C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Main Girdle Question???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 29, 2008 | 11:50 PM
  #1  
saoco's Avatar
saoco
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Westchester NY
Default Main Girdle Question???

1992 Corvette Lt1 6 speed

I need to know if anyone is running an LT1 engine with a main girdle, which oil pan (brand/PN#) do you use that clears the girdle because the stock one didn't . Thank you in advance.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2008 | 03:45 PM
  #2  
saoco's Avatar
saoco
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Westchester NY
Default

nobody here runs a main girdle
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2008 | 04:25 PM
  #3  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

last engine builder i asked about this mentioned that the ribs will rip out of the casting where the main area meets the block before main studs will break. the girdle might help keep bearings in place if you're heading above 7,000rpm though. then again if you're going over 7k a dart block would be smart. i used the arp main stud kit with the factory windage tray, shift at 6,500 constantly and redline at 6700. not a problem one 15,000 miles later.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2008 | 05:43 PM
  #4  
saoco's Avatar
saoco
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Westchester NY
Default

If I don't find a pan that fits since I already have the girdle, I will go with your advice and loose the girdle and use studs. thanks raceB.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2008 | 07:59 PM
  #5  
rklessdriver's Avatar
rklessdriver
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
Default

Originally Posted by saoco
If I don't find a pan that fits since I already have the girdle, I will go with your advice and loose the girdle and use studs. thanks raceB.
If your block is a factory 4 bolt main that (ditching the girdle) would be the best thing to do. There is absolutly NO NEED for a girdle. They don't even work on thin webbed Ford 302's. A girdle does creat a nice alum "basket" to catch the rotating assy when they fly out the bottom of the block. These things are a good example of over marketed hype. Most people just don't know better.

I have run stock 4 bolt 350 blocks to over 650HP and 7500RPM (with fairly heavy rotating assy's) before the caps started to show any signs of walking. A GENII LT1 is no different in the caps/main webbing area and few people can make that kind of HP N/A in a street car.
Will
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2008 | 11:14 PM
  #6  
saoco's Avatar
saoco
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Westchester NY
Default

Yes my block is 4 bolt main rkl. Now I see why nobody here runs a main girdle and there is no direct fit oil pan out there for it either. Thanks rklessdriver and racebum for your help.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2008 | 02:31 AM
  #7  
BLOCKMAN's Avatar
BLOCKMAN
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Default

If you are worried about the caps billet caps would be a better choice over a girdle and studs don't make the caps andy stronger as they are just a grey cast iron cap, Its like putting a new set of ARP rod bolts in old set of rods it does not make the rod any stronger it just better hardware.

If you get into some serious power splayed caps are the way to go.

If your bloc has the 2482 on the center caps they are the nodular iron caps and GM rates them at 450 horse.

Here is a pic of a late model block we installed billet caps on.


Here is a pic of a cap that came of a studed block.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2008 | 04:33 AM
  #8  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

what took that cap out? HP or RPM? steel caps are definately the way to go & splaying them even better. gm finally fixed this problem with the 6 bolt main of the LSx
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 1, 2008 | 08:38 AM
  #9  
BLOCKMAN's Avatar
BLOCKMAN
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
what took that cap out? HP or RPM? steel caps are definately the way to go & splaying them even better. gm finally fixed this problem with the 6 bolt main of the LSx
That came out of a 2 barrel circle track engine 420 horse that spins 6800 at the most, Customer did know that the cap was broke untill it was dissasembled for a rebuild, Over 30 years of building engines we have seen alot of broken caps and cracked webbing ETC.

Splayed caps are tied into the pan rails which doesn't put all the torque and HP just to the webbing of the block.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Main Girdle Question???





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:37 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE