[Fot] Center main support

[Phil Gott]

Thanks again, Tony:
The one we have, built by the late Bill  Throop, in addition to reinforcing the cap itself, has the block machined internally to accept the sides of a strap, then the strap  is cross bolted from the sides, through the block from outside.  I’m wondering if this is a bit of overkill. Based on your recommendation, it seems to be.
Maybe I can send some pictures later today, as we are pulling the engine today for other work.
Phil

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 22, 2019, at 10:56 PM, Tony Drews <tony at tonydrews.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> I run that setup, it was an uncle jack trick.  Here's what he wrote about that (on my engine building tips page):
> 
> "I also like to strap the center main to add rigidity to the bottom end.  To do this, mill off the cast face of the main flush with the surfaces for the head bolts. Get a front strap for a Chevy 400 block. You must enlarge the holes in the strap  and you must use longer bolts.  Some  builders feel that this is totally unnecessary, but since starting to do this, I have never had a main bearing deteriorate faster than a rod bearing, which is something that happens more frequently than you would expect."
> 
> Regards, Tony Drews
> 
> On 11/22/2019 3:58 PM, Phil Gott via Fot wrote:
>> Has anyone seen the need to add extra support to the center main on the TR wet sleeve engine? We have an engine that has a steel bridge cross-bolted underneath and supporting the center main cap. Is this needed? Just took 3 factory cranks to the machine shop and all three were bent about .002 in (.002 run out at center main when supported on first and last mains.) Two of these were raced, the third was removed from a tired street engine. note: None of these cranks came out of the engine with extra support at the center.
>> Curious as to the need for the extra support.
>> Thanks,
>> Phil Gott
>> 114 TR4A
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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