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Main girdle?

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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 02:07 AM
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Default Main girdle?

I have searched but not found answer. Are you guys using your main girdles with stock caps or billet caps? I mean, if I'm trying to get about 700 rwhp out of stock crank alu 347, do I need both, billet caps and girdle, or does the girdle strengthen those stock caps enough?

How about iron truck blocks, do those need billet caps and/or girdle also at that power level?
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 08:02 AM
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LS6 block with girdle and mains pinned here or at least it is being built.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 08:05 AM
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I would pin the mains before I would even think about a girdle. The girdle only ties the main caps together, not the main caps to the block which is what pinning will do. The katech billet mains are very inexpensive and already have dowels built in...Steve at RED can install them on the cheap too.

Marty
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 06:44 AM
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So, to minimize machining costs, an iron block would be easier? Or do those iron ones still need the same operations, caps and girdle? Anyone?
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 08:22 AM
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Well pinning is really minimal but the girdle is expensive. I plan putting some significant boost on mine though.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 08:23 AM
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run a girdle if ur when u do an aluminum block even for 600hp it will keep the motor from twisting under load..and do the mains. the girdle pretty much bolts in and cost 400.00 not that much when its holding ur $4000+ motor. if i stay aluminum i'll be running a girdle
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 08:39 AM
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Speed Inc. talked me out of pinning my stock caps and to just run ARP main studs. I'm aiming for somewhere around 650-700rwhp with my D1SC.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 09:31 AM
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Well I can tell you by real world experience what works.
Stock crank with stock pinned caps and using ARP studs. I've been 8.50s @ 3,700lbs.
The girdle is a waste of money. The caps will still walk with alum or steel block. Have them pinned.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by TwnTrboCE
Well I can tell you by real world experience what works.
Stock crank with stock pinned caps and using ARP studs. I've been 8.50s @ 3,700lbs.
The girdle is a waste of money. The caps will still walk with alum or steel block. Have them pinned.


Thank you Mike......
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by TwnTrboCE
Well I can tell you by real world experience what works.
Stock crank with stock pinned caps and using ARP studs. I've been 8.50s @ 3,700lbs.
The girdle is a waste of money. The caps will still walk with alum or steel block. Have them pinned.
Thanks, this is just what I was after! Still seems a bit funny when every book or magazine tells you that oem powdered metal caps will break after 550 hp..?
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 04:20 PM
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don't believe what you read in books

racecar was 8.20's 170'ish with just studs, i run that same block and crank still in my DD truck 12 to 15 psi and 40K miles later it needs rings. That's about it

i wouldn't even blink at making 600RW on the stock parts as is, save maybe the pistons.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 06:27 PM
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making 1100+rwhp here with about 5k miles on the motor. only stock caps with studs.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 07:26 PM
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what exactly is having the mains pinned?
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by black01_WS6
what exactly is having the mains pinned?
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Old Mar 22, 2008 | 01:10 AM
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Installing dowels into the main caps to positively locate them into the block.
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Old Mar 22, 2008 | 03:30 AM
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Thanks guys, in my lowbudget build it is really important to buy ONLY what is necessary
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Old Mar 22, 2008 | 02:39 PM
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Run stock caps with ARP main studs...problem solved.

Marty
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Old Mar 31, 2008 | 10:04 PM
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Dont be cheap, Run the Girdle, it a bad *** piece, and its a bolt in.
its a 1/4 inch of ss on top of the mains ,and it distributes the load evenly. it will Kepp everything together and stabilize your bottom end. you can get it from epp, tell bob to give it to you for a super deal , tell him to knock off 40$ off list price,bob a dealer for The girdle, bro it works well and it stops the main caps from see sawing back and forth, plus no pinning give you horsepower, the girdle acts as a oil scraper, and blocks your wind age when used with stock windage tray, you will see a 20 horsepower gain.
You will love it.

Last edited by stage274; Apr 1, 2008 at 12:15 AM.
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Old Apr 1, 2008 | 02:59 AM
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Originally Posted by stage274
Dont be cheap, Run the Girdle, it a bad *** piece, and its a bolt in.
its a 1/4 inch of ss on top of the mains ,and it distributes the load evenly. it will Kepp everything together and stabilize your bottom end. you can get it from epp, tell bob to give it to you for a super deal , tell him to knock off 40$ off list price,bob a dealer for The girdle, bro it works well and it stops the main caps from see sawing back and forth, plus no pinning give you horsepower, the girdle acts as a oil scraper, and blocks your wind age when used with stock windage tray, you will see a 20 horsepower gain.
You will love it.
has this been proven on a dyno ???
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Old Apr 1, 2008 | 03:10 PM
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I can tell you I have one in each of my cars and the mains still walk! Does it help? Can't prove it either way plenty have done great with out and a few have done ok with. If I hd it to do over again it would be pinned caps with ARP studs I know that stops the caps from walking. Good luck with what every you decide I have made over 800rwhp on a 346 with just ARP studs so your goal is a easily achievable one
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