Pulled the 302w for some minor mods while car is in school for paint. Going to install a Main Cap Stud Girdle from Trick Flow and replace the timing chain with a Pete Jackson Timing Gear set. The engine only has about 20-30 passes. Pulled the pan and every thing looks new. Here's where I would like some opinions. I would like to just pull the main caps for milling and then re-install. Should I loosen the rod caps prior to torquing the main caps or just leave them alone? I don't want to tear down the engine any more than necessary because it's running strong. Gimme u r .02. PS. I got pictures of the body in progress. Wanna C?
I might of read that wrong, but do you plan to remove the main bearing caps, mill them down and reinstall them? If thats right won't it make the holes egg shaped? Russ
engine "IF IT ISN'T BROKE , DON'T FIX IT!! spend your money on something more useful ,my I suggest a windage try they're only about $50.
Just installed the trickflow girdle on my 331 with a Moroso pickup tube. Did not have to mill any off the tops of the main caps. A bolt on deal. the only thing I can add is that when torqueing the cap bolts be sure and hold the crankshaft foward against the thrust bearing cap while torqueing it. This centers the upper and lower bearing thrust surfaces against the crank for proper end play. Just for info, have used gear drives on a couple engines and decided to take them back off and put on a good double roller chain. Found little difference in timing accuracy and talking to some big horsepower guys they said that the engine will use a bit of that horsepower to turn those four gears and also increase the oil temp a bit. The tell tale whine is neat but with open headers not even heard, JMO, save some bucks and go with a chain or if runing a street strip car with mufflers, go for it and catch all the looks from those next to you at the stop light wondering what monster motor you got under the hood. Also agree that the windage tray is more advantagious than the girdle unless your running 13 on up compression ratio and really loading those mains, NOS? then nothing is going to help that poor motor stay together except high dollar rotating assy. and a lot of luck.
