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need main cap help - please!
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As I mentioned in other posts, I'm building my first engine, a 331 or 347 stroker. I got a used 302 block, bores barely worn. In any case, the main caps don't seem to line up properly. They are in correct order, 1,2,3,4 and then the rear cap, all with the arrows pointing forward. #1,2, and 4 caps, aren't centered, in line, with the block portion. The wear marks from under the bearings don't match up. The #3 cap, and rear cap do line up.In some cases, it's off by like 1/32 or 1/64 inch, approx. Is this ok? The guy I bought the block from is a good friend, and says that these are the exact caps that came off this block. See pics. Any help is appreciated. Also, all pics are without bearings. thanks guys!
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The number 3 cap, the thrust bearing I believe, is ok. Here's a pic.
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Darrell, I think you might want to have the block 'Align honed' just to make sure everything is straight, anyway.
Then, while you're at it, have the block decked and bore honed. It will make the entire process easier. Once it comes back, you can take a boat load of time checking all of the measurements to make sure they are to print. SInce you will have to surrender your pistons, crank and rods, you might as well have them balance the entire assembly. Oh yeah, make sure you take your studs with you to the machine shop. Obviousely, there is a lot of things that need to go on here. Just my $0.02 |
Trularin, thanks for your info. The shop I'm planning on taking it to will bore it, then finish hone the cylinders, deck the head area, machine the bottom end for stroker clearance, align hone it, install new cam bearings, remove and install new freeze plugs, hot tank it, and a few other things for about $565. They also want, like you said, the pistons (I'll be ordering .040 over since I already checked each cylinder with an inside mic) and the main cap bolts. I don't have a crank yet, but will worry about getting that balanced later on. However, I've been told that these are the main caps for this block, yet the number 1,2 and 4 caps are off center (front to back, as in my first pic above). When the caps are on and snug, I can't feel where they join with the block, which is good, but they're still not lined up straight from front to back. the cap with the thrust bearing, and the rear cap for the oil seal are in perfect alignment all ways. Should I be concerned with the other three, once again, as in my first pic above? Thanks!
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I just noticed in my first pic, that it's kind of an optical illusion. It appears that it doesn't form a perfect circle, but in reality it does. It's just off from front to back, not side to side. As I mentioned, I can't feel where the caps meet the block, it's very very true there. I hope I'm makining sense here. Thanks again!
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Whats important is where the bearings sit in the journals. Put the top and bottom bearings on and see if the bearing sides align. If they dont, your going to have to check bearing clearances on the crank.
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Thanks for all the help. I think it's fine after all.
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I don't like the looks of those journals. For an extra $100 - $150, your machinist could add a block in better condition, and give you less potential problems down the road.
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Jack21: Do you mean they don't look good because they are slightly offset (still concentric, just off from front to back a little) or just how they look in general? I'll have them honed in anycase.
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From the photo, they look scratched on the surface, and gouged on the side. e.g. metal to metal contact where there shouldn't be. I'd ask your machinist for a use/replace opinion.
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