Main cap studs or bolts?

R

ronzmtrwrx

Member
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I did a search and couldn't find anything. I am preparing to assemble my engine (59 style block) and would like opinions on main cap fasteners. When I pulled this engine apart, it had bolts with lock washers on all the main caps. Another block I have here (scrap) has studs and castellated nuts. Should I just use the bolts that it had, or remove and use those studs from the scrap block, or just order a set of studs/nuts from ARP?
This is just a mild street motor and won't see much abuse, but I don't want to risk failure if reusing what I have is sketchy. Thanks. Ron
 
As I don't know if your engine has been align bored or honed, I would consider using the bolts that came in it - as sometimes when you change hardware on the main caps, it can cause them to distort differently under torque load - causing inconsistent bearing clearances.

Now - with that said, this is probably not an issue with your engine - just something to know about when you put the crank in and check clearances and how easily it rotates.

Personally, I use ARP Studs in all my builds - but they are really high-end engines, so I look for all the help I can get!
 
Some of the really old motors had nuts on the bottom side but they weren't attached to studs. The bolts come through from the top. On a block that uses bolts, I would continue to use bolts myself. Studs can be in the way during overhaul and generally have to come out any way so I see no real advantage there.
 
Don't mean to hi-jack this thread, but...
I just lowered the crankshaft into the block yesterday in my '52 C1BA/8RT, to check clearances, etc.

The main caps have bolts only, no lockwashers or holes to add safety wire.
Should I use lock-tite on the bolts?
...Terry
 
The torque is such that the bolt is stretched a bit. This level of torque should not require a locking feature. The bolt threads should be clean & dry.
 
rotorwrench said:
The torque is such that the bolt is stretched a bit. This level of torque should not require a locking feature. The bolt threads should be clean & dry.
Click to expand...

Thank you for replying rotorwrench.
I over-think/over-worry too much,
my dad gave me my Overkill nickname.
...Terry
 
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