Hello, I have a chance to buy a set of Milodon 4 bolt main caps and hardware ( Bolts ) part number # 11450, for my 557ci rebuild, as my D9TE-AB is a standard 2 bolt main block is it just a simple case of having my block drilled and tapped to suit the 4 Bolt main caps, As I think it would not hurt to have the extra bottom end strength,On the Milodon web site it states angled bolts- will these fit my block ? Thanks Jamie, Australia.

 

Yes they will fit. The block will need to be align honed with new main caps.

 

Yes. Just find a good machine shop.

 

Thanks Guys, after speaking to the machine shop and the mechanic who is putting my 557ci together I deceided to go with a main caps girdle, as both machine shops I spoke to wanted $400 ( Australian ) to do the work, My mechanic informed me with the Mains Girdle it is just a straight bolt in procedure, Thanks.

 

how much power are you planning on putting out? the stock 2 bolt caps are good for about 750 horse. if youre looking at over 800 horse just get the ford motorsports block- its already got 4 bolt mains, and the ability to go up to 4.6" bore (598 ci with the 4.5" stroke) and will take 1200+ horse

 

Hello darrin1999, My mechanic has stated the 557ci rebuild should have 600 to 700 horsepower when its all finished, I may add a 8/71 supercharger in a year or two down the track, thats why I was thinking along the lines of the 4 bolt caps, but for now I will use a stud main girdle just for added security in the bottom end, if I do go a 8/71 it will be the street 8/71. Jamie, Australia.

 

you should be fine at that power level with the 2 bolt caps, but you wont be able to just add a blower- youll have to rebuild it again for the blower... blowers take 7.5-8 compression, so youll be replacing the pistons... and they like a more conservative cam, so youll be replacing your valvetrane, and youll want a forged crank to help the crank take the snout loading from the belt drive... basically youll be building the engine from scratch again because none of the parts- except the head castings- will work. the stock block cant take another overbore either so youll have to pick up a new block... you may as well just keep your 557 together as is and build a second engine for all the stuff youll have to replace to build the blower motor.

 

Hello darrin1999, After your info on adding a 8/71, I think I will just go all out on this 557ci rebuild A few chaps down here have commented on my choice of camshaft, The Ford Racing M-6250-C460, it has 595/620 lift and 310/320 duration.. they have said why such a small cam in that 557ci rebuild ! I looked at a Lunati Solid Roller which has 796/803 lift with 326/334 duration, would this camshaft turn my 557ci into a real monster, as I thought the M-6250-C460 would of done the trick, If I go to the Bigger lunati cam what lifters and push-rods do I need to get for it, my Edelbrock RPM Cobra Jet heads 61649 state good for 700 lift- is it worth the trouble as I will have to change valve springs as well, but seeing I will not be buying a 8/71 I can spend the money on cam-lifters-etc, Thanks Jamie

 

with the new cam those heads arent going to be nearly enough... that cam is a-460 head and aftermarket block territory. even if you filled the block with hard block and did the 4 bolt mains, main girdle, windage tray, and the whole bit the block still wont take more than about 800 horse reliably, and a properly set up engine with that cam and heads that flow well enough to make that cam work properly would be able to push you right past that limit. any conventional head has a flow limit of about .750 lift... if you exceed that lift youre not gaining anything. the a-heads are good to about .900 lift (with proper valvetrane and a bit of porting) so id just stick with the original cam... especially if you want to be able to ever drive it anywhere but at the track. if you decided you wanted a bigger cam than the ford motorsports one, id check out the lunati #51606. its got .735 lift, so youd still have to change springs, but itll give you a little more flow and a little more rpms- or lunati #516A2LUN, if you wanted to ever just drive it.
as for lifters id just get the comp cams with pin oilers, and pushrods youll have to buy a pushrod length checker and figure it out yourself and custom order a set the right length- that goes for any high performance build.

 

Darrin 1999, I have the Comp cams Pro- Mag Lifters to use with the Ford Racing Camshaft M-6250-C460, along with Manley 3/8 pushrods, as these were recomended to me when I purchased the cam, I am going with a 1050cfm Holley Dominator carb with the Victor intake to match, compression should be around 10-5-1 in the 557ci, what horse-power do you think I will be putting out with this combo ? As I do want to have a Real Monster of a engine ! Thanks Jamie.

 

with the stock edelbrock heads, the fms cam, the victor intake, 557 cubes, and 1050 carb, i would say youre looking at around 625-650 horse flywheel... if you went a solid roller instead of a hydraulic flat tappet with roughly equivalent specs youd gain about 25 horse. with the trick flow streets and an equivalent solid roller, youd be at about 725 horse.
you shouldnt have gotten the pushrods yet... not until you got the engine assembled. your pushrods may be too long or too short. another note- make sure you take the inner springs out of those heads for cam break-in, and use some gm eos and some diesel spec motor oil. you wouldnt have to worry about this with a roller cam- they dont require break-in