I purchased a bareblock from a member here for a great price ($250). I thought it was the deal of the century, as it was bored 3.903 and seemed to be in good shape. I bring it in to my shop. They look at it, then turn it over, and tell me its missing the main caps, and they can't do anything to it because the main caps are exclusive to the block they came with. Why cant I get main caps from another motor and have them throw them in and then align them? Anyone know were I can get a GOOD bareblock asap?

The seller never told me about the main caps not being on there, so I am still waiting for him to PM me back.
I hear storys about people purchasing blocks with hairline cracks, and people getting ripped of. I never thoguht it would happen to me. Guess it was my time though.

 

buy a set of billet caps and stud kit from sponsors, thunder comes to mind, then have machine shop install and check line bore you wont have to worry about the mains anymore

 

Yeah, i was going to say that you can get aftermarket mains, but I believe they require pins. The machine shop will need to machine in pin bosses, but it shouldnt be too much work.

 

You can get billet caps to replace stockers. If they say this cant be done find a new machine shop. You are looking at 400 + align hone

 

most all of the billet main caps come with .250 locating dowels, simple machining process to install. marine s/c 6.0 liters we have were machined for aftermarket main caps with dowels.

 

spinmasters labor is quite high, precision line bore is approx. 200$ in my area

 

If you need a set of stock caps, I have some for $100 shipped. This will require an align bore. Price will vary from shop to shop, but $200 is a good ball-park figure.

 

I would, but the machine shop that its all at now doesn't seem to want to do that. They said I will need the ones that the motor originally came with. Guess I picked a bad shop to do my engine.

 

I'd personally find another shop. What area are you located in?

 

Sounds like your shop doesn't have the boring bar to even perform an align bore Definitely find a shop that actually machines engines, not just assembles them.

 

I am located in Chicago, IL. They do bore engines, and do machine work, they just didn't want to do that. I would find a new shop, but they have balanced my rotating assembly, polished my crank, they are the ones that ordered my pistons, might as well just finish with them and see how the engine turns out.