Block Modifications?

Viking · Oct 3, 2011

Has there been blown motors with girdles due to not enough reinforcement? I'd assume at some point the bolts will hold all the forc in concentrated ares instead of dispersing it throughout the block.

I have been wondering if there were a way to weld something the the bottom of the block instead of bolt to increase the strength on the whole block itself.

Hotrodtractor · Oct 3, 2011

Viking said:
Has there been blown motors with girdles due to not enough reinforcement? I'd assume at some point the bolts will hold all the forc in concentrated ares instead of dispersing it throughout the block.

I have been wondering if there were a way to weld something the the bottom of the block instead of bolt to increase the strength on the whole block itself.

There is fretting occurring on the mains even with a girdle - it occurs less with some block filler.

Viking · Oct 3, 2011

Hotrodtractor said:
There is fretting occurring on the mains even with a girdle - it occurs less with some block filler.

Ok, how does coolant move with filler in it?

PowerstrokeJunkie · Oct 3, 2011

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Big Bore · Oct 3, 2011

Hotrodtractor said:
There is fretting occurring on the mains even with a girdle

I had a conversation with Lott about this, and I believe he has a solution for that. You might want to call and ask him about his girdle. He doesn't advertise it, but it's a nice piece.

Viking · Oct 3, 2011

Big Bore said:
I had a conversation with Lott about this, and I believe he has a solution for that. You might want to call and ask him about his girdle. He doesn't advertise it, but it's a nice piece.

So all is well? I must call and chat then, I don't want to do any filler in my block.

Big Bore · Oct 3, 2011

Viking said:
So all is well? I must call and chat then, I don't want to do any filler in my block.

I can't say it eliminates the need for filler, nor would I think it does really, however it addresses the mains walking better than the other girdles IMO without the cost of having to go to a full bedplate.

JDub · Oct 3, 2011

We prefer to do all the cryogenics work before any other work is done, hence our name 'CryoFirst'.

Powerstroked162 · Oct 3, 2011

Big Bore said:
I had a conversation with Lott about this, and I believe he has a solution for that. You might want to call and ask him about his girdle. He doesn't advertise it, but it's a nice piece.

LOL Thats because it's not his design to resale.

powerstrokenstang · Oct 3, 2011

my block filler has cracks in it, is that normal? you can def get fretting w/ a girdle and block filler, mines doing it pretty good.

PowerstrokeJunkie · Oct 3, 2011

hm, are you using hardblok? sounds like cracked cement :doh:

Big Bore · Oct 3, 2011

Powerstroked162 said:
LOL Thats because it's not his design to resale.

That's certainly not the reason he gave me, and it certainly didn't sound like it was a design he borrowed from someone else.

TARM · Oct 4, 2011

Hotrodtractor said:
I need to look up the name on the filler I was specifically reccomended - but I was told that its expansion rate was nearly identical to that of cast iron - since I trusted the source I never bothered to confirm.

I have mixed experiences with sleeving engines - I can't say that I would go out and sleeve a perfectly good block with the intentions that it will be stronger - but I am also not opposed to the process for bore repair as well as taking care of any coolant cavitation that might have taken place.

Thanks.

If you are willing can you post the name of the polymer filler or send it to me in a PM I would greatly appreciate it.

I am back forth on the sleeving, wish the info could be more definitive. My thought to the positive is it would prevent undetected pin holing from wasting the build on a block.

907DAVE · Oct 5, 2011

Just fill it!!

With my block filled to ~1.75 from the deck I can barely get my oil temps over 200 when towing heavy (14k), and normal driving stays around 185ish.....and that's using the 203 T-stat.

TrailerHauler · Oct 5, 2011

At what level do most suggest filling the block vs. running nothing in the bottom end or a girdle?

Magnum PD · Oct 5, 2011

907DAVE said:
Just fill it!!

With my block filled to ~1.75 from the deck I can barely get my oil temps over 200 when towing heavy (14k), and normal driving stays around 185ish.....and that's using the 203 T-stat.

With Hardbloc? How hard is it to fill? Machine shop has to do it?

swamp_ratt · Oct 5, 2011

Hey viking. I can help you out with any build stuff you need. I have a good machinist or 3 too!

907DAVE · Oct 5, 2011

Magnum PD said:
With Hardbloc? How hard is it to fill? Machine shop has to do it?

I used the Moroso brand block filler. Not hard to fill, just be sure to have a helper when doing it, you need to move at a steady pace before it starts to set. After I smoked a piston (20k later) the filler still looked the same as when I filled it, no cracks, chips, etc. Also, there was no flaking....... the oil cooler was spotless.