cost to the machine work as well.
My block Has splayed 4 bolt mains. I make at least 600hp I have no water in my oil!!!
Now the questions do you nitrate the crank or not?? does freezing it really make it stronger.
Ask yourself this. How much power am i going to make . If its less than 400 you wasting your money and there for HGAS. leave it 2 bolt. You will need to line bore the block for the 4 bolt mains.That adds alot of cost to the machine work as well.
My block Has splayed 4 bolt mains. I make at least 600hp I have no water in my oil!!!
Now the questions do you nitrate the crank or not?? does freezing it really make it stronger.
The Devils Own Chariot
Active member
Re: main cap ?
I hear cryo treating is a gimmick. That's just what I found when I did the research on it. It might not be but there is a lot of contradicting info on this. Ask any cryo company for data on the before and after strength and they typically do not have any.
I hear cryo treating is a gimmick. That's just what I found when I did the research on it. It might not be but there is a lot of contradicting info on this. Ask any cryo company for data on the before and after strength and they typically do not have any.
jharrison
New member
Re: main cap ?
I don't know about cryo-treating, but heat treating via nitriding does harden the metal and gives it more fatigue strength. Addmittedly I am no engine builder, but I do trust certain companies, RPM is one of them. If they do it on their high HP builds, there must be some advantage. I tend to use RPM's website as sort of a guide. Looking at their motors a nitrided crank will hold 600HP with 2 bolt mains. Adding splayed 4 bolt mains and block filler to the lower half will hold up to 750HP.
http://www.sytyperformance.com/inde...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26
"Nitriding steels offer many advantages: a much higher surface hardness is obtainable when compared with case-hardening steels; they are extremely resistant to abrasion and have a high fatigue strength." -about.com
My philosophy has always been "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". I would rather add the 4 bolt mains and nitrided crank even to a mild build just for that extra strength that may come in handy when pushing the truck later. Just my :2cents:
I don't know about cryo-treating, but heat treating via nitriding does harden the metal and gives it more fatigue strength. Addmittedly I am no engine builder, but I do trust certain companies, RPM is one of them. If they do it on their high HP builds, there must be some advantage. I tend to use RPM's website as sort of a guide. Looking at their motors a nitrided crank will hold 600HP with 2 bolt mains. Adding splayed 4 bolt mains and block filler to the lower half will hold up to 750HP.
http://www.sytyperformance.com/inde...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26
"Nitriding steels offer many advantages: a much higher surface hardness is obtainable when compared with case-hardening steels; they are extremely resistant to abrasion and have a high fatigue strength." -about.com
My philosophy has always been "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". I would rather add the 4 bolt mains and nitrided crank even to a mild build just for that extra strength that may come in handy when pushing the truck later. Just my :2cents:
89shortbox
Member
Re: main cap ?
The THEORY behind straight 4 bolt mains being a waste is that the main webbing is only so strong. Its THIN if you;ve noticed. If you machine it for a straight 4 bolt there is more clamping force but the main web can still move around and or get ripped out at higher power levels.
With a splayed cap you are fastening to the material near the pan rail and not the main webbing.
The THEORY behind straight 4 bolt mains being a waste is that the main webbing is only so strong. Its THIN if you;ve noticed. If you machine it for a straight 4 bolt there is more clamping force but the main web can still move around and or get ripped out at higher power levels.
With a splayed cap you are fastening to the material near the pan rail and not the main webbing.
92 Ty 1173
Active member
Re: main cap ?
My machine shop does alot of dirt track engines and other race engines and insisted that a four bolt conversion was not necesary for me cause my expected hp levels were not real high and it would be a weekend warrior at the most. A good balance job and a good stud kit is all he reccomended. He's been in the business for about 30 years so I took his advice. And like auto addictions said it was quite a cost for the conversion, not only the parts but all the machine work. Just my .02.
My machine shop does alot of dirt track engines and other race engines and insisted that a four bolt conversion was not necesary for me cause my expected hp levels were not real high and it would be a weekend warrior at the most. A good balance job and a good stud kit is all he reccomended. He's been in the business for about 30 years so I took his advice. And like auto addictions said it was quite a cost for the conversion, not only the parts but all the machine work. Just my .02.
Re: main cap ?
To back up Dave's theory with detonation, a great majority of the SBC "010" blocks (casting # above the oil filter on trans mount area) were installed in truck applications where severe duty was expected. Hauling a heavy load (or pushing if using a snow plow) would have more tendancy to detonate than a light load passenger car application.
To back up Dave's theory with detonation, a great majority of the SBC "010" blocks (casting # above the oil filter on trans mount area) were installed in truck applications where severe duty was expected. Hauling a heavy load (or pushing if using a snow plow) would have more tendancy to detonate than a light load passenger car application.