H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. - Page 124

Nmbr1GMfan · 06-03-2019, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim H

Ok, and the caps with the #3412 cast on them are the regular,less desirable type.

Those are the standard "grey iron" cap.

FED 387 · 06-03-2019, 09:34 PM

Todd check yet PM Dick

Nmbr1GMfan · 06-04-2019, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FED 387

Todd check yet PM Dick

I saw that about the desiccant plugs? My PMs are wacky sometimes and I cannot respond but I did see this Thanks.

Nmbr1GMfan · 06-04-2019, 03:51 PM

Dropped the block off today, it'll most likely be a week before I get it back to start machine work.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 06-04-2019, 11:46 PM

Seems to me that aftermarket steel main caps are available someplace for 4 bolt main 350's,must be better than the originals.Just trying to remember where I saw them.

Nmbr1GMfan · 06-05-2019, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Reimer 7376

Seems to me that aftermarket steel main caps are available someplace for 4 bolt main 350's,must be better than the originals.Just trying to remember where I saw them.

They're everywhere, lots of aftermarket ones for sale.

Glenn Briglio · 06-05-2019, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

They're everywhere, lots of aftermarket ones for sale.

Why put money into a questionable foundation.Cleaning block, Filling block, installing main caps etc.

Rich Biebel · 06-05-2019, 02:51 PM

30 years ago we sonic tested and Brinell hardness tested all small blocks.

The range from soft to hard was pretty significant.....and a hard block would easily make more power.

Ideal was hard and decently thick cylinder walls.....

.060 over was a lot.....

Cylinder walls were just about always not consistant

Core shift could be ridiculous

You can usually see the cam being off center by the flat machined surface at the face of the cam hole...not concentric

I had one engine I built at home that was so far off center it was silly

The crank and cam centerline were way off center.

So bad I had to get different rods. It was a 383 and I could not get clearance on one side for the rods to block even after grinding and the other side went right by with plenty of clearance.....

Aftermarket and even Bowtie blocks are far better....

Just sayin!!!

Hacksaw · 06-05-2019, 03:00 PM

Put the money you will spend on main caps and the labor to fit them towards a Bow-Tie or Dart block.

Nmbr1GMfan · 06-05-2019, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

Why put money into a questionable foundation.Cleaning block, Filling block, installing main caps etc.

I honestly don't see this as being questionable. How is a 400hp stock block an issue?

06-03-2019, 09:34 PM	#1232
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,417 Likes: 522 Liked 331 Times in 179 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Todd check yet PM Dick

06-04-2019, 03:51 PM	#1234
Nmbr1GMfan VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1,763 Likes: 1,197 Liked 1,954 Times in 491 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Dropped the block off today, it'll most likely be a week before I get it back to start machine work. __________________ Todd Greene

06-04-2019, 11:46 PM	#1235
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Seems to me that aftermarket steel main caps are available someplace for 4 bolt main 350's,must be better than the originals.Just trying to remember where I saw them.

06-05-2019, 02:51 PM	#1238
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. 30 years ago we sonic tested and Brinell hardness tested all small blocks. The range from soft to hard was pretty significant.....and a hard block would easily make more power. Ideal was hard and decently thick cylinder walls..... .060 over was a lot..... Cylinder walls were just about always not consistant Core shift could be ridiculous You can usually see the cam being off center by the flat machined surface at the face of the cam hole...not concentric I had one engine I built at home that was so far off center it was silly The crank and cam centerline were way off center. So bad I had to get different rods. It was a 383 and I could not get clearance on one side for the rods to block even after grinding and the other side went right by with plenty of clearance..... Aftermarket and even Bowtie blocks are far better.... Just sayin!!! __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

06-05-2019, 03:00 PM	#1239
Hacksaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 881 Likes: 206 Liked 309 Times in 173 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Put the money you will spend on main caps and the labor to fit them towards a Bow-Tie or Dart block.