Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
#2996451
12/18/21 02:12 PM
12/18/21 02:12 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,700 Wichita
GY3
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,700
Wichita
|
I've seen this touched on in a few other threads so I figured I would give the subject its own thread.
I've seen comments on both sides of the fence but is there any definitive proof that they add strength to the bottom end of a stock block?
'63 Dodge 330 11.19 @ 121 mph Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs. 10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: AndyF]
#2996481
12/18/21 03:12 PM
12/18/21 03:12 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696
On the parachute mount
|
All I’m going to say is ….. I’ve been 9.0’s at 3500lbs .070 jet in a plate , another plate with .073 on top of that . Stock block , stock main caps with studs …. That’s it !
Spray and pray . Don’t be scared !
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: n20mstr]
#2996482
12/18/21 03:16 PM
12/18/21 03:16 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696
On the parachute mount
|
IF I was using a stock block still , I’d put alum main caps , use a vacuum pump , aluminum rods and make damn sure the straps showed very little heat . Conservative timing and keeping oil out of the chambers will go a long way to keeping the engine out of detonation . Just my opinion and what has worked for me
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: n20mstr]
#2996486
12/18/21 03:22 PM
12/18/21 03:22 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696
On the parachute mount
|
A flowed nitrous kit also helps a lot , the tech help You get helps a ton . Everything that keeps the engine happy keeps it alive . Granted the block can only handle so much , but pay attention to all the things that make it more prone to break and hopefully you can make it live . My opinion no reason you can’t make 800 to even 1000 with good tuning and attention to details
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: Dragula]
#2996517
12/18/21 04:38 PM
12/18/21 04:38 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,696
On the parachute mount
|
We run a lot of them with girdles. We believe they help. I can say, I don't see how they can't hurt. Think about it, you stud the main caps and the tie them into a girdle that bolts to the oil pan rail. How can it not help? We have been running over 800hp with this setup for years. Bearings usually look really good when we do check ups. Only time they don't is usually with a repaired crank or where we have had other issues. Do the caps show evidence of moving ? My stock block showed a lot of movement (no girdle stock caps with just studs )
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: n20mstr]
#2996547
12/18/21 07:46 PM
12/18/21 07:46 PM
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,416 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,416
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
|
We run a lot of them with girdles. We believe they help. I can say, I don't see how they can't hurt. Think about it, you stud the main caps and the tie them into a girdle that bolts to the oil pan rail. How can it not help? We have been running over 800hp with this setup for years. Bearings usually look really good when we do check ups. Only time they don't is usually with a repaired crank or where we have had other issues. Do the caps show evidence of moving ? My stock block showed a lot of movement (no girdle stock caps with just studs ) Yes...We still see some cap walk. We usually do an off season check, and we will generally see some light cap walk. We do race all these, and we run the timing near or at the max they will take.
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: AndyF]
#2996568
12/18/21 09:03 PM
12/18/21 09:03 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,101 cincinnati ohio
mcat4321
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,101
cincinnati ohio
|
No, you aren't going to find any proof, just a lot of opinions. The closest thing to proof is that Mopar engineering used a cross bolt design for HD applications. yes, i have proof... when i launched a rod in high gear at over 140mph, the girdle stopped it from swinging through my oil pan, didnt lose a drop of oil , didnt drive through any
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: mcat4321]
#2996574
12/18/21 09:30 PM
12/18/21 09:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,343 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,343
fredericksburg,va
|
My thoughts, I would tie it into the pan rail not just bolt it on (is there a pan gasket between?) dowels or sleeves of some type. Also some type of notch on top of all main caps so when bolted down it’s captive to the caps and pan rail. After this is done torqued down and line honed.i think that would be a tight non-flexing bottom end.
Last edited by cudaman1969; 12/18/21 09:31 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: Dragula]
#2996734
12/19/21 01:58 PM
12/19/21 01:58 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,382 Las Vegas
Al_Alguire
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,382
Las Vegas
|
Cross bolting the mains does basically NOTHING for cap walk. Been there seen that many times. Yet many believe it is the be all end all. There are other remedies for this and IMO a center counter weighted crank is your friend. As far as girdles go what can it hurt, especially combined with aluminum caps, lite bobweight and conservative on the timing. Do all that and I believe a stock block, provided the cylinder walls are good can last a good long happy life.
"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: mcat4321]
#2997465
12/21/21 10:57 PM
12/21/21 10:57 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 7,348 Mt.Vernon ,Ohio
VernMotor
master
|
master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 7,348
Mt.Vernon ,Ohio
|
No, you aren't going to find any proof, just a lot of opinions. The closest thing to proof is that Mopar engineering used a cross bolt design for HD applications. yes, i have proof... when i launched a rod in high gear at over 140mph, the girdle stopped it from swinging through my oil pan, didnt lose a drop of oil , didnt drive through any Mine did not Rod cut right though that girdle
|
|
|
Re: Does a girdle in a BB Mopar help?
[Re: Dragula]
#2997486
12/22/21 12:55 AM
12/22/21 12:55 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,933 Finalnd, Perkele
jyrki
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,933
Finalnd, Perkele
|
Late great Monte Smith had probably tried about everything before there was race blocks available. His opinion, based on experience, was that only thing that really helps stock factory big blocks, is aluminum main caps. He had had no help from girdles. I kind of trust his opinion.
Last edited by jyrki; 12/22/21 12:57 AM.
Plynouth VIP '67 TT IC EFI
|
|
|
|
|