I'm going to be doing a partial fill in an LT1 block in the next week and was wondering if the main caps need to be on and torqued as well? I looked over moroso's block filling procedure on their website and it said to torque the heads on, but left no mention about main caps. I'd like to leave them off to make it real easy to keep the block level while the filler sets. Just wanted to see how the experienced guys did it. Thanks

Bill

 

The more parts you bolt on the better. I prefer to bolt on the mains as well as the motor mounts. Ideally, the better you duplicate the actual running conditions of the engine, the better results you should achieve. This may be overkill, but for the limited effort, why not do it right?

 

I had my 4 bolt mains installed before the fill. the Outer bolts go into the water jackets so I wanted it done right

 

I am not sure it matters because the block should be machined after the fill anyway. But if the machining were already done, I would bolt everything up before filling.

Rich

 

Yes, torque the mains. And you really need to have the cylinders vertical for the side you're filling. Put it on an engine stand. Do one side first and then the other 24 hours later. use a torque plate or cylinder head once poured and torque it down. Wait atleast 2 weeks before doing any machine work.

 

Rick is absolutely right. Use an engine stand and a level on the deck surface to make sure that the fill level is uniform from front to back. It's not as hard as it sounds. If you don't have a access to a torque plate, pour the fill and torque a head (with gasket) on the surface before it sets.

 

Engine stand it is then! Thanks for the input, the block and filler should be here today or tomorrow and hopefully the machine shop can tank the thing before the weekend. I planned on waiting the 28 days for total cure time as recommended by moroso.

Bill

 

Yup As Rick said. Mine has been sitting with the heads and main Tq'd on it for three weeks now

 

it deff matters and u shoudl never ever fill a block after it has been machined it will distort it alot

 

rick i would wait alittle longer than 24 hours before pulling the torque plate off and stuff i waited like 3 days for mine...we will see whos last longer haha

 

Well, if you really want to get nit-picky about it (and you probably should) an engine stand alone is NOT ideal. A block will distort on an engine stand because it is supported just at one end. At the least, support the front with a piece of wood or something else to take the strain off the block. But again, it is not completely relevant as the machining should be done AFTER the fill.

Rich

 

I wonder how much the minor bolt ons really matter compared to the force of 800+hp trying to rip the motor mounts off the sides of the block & the twisting forces on the belle housing. Sort of makes the rest sound like minor details.

 

That's a no brainer Fran since I'll be making twice the power, lol

Why didn't you tell anyone you were going back up north already. You ***** It's just not as fun to go out without your non stop moving BEAK

 

Do your machine work after the fill,especially the boring or final hone.Torque your mains also.

 

haha mine will make alright power we'll see though haha