I was browsing my new Jeg's catalog and noticed that Highperformance Sales is making a lifter valley brace for a SBC. They apparently have two versions. I looked on their site for any info on what benefits it would have, but all of their info seems to be Ford related. I know SBF's have a problem splitting up the mains when applying a lot of HP and the brace is supposed to help with this. Would there be any benefit to using this on a SBC??

 

Hello,

I found what you are talking about. Valley Girdle Pro by HorsePowerSales.net. www.horsepowersales.net

I would say bracing across would benefit any engine in a V. V6 V8 V12 ect..

(34 YEARS AGO) Don Garlits had Donovan make him a block with this casted in place in 1972 for TOP FUEL! 1974 Keith Black copied this design for the 426 Hemi Top Fuel cars.. view the links below

Follow these links... to see Donovan and Garlits http://www.donovanengineering.com/Bl...0BigBlock.html
http://www.donovanengineering.com/Hi...lery/index.htm

You see this is not a new idea. Nobody has had the patent and made this public ! Until recently.

Do you know what Cylinder Bore Distortion is? When your block begins it's twist, the cylinder walls will start to warp from a circular shaped hole to an egg shaped hole (this is called cylinder wall distortion). When your pistons fire, they fire from opposing sides... grab a pop can (Pepsi/Coke it does'nt matter) and holding it top to bottom twist back and forth. Your pop can, just like an engine block, will begin to shear.The Main And Upper Support help prevent the twist of the engine block.

Piston bore distortion:
Your circular pistons get "pinched" due to the fact they are trying to get through this egg shaped cylinder wall. Look at your pistons!!!!

If the bores are square the rings can seal properly. This gives more compression. When the block twists, the bores twists causing your rings to have more friction because they are rolling over the edge (not flat against the cylinder wall).

When you eliminate block twist, your engine and it's components, will work more efficently.

 

I don't think it's necessary on anything resembling a stock application. There are SBC's making over 600 RWHP for years at a stretch without an issue.

If you are planning to build a top fuel dragster, an all out race car with 1K HP, or some other super extreme combo then maybe. But for your everyday, 500 HP street car, I don't think it's necessary.

 

Neat, my application should be a bit more than the average 500 whp engine. I want to build it once and not pull it out, because swapping engines gets expensive and time consuming.

JLR, I understand all of the theoretical benefits of the bracing. I just wonder why it has not been applied to the SBC before now (that I'm aware of). I also wonder if it would help the block handle a higher HP output. If the distortion is present at these power levels in the SBC, it would seem that the bracing would help with cylinder head sealing as well as the other benefits described. I guess I'm just trying to justify spending the $$ for it or not.

Thanks to both for your replies, btw.

 

What are your HP goals?

 

Should be a minimum of 650 RWHP when I'm finished. If the alcohol injection works well enough, I may up the boost and see if I can hit 700.

 

I still don't think it's necessary, but that's just me. At that power level I seriously doubt a conventional small block's internals will last more than 20,000 miles, if that.

Even if you used the girdle, and the engine lasted an abnormally long time at some extreme power level, it would be tough to attribute the longevity to the girdle. I would think assembly clearances, especially ring and bearing clearance would make more difference than a girdle.

I really don't even know how you would measure block deflection with the engine running, and at what HP it begins to occur. I also think that the HP number would change based on nickel content and casting quality of the block. All in all, I don't know how you could measure the effectiveness of the girdle.

The things make a block twist are heavily dependent on the internal components. Rod/stroke ratio, dished VS domed pistons, and 100 other things. I just don't see how you could claim the girdle made any difference. I guess the other side of that is that no one can prove that the girdle wasn't working.

In my opinion though, you'd be better off spending the money on coming up with a killer bottom end combo. Something with a nice thick crown piston and a rod/stroke ratio somewhere north of 1.55:1.

The girdle for sure won't hurt anything, so if it's something you feel is necessary, go for it. I wouldn't do it, but I am broke bastard, so my motives are almost purely based on cash. If you can afford it, and you want it, go for it.

 

I can afford $300-$400 now a whole lot more than a couple thousand later. But if its major overkill, then I'm not wanting to waste the $$ either.

 

If you are going to 700 hp on the street ,you better buy the best timing system on the market today.
Belt drive,not a timing chain,or any fact simily their of.
My motor is a little more than 700 hp and it loves timing chains and distributors.Brass gear on the distributor yum yum, timing chain degree pins yum yum.
A good set of shaft rockers and fuel system can't be beat.
I use the A1000 pump from Aeromotive #10 lines,just fits in the opening in the gas tank in the vett.
Never cut up the sending unit on a vet cut up the gas tank,it's cheaper.
Just my 2 cents worth,I don't like anything extra in my motor that can give me problems.
At 700 hp your cooling system will need to up graded also.
Ah the valley gurdle,now I remember,I don't think it can hurt .
I would think it would depend if you are using an after market block or an oem block .With the oem I would invest in this device ,I have had a few blocks go away with nitrous because of the block being bored to much and twisting.

 

Cast crank or a 4130 steel crank. Which one do you want?

Would you run a man of war block, Dart, Ford Motorsport R Block, Fontana, Donovan, Keith Black ect...? What can you afford? Who's got a top fuel race team budget?

Brace your block against the twist and deflection. This is main girdles and Valley Girdle.

 

Cast crank or a 4130 steel crank. Which one do you want?

Would you run a man of war block, Dart, Ford Motorsport R Block, Fontana, Donovan, Keith Black ect...? What can you afford? Who's got a top fuel race team budget?

Brace your block against the twist and deflection. This is main girdles and Valley Girdle.