[MI2600]

My $.02.

Along with the ever-higher creep in expected horsepower, anyone else noticing a trend to include "4-bolt" in engine component descriptions?

It's like they are worth an added 30-40 hp. I have to admit that I do have one in my 383, but it was waaay overkill. All I really wanted was a driver's side dipstick. The six extra main bolts were part of the package. To me, it's just more bolts I have to torque. It certainly doesn't make it go any faster.

That being said, next week I'm unveiling my 1,500hp L-6. How fast will it go?

The end.

[tm454]

way faster than that old 383 I bet ya!!! LOL


Tazz

[johnsongrass1]

Buyer beware I guess.

All company's market to sell something. Some are pretty clever about it.

Ever look to see who paid for the advertisment. You think the ones paying for the ad are going to be baised a little?

[k-star]

yea here is the conversation in my shop,,

customer, i want a xyz 4 bolt main engine

me,, why??

Customer, why do i want xyz???

me, no why do you want a 4 bolt main???

customer, there better arn't they????

Me,better for what????

customer,,aaaahhhhh?????? i never reallly thought about it




The magizines, and internet have the people so messed up..... it's unreal...

Keith

[stepside454]

I know what you mean, cracks me up. I use to go in AOL carchat & they always mentioned a 4-bolt...like it was an exotic race piece.
The other thing I love is when they mention its .030 over...but actually they say 30 over...either way..like it matters..or they want to have it bored .030 over, you ask em why & they say for more power LOL. you try to explain its just to make the cylinders round again, they think its some exotic underworld race trick.

[fitzwell]

The magizines, and internet have the people so messed up..... it's unreal...

Keith[/QUOTE]

yep....."i saw it in a magazine..so it must be so" People do not understand that, 1. Magazines are in business to sell product, and
2. Most vehicles do not operate in the parimeters that they test these motors in.

When was the last time you ran a street (be honest now, ) motor at the 5000-600 rpm range ?

[k-star]

The best thing about the deal is i also build mopar and ford engines.... Those guys can't even pronounce the words 4 bolt mains because those companys made very few 4 bolt factory blocks...... And guess what those engine make as much power and last just as long.....

A side note here... years ago a local guy was running a 350 sbc the car ran low 10's high nines...with a 350 hp plate..... That guy sprayed the crap out of that engine..... it broke after like 2 years at the track.. I didn't see it but a good friend did... It was a 2 bolt, no studs factory bolts and a cast crank stock rods...... Guess what broke???? the forged piston.... The only good part in a $250.00 short block.......Good thing he didn't pay $500 to get the splay caps??????? L.O.L.

Keith

[brainsboy]

Im tired of seeing all these 4 bolt main conversions for the Fords pop up everywhere. I wonder how many people buy these, bolt them on, and try to drill and tap the outside bolt holes themselves. I will take my chances any day with a 2bolt & girdle then a converted block to 4 bolts.

[steve t]

it just sounds better when you say, man it' a 4 bolt main,

[281ranger]

I have six bolt mains.

[smallblocker2]

I hear you man, takes forever to torque six extra bolts.

[1982 SS]

I will admit, I have a 4-bolt. I found one for the peace of mind. If I was going to make some power I wnted the extra beef in the mains. I could have lived just fine with a 2-bolt, but the whole of $100 later I had a good block.

FWIW that 4-bolt is a 383 that gets driven a lot (not every day, why put miles I don't need to on a high perf motor?) and I stand on to 5500+ (75 mph in first gear). kinda tricky in traffic but well worth the wonderful noise it makes.

[DoubleVision]

I have two 4 bolt blocks, both in the storage building not being used and likely won`t be again, one there`s nothing wrong with, the other is slightly pitted at the top of the bore. I have five two bolt blocks, only two will be used since there both Vortec blocks, as long as it had a factory roller cam I`ll run it, I don`t care how many bolts it had. Last time I was at my former machinists shop, he told me 4 bolt blocks in good shape were going for $250, And I said I would never give that much for a bare block, no matter how many bolts it had holding the main caps, and he said "that`s because you know they don`t help power any, but the hype of the crowd keeps it going, before long it`ll go up another $50" It got me to thinking whoever could score these blocks on the cheap could really rack up.

[stepside454]

& I have. I sold plenty of 4-bolt blocks & let them set the price, the least anyone has offered is 150.00 for a bare block, I took it Ive been given 300.00 for a bare block & 450.00 for a complete rebuildable motor...again, I never said the price, I told em to make me an offer. if your gonna give me 450.00 for a rebuildable 350 core, when the 2bolt core you already have will do just fine...so be it.

[machine shop tom]

You bunch of sissies! You HAVE to use a 4 bolt block because it's better! Why? 'Cause it's .......uh.....better. Yeah, that's the ticket!



tom