As the title said do I need to install a main girdle? Goal is close to 1,000rwhp . I have the l33 aluminum block.

 

I'm not even sure I can name anyone that's running a main girdle on their aluminum block right now...

 

Thanks

 

Give this a guy a call, 630-310-2494. And here is his webpage:

http://dmperformance.org/new/newpage.html

I am considering a gridle for my turbo LS conversion. But I don't want the weight of an LQ4/LQ9 or LM7 iron block on my front end.

 

It would be wise to pin the main caps to prevent them from walking around at that power level.

 

Wonder how this stacks up against ERL's main girdle......

 

I will be running that main girdle on my aluminum 346. I will have a build thread in a month or so.

 

ERL's main girdle is a lot diff than that one. ERL incorporates the oil pan bolts into it. When installed, it almost looks like an oilpan spacer.


imo, I would just pin the mains before buying a girdle. I think all of the local guys to me with 2k+ hp don't run one. Think it's mainly an ERL thing.

 

a pic of the ERL

 

looks pretty beefy to me and would keep the caps from flexing

we used girdles on the old buford turbo 231 buzzin half duzzin because the bottom end of the block couldn't handle the power the engine could develop

as a standing member of the DOTC (drive over the crank!)

the girdle looks like a pretty wise investment

how much are they? ERL stuff is top notch but often exceeds the speed of cash flow

 

think they are like $600 and require machining.



I would just run your setup as it. lots(prob just about all of them) of guys doing 1k and more without a girdle. You'd be better off getting billet mains and pinning them if you wanted to do anything. But if you really start putting that kind of money into it, you can get a dart block with 6 bolt heads for around 3k fully prep and ready to race. I would go that route before I started dropping a bunch of money in a alum 5.3 block.

You are going to have more issues with pushing water and keeping the heads down before crank walk imho.

 

I have the DM girdle on my 365" ls2 build. I plan on going to 1200hp. I have a filled block tho. I did not pin the mains. I just got it align honed and put good ARP studs in. It should be plenty stout. The guy at DM was super nice, the girdle fit perfect and cam with the custom length studs and instructions. I recommend it for the money!