I was wondering if I ran a diffrent oil pan if I can run an engine girdle. I can get aftermarket pans pretty cheap through my engine builder. Who makes them for our cars? Or can I run one for a SBC. Also with the oil pan, do I have to get one with the low oil level sensor or can I delete that?

Jeff

 

You are talking about the main cap girdles right?
They cannot be used for standard SB's but the LS1 can have one I think. Girdles are normally used on fords because of the deisng of the main caps on fords engines.

Hunter

 

Girdles can be used on ANY engine.

You may have to have a custom pan built of course.

 

I did not know that.... I stand corrected.

Hunter

 

A company called "NOWAK" was making them for SB Chevys. Pretty nice piece, I have one on the LT1 block that is being used for my Dominion project. They had them available for up to 383 stroker combos...since I'm doing a 396 I may have to clearance it a bit. I'm using it in conjunction w/ 4 bolt splayed caps, so hopefully my bottom end will be as solid as a rock.

 

Why would you use a girdle on the LS1? The oil pan is already a stressed member of the bottom end, and the design of the main caps is quite stout as it is from the factory.

I think Trick Flow makes a main cap girdle for the SBC.

 

Can't find anything on Nowak... do you have a contact point or web address?

 

Back by popular demand... resurecting this thread for an update.

Here's a pic of a Nowak girdle on a Ford Windsor block (No contact info though. )


Here's a reference to them being in Cali:

 

Yellowpages Listings in California for Nowak:

NOWAK COMPANY
PO BOX 276495, SACRAMENTO, CA 95827
Phone: (916) 366-5699

NOWAK TOOL & MANUFACTURING
15151 BOYLE AVE # FON909, FONTANA, CA 92337
Phone: (909) 350-9620

 

Not Nowak, but I did find this:

http://hawaiiracing.com/maingirdles.html

 

ask SQUINN.........heres a pic from his website with a maingirdle on an LT1.....i asked him about it but i forget who he said made it......probably Nowak. nice looking piece i think.

 

I have been trying to get one for two years now with no luck. Cat and one other company offer a paret number but when ever I call on them I get they same "Not made yet" answer.

I am about ready to make my own!

they are very popular with the Ford SB crowd and seem to work real well.

I am tring to make as close to 450 RWHP N/A as i can and then hit it with a 200 shot so I am looking for the advantage.

 

like i said....email/call steve quinn........he has one so im sure he can get it for ya.

 

Just curious if these help in strengthening 2bolt blocks to the point of 4bolt caps? Doesnt seem that it would cure the cap walk side to side of 2bolt caps quite as good as using 4bolts. Looks like it would work well in longitudinal movement of the caps if that does happen. And anybody know a price range on one of thse?

 

there's not any way a girdle will make the caps any stronger, it's to keep them from flexing front-to-back. i think the idea that 4 bolts are "stronger" than 2 bolts is a myth. it's been said that the purpose for the extra bolts is to keep the cap from walking around in the register and allowing the bearing to shift. 455 Buicks have a nasty habit of taking main webs out of the block under lots of cylinder pressure, and they're only 2 bolt blocks. a girdle helps prevent this tremendously. pretty much anyone running more than 500 hp on a 455 has to have one.

i haven't been "part of that crowd" for a while, but i'm pretty sure one of the big names just makes his own out of .125" steel. try www.v8buick.com