Check out ebay listing 260016534108. It's a bracket that fits the bottom of an fe and provides additional support to the main bearing caps. I'm no expert but I'd call this something like the poor man's cross bolt. I bet it does help but it's probably not nearly as good as a cross bolted block. Someone else with more knowledge please weigh in on this. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks.

Tracy

 

Well I think it looks good! The only things that caught my eye were "There is minor machining required to main caps," which is understandable, and the fact that there is no retainer on their custom oil pump drive shaft. Other than that, it looks good to me!

 

After some more thought on it I think it looks pretty good too. I don't think I could use the FT pan in the truck though. I had to shim the engine up slightly to use it as it is because of the windage tray and the depth of the FT pan. I believe that the bottom end would be just as strong if not stronger than the FE blocks with the extra webbing. This is just another thing to add to the list for my next FE build. It's only money....LOL.

Tracy

 

The high spot in the center of the main caps is probably what needs to be ground off.

Cute.

 

Spoke to Tim, look for more info in Mustang Monthly and Mustang & Ford magazine, coming in September and October.

 

The Only problem is with a girdle....For a Real Hi-perf motor is...Buy the time you get the girdle on and a windage tray, a crank scraper and Pan gaskets in between them all? Seems to me?? Just crossbolting with a crank scraper would be the only way to go? JMO...

Russ

 

What does it cost to take a standard block and have it cross bolted? If you can do that for a similar price or not much more then I would agree that is the way to go. I don't have enough experience to know myself. I do think this girdle looks like a pretty simple modification that would give a whole lot of support to the bottom end.

Tracy

 

KC sells girdles, they claim they work very well and use them on some of their engines. Like mentioned it's an option besides cross bolting and they mention that in the girdle description. If you want to check out KC's take on a girdle, it's on their "Our Engines" page at the bottom left of the page.
I think it's a good option and I was going to use one myself. There's no way it can't help (makes sense really). They mention that the 390/428 blocks split in excess of 600HP, and these will help improve the numbers.

Madmike33

 

The one thing that I would think might make this a bit useless is the slop in the holes, especially around the pan rail. How tight does it fit? If there is slop, then it's going to walk around and then not do a thing.

When cross bolting a block there is ZERO clearance and it's basically solid after torquing the side bolts. When installing this, you torque the main caps, then install the pan and tighten. That's swell, but that doesn't seem like much support. I might be splitting hairs, but I'd rather have true cross bolts. They recommend line honing anyway, so I'd rather spend the $500 to have real caps put on(well, I can do my own machining, but anyone else).

 

Larry, I think the holes are beveled, and the guy supplied bolts that are tapered to fit the hole. The "bolts" are really studs, looks like.

Not a bad design really.

"Poor man's crossbolts"

 

Personally, I'd run a D3TE truck block with the extra main webbing and stronger iron to begin with if I was going to make that kind of HP. Last one I got, I paid $35... Cross-bolt that and I think you'd have something!

 

Hmmmm....Down here in Houston I can't find such an animal. I'm looking for a block to build right now. I'd really like to acquire a decent 428. Anyone know where to get one for a reasonable price?

 

I'm with you on the block. As for the crossbolting, well I agree nothing beats it. I think the girdle is still healthy option/alternative though.

Madmike33

 

Really? They're like flies up here. The later truck blocks I mean, not 428's. Try looking for 360's and 390's, '73 to '76. Look for the mirror image "105" where the "352" would be on a regular FE block. Find that and you've found your block. I cant help on your 428 search, except that these truck blocks have 428 cylinder wall cores and should take a 4.130" bore pretty reliably. But you probably already knew that!

Of course the girdle is still a good idea! I dont mean to .

 

try Ray Hillenbrant on www.fordfe.com he has had several 428 blocks and shortblocks for sale. prices are very reasonable too! These are industrial engines but are true CJ blocks with the "C" on the back, IUB cranks, stock slugs and big bolt C7-B CJ rods. He posts in the classifieds there so take a look. He had some bare blocks for sale also. if you do check out the truck blocks bring a 13/64" and 17/64" drill bit with ya to gap the wallcores. 13/64" is a snug fit for 428 wallcores. 17/64" fits 390 wallcores....

G.