I taled to the guy that will do my linebore, hone, and other machine work on my block when I go with the 4 bolt splay caps. He showed me a set of PBM billet caps. They look really good. He said he has used them some and has used a lot of PBM parts. He said that the step fit nice and snug. I can pick up a set of these for abou 80 bux. Anyone using these? Any opinions. Ive used some PBM parts on heads before(Retainers,Keepers) and have had good luck from them. Thanks

 

Buddy who own's a machine shop by me, used a set of they're rods and one shattered in like 18 pieces.. they sent him like 4 replacement's all of diff quality before he threatened to cancel payment on a check.. Then they sent him the right stuff.. I wouldn't use them... go w/a known good quality piece.. esp. in the bottom end..i woudln't chance it...

 

btw he also uses them for the other stuff.. So it's not just a one time user either.. he's a valued customer

 

PBM is not a manufacturer. They are a wholesaler selling a variety of parts made by others. They have some parts made by others branded with their name, an in-house brand. In general, that is sometimes the way to get a quality part at a low price - same as the name brand w/o the name. But in general, you do not know what you are getting. IF the machinist is good and has used the idnetical part before, it might be worth it. Of course, in this era even a brand name part is not a guarantee. Recall the Comp beehive spring fiasco?

Rich

 

I once asked the "tech" guy at a PRI booth about the steel main caps they were selling. I wanted to know the grade of the steel, eg 8620, 1018 hot rolled or ?. His only answer was that they were "billet". Didn't know and didn't care.

Caveat emptor.

Jon

 

Don't you know that Billet is everything these days, go billet or go home


You get what you pay for - buy the Program caps, flat - not stepped.

 

Do you have to mill the block with a flat cap? Not that its any problem but just curious. Thanks for the replys

 

Yes - the stepped caps are the lazy man's attempt at strengthening the bottom end - flat caps move the register point out towards the pan rail which drastically adds more strength than a stepped cap will.

 

Ok, I guess I will go that route them. Thanks. I got it tore down tonight so Ill take the block to get it cleaned Monday. Im planning on pouring theblock with hardblock, How far up in the jacket is good? Any more ideas to strengthen the stock block? Thanks again for you r help

 

I never go past the bottom of the freeze plug holes.

 

Thats what I was thinking

 

OK, Never mind the PBMs. I went with a set ov Olivers

 

I used a pbm kit in a 454 bbc and it never did run right. it came with a cam lifters timing set bearings pistons rings gaskets etc. I would stay away from it

 

I have Gellner Engineering maincaps, very nice pieces.

PBM has some decent lines, nothing great. If your looking to save a buck, don't do it in the lowerend.

 

Yeah. We have already got the Block cut and the olivers mounted. Drill the holes tommorow and then off to the machine shop