Finally ran new engine that Mike Lewis machined for me and without much tuning ran very close to my best 10.30 with 10.31. However my best was with a taller tire so with some tuning hope to dip into the .20's this Sunday. Mike converted my 2 bolt main to Oliver 4 bolt so now I don't have to sweat revving to 7500 with my sic 456's! Just finished tuning and seems to run really well! Was able to drop idle from 1300 to 1150 so its running nice and smooth considering Harold's radical duration cam! Thanks Mike for going over my engine so carefully, saving my engine, crank, and the one rod!

Bob

Gitter dun!

photo look like a great launch.

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you. :thumbsup:

You can bet if I had a desperate need for something to break, all I'd need to do is title a thread with "will have new best". :D :eek:

Finally ran new engine that Mike Lewis machined for me and without much tuning ran very close to my best 10.30 with 10.31. However my best was with a taller tire so with some tuning hope to dip into the .20's this Sunday. Mike converted my 2 bolt main to Oliver 4 bolt so now I don't have to sweat revving to 7500 with my sic 456's! Just finished tuning and seems to run really well! Was able to drop idle from 1300 to 1150 so its running nice and smooth considering Harold's radical duration cam! Thanks Mike for going over my engine so carefully, saving my engine, crank, and the one rod!

Bob
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Good luck Bob & thanks again, glad we could save everything
Maybe now your caps will stay where they belong, they were definitely not happy :D
Had to take about 20 thou out of the block registers to get rid of most of most of the fretting they were moving so much.
And you are welcome :beers:

I love the confidence Bob! Go for it!

Mike, I assume a 2 bolt block converted to a splayed 4 bolt setup is superior to a factory 4 bolt block?

Can a 4 bolt block be converted to splayed caps?

Any issue with just doing the center 3? Or did you do all 5 on Bob's?

Just curious.

Mine is also a converted 2 bolt block. 3 center caps only. sure isn't a cheap upgrade!

Ron

I love the confidence Bob! Go for it!

Mike, I assume a 2 bolt block converted to a splayed 4 bolt setup is superior to a factory 4 bolt block?

Can a 4 bolt block be converted to splayed caps?

Any issue with just doing the center 3? Or did you do all 5 on Bob's?

Just curious.

Mine is also a converted 2 bolt block. 3 center caps only. sure isn't a cheap upgrade!

Ron
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Hi Ron,
Center only, not splayed. Bob's center caps were moving big time but the ends still looked great, nice tight register, still round.

If they are not moving converting to splayed would probably be a waste of your money but yes it would be stronger.
When you consider with studs you can torque them to 120 with oil & you have 4 - 1/2" fasteners with lots of area to clamp too the standard 4-bolt setup is pretty damn strong ;)

And the three center are normally the only ones that cause issues especially in a Rat.
With the Pro Gram / Oliver caps I can remachine the register so it gets a real tight fit as they are a little wider.
And no, it is not real cheap to do it correctly :)