CrazyJim

Just looking to get a ball park for what some of you have paid to do the following

Splay the 2 bolt to a 4 bolt, Squared Decked & Bored Also balancing the rotating assembly

SS RRR

I want to say my shop charged me somewhere between 300 to 400 for machining the caps. Bore/hone w/ deck plates was 287.

mdacton

I had all that done and paid $1,000 with mallory cam brgs. plugs and screens

rskrause

Quite variable depending on who does it and prevailing local rates. But figure around $1,000.

Rich

CrazyJim

By machining the caps youo're referring to just the block work... not actually turning your caps into 4 bolts right? If I've already got caps I want to use he can just line them up correct ?

Dave1980

It was 375 labor for me, and I supplied the pro gram caps.

SS RRR

No that included the splayed work and I believe the line bore. I'm w/ everyone else in thinking what you've requested is about a grand.

OneFlyn95z28

Entire Short block ready for cam and heads by recent NASCAR team Machinest including valve job came to $2,700

rskrause

You can't convert 2-bolt caps into 4-bolt. Installing new caps requires finish machining the caps to fit the block registers, drilling and tapping the holes, then align boring and honing the main bores. It's quite a bit of work and must be done quite precisely. The new caps will distort the bores, especailly if splayed bolts are used. So, any bore work should be done after the caps are installed.

Rich

CrazyJim

So honestly is it worth it then? On a H/C 383 on 125 shot?

rskrause

That's one of those unanswerable questions. I'd lean towards saying it is not worth it unless you are going to be spraying it a LOT. But there is no hard and fast answer.

Rich

mdacton

I say its not worth it either, but every person you ask will have a different answer and a different reason for it.

CrazyJim

Are our stock blocks 4 bolts or 2? You honestly don't think 550ish hp doesn't warrant a 4 bolt? I just don't wanna get jammed for not doing something STUPID

Sparkz28ss

Y-body block is 4 bolt

F-body is 2 bolt .....

I would not even waist my time do it, its not needed on 550rwhp 383ci


.. a lot of people are making some great power with the 2 bolt setup

MachinistOne

We have some motors out there with 500-550hp on studded 2-bolt caps, no problems - but personally I would want to have a studded 4-bolt, splayed is a little overkill, but if you are starting with a 2-bolt block you will want to go with spayed caps because it costs the same for the machine work. You may always want more power later so I would do the conversion now so you don't have to worry at all in the future.