This is my 8th engine in with this particular girdle assembly and issue.

The 3/8-16 set screws that hold the girdle to the aluminum caps are almost always cracked mid way though the cap... major pain to remove the remaining set screw from aluminum cap I might add.

Anyway, I've been replacing all the set screws with ARP bolts on engines that come in for freshen and tossing the set screws that come with the kit in the miscellaneous bolt pail on a new build and was just curious what everyone else has been using? Bolts/studs?


This was a freshen up on a 11:5.1 499 RB bracket engine running on 112 so nothing crazy, maybe 100 passes in 10 years.

Since the rest of the pictures are too big this is what I was able to load.

Did you mean BCR ? The studs from cap to girdle ?
http://www.bcrproducts.com/girdle2023.jpg

Yes, I corrected the title.

Was dealing with BRC pistons and my phone auto corrected.

I also was able to upload a set screw pic

Another pic

Had a few more but you get the idea.

I'm really surprised they haven't updated the kit in all the years they've made em.

I have a new (2 yrs old) bcr girdle setup, I’m gonna take a look at the hardware tomorrow
and see if it’s the same

I'd recommend replacing the 3/8-16 1.75 long set screws with something better if that's what yours came with.

Some came with actual studs but I've seen the set screws the most often.

What do you think about Installing 10 mm studs or 7/16 to 3/8 stepped stud ?

I actually did rethread one to 10mm once because the customer removed them himself.

Otherwise I haven't had any 3/8 ARP bolts break as of yet.

I guess it all depends on how they break off, if flush in the hole they thread right out but if the break is crooked then you're gonna have an issue.

I've had to use the mill on a few because there was no way of removing the upper half of set screw.

wow, we've never seen this and no one has called about this issue. you say there are eight engines that your building that have this issue? really surprised these screws are cracking like that. all these studs are made in the usa and are grade 8 material. oil pan studs are the same manufacturer. are any of th eoil pan studs cracking?

Yes, this is the 8th one with the set screws cracked half way inside the main caps I've had in the shop.

After my first encounter removing the broken pieces I use ARP bolts instead of the set screws, so far none that have came back for freshen shown any issue.

Oil pan studs as far as I've seen haven't broke.

I actually removed them this morning, good times!

how many set screws are cracked per engine? are you finding it predominantly on one particular cap? do you have a part number for the arp bolt your using to replace them? we would prefer to upgrade the kits to make them better when at all possible. can you tell if the block and girdle caps were decked so the girdle sits flat

All engines I've encountered had the girdle installed correctly, the ones I personally installed I didn't use the set screws.

The set screws break at all the caps, this particular one had 1 broke on #1, 1 on #3, 2 on #4 and 1 on #5


As far as ARP bolts I use I'll have to see what I have on hand, it was winter 2019-2020 last time one came in with broken set screws.

I think 1-3/8 under head length seems to ring a bell and I shorten the #1 and #2 cap bolts after bottom tapping the caps a little deeper.

Do the BCR kits come with ARP bolts and studs or not. The website has a picture that suggests it comes with ARP bolts and studs. But I seem to recall contacting them in the past and being told not ARP. Anyone know for sure? http://bcrproducts.com/images/girdle2023.jpg

we supply arp main studs for the caps. the oil pan studs and 3/8 studs are made in usa but not arp.

Are you sure you want to install a hunk of steel that has no precision interference fitting on any of the fasteners?
I don't

I think the issue you are having with a direct thread coupling is that you are clamping dissimilar materials in shear which have a different rate of thermal expansion. Using a bolt might allow that little more compliance but then it's only anchored in a clamping capacity. I'd really like to hear some examples of success stories using a girdle on a B/RB wedge. You'd think there would be some data because they've been around for plenty of time now.

we have plenty of success stories. alot of guys are tired of the constant bashing of how the product doesnt work so dont post any more. yet the naysayers cant help but keep shouting at the of their lungs. in terms of clamping down dissimilar metals and thermal expansion being an issue. thats an interesting point, but the mains are soaked in engine oil which really doesnt get much hotter than the coolant. not much thermal expansion in the 220 deg F range. these arent cylinder heads which see combustion temperatures. ultimately arp studs are made from 8740 chrome moly. for the guys that are cracking the studs maybe grade 8 isnt enough. i dont have enough feed back on this issue to see what power levels people are hitting where the studs crack.

Thanks for the reply! Respectfully, even at 220*f or so! (the surfaces are closer to the fluid temperature than each parts core) what would be the amount of expansion over the span of the length of the girdle in the fore and aft plains? but let's just use from room air temp to 220F