Girdle installation

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by hugger, Aug 13, 2019.

  1. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    So what is the procedure?
    Any measurements to adhere too?
    Can any competent shop perform this,..or is it only something a shop with hands on successful experience accomplish?
  2. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I dont know the exact steps, but from looking at the one I have/getting installed.

    The main caps need to be cut down and squared off. The arch on the bottom need removed.

    I would image the pan rails would need to squared off and parallel to each other and the correct height.......which means the caps need to cut ti the exact height as well.

    Then I'm sure the main bore will need to redone and finished to correct size after girdle was finished installed.

    On my current motor I had to replace the center 3 main caps with billets from program.......I think they can also make the outer 2 at a delay..........these well really add alot a strength if they could also be used in conjunction
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2019
  3. dan zepnick

    dan zepnick Well-Known Member

    I have the installation instructions I can send you if you need it. Its precise on getting the correct crush.
    B-rock likes this.
  4. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    To do it right is a fair amount of work and having a very particular machinist do it is a big plus, if not a necessity!

    It's been a while, but I believe you start with the block sitting on the pan rails and clean up the china rails. Then flip it over onto the china rails and "kiss' the main cap surface (avoiding the register surface), and then raise up .250" and clean up the pan rail. Strict measurements need to be taken and then the caps machined to allow the proper "preload" on the girdle when toured down. (I can't recall the amount for certain, but I think it's around .001"/.002"?) The caps need to be squared up and machined in the proper process so they are truly perpendicular to the crank center line. Once all completed it needs to be main bored/honed to proper size.
    Each of these steps requires a lot of precision to be "right". I omitted a lot of specific details, but they're standard practice when doing precision machining. Find someone that has done this before, (successfully) with a good reputation, or at least a very particular machinist that's willing to do it right and talk to TA or someone that has done many. I've seen shops cut corners on this because they "know better"! That's NOT the guy you want doing your girdle install...………..
    dan gaither and B-rock like this.
  5. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    That would be fantastic Dan thanks
  6. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    I'm working a new fella,..he is young at 26 but graduated as the top student from SAM his year and even taught classes there they had so much faith in him. I get a really good feeling about him very humble, eager and hungry. I'm gonna let him do my 4?? For sure , he has one 455 now of ours just a freshen up deal. He has the equipment and we have the same local connections which are very respected. I'll put it this way the young man has $50k of billet blocks in his floor that he is doing the machine work on for a local no budget shop,...

    I've never had a girdle engine but never also tried what I'm fixing to try either so I'm contemplating doing a jockstrap
  7. Gallagher

    Gallagher Founders Club Member

  8. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks to much is removed off the caps
  9. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    X3, I asked about this when I took mine down, I think this is where the bullet caps would help too but man they are hard to cut down enough to get them into block. To cut them down enough for that would take awhile.

    But after loosing a motor to weak caps I thi knits something I will be leery of for awhile
  10. alaskagn

    alaskagn Well-Known Member

    3F8A1B74-85ED-47DB-A0A6-27A413C23BD3.png BC291D4F-DE22-418B-A441-90A5EB0D6679.png EA277295-FCF7-4D99-8169-ABABE22208D3.png 3A9A52D2-B231-43F2-8596-BC7CF744EC79.png 2374F274-5D33-4760-AF9C-471FB1034CD3.png 14847E54-EC0D-443D-AA9E-FABF61228A63.png 48EBFC2E-2E56-40C0-89C6-4901E9F50B3D.png 1AB29CAE-EC78-4CEC-952F-ABE16BA5FD77.png Figured I’d post the pictures I have of from the machine shop that has my block. Just for some reference.

    Yes a lot of material comes off of the main caps
    OHC JOE and 1972Mach1 like this.
  11. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Seeing that all that work is done off the cam tunnel, shows how even more important on these builds how that tunnel being true means even more
  12. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    Id like a copy too please. Seems this would be something that is published. Would be nice to take the instructions to a machine shop while shopping for one.
    dan zepnick likes this.

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