Lifter valley support

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by mbusher83, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. mbusher83

    mbusher83 Well-Known Member

    TA lifter bore girdle or plates and epoxy?
    Pros, cons and feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
     
    TurboCrazy likes this.
  2. BuickGSrules

    BuickGSrules Gold Level Contributor

    Give Gary a call, I know he has some experience with it.
     
  3. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    Perfect timing Mark, as I too need an answer to your question.:D
     
  4. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Jan
    I think this is why hes getting opinions from the board. I have his 482 shortblock, he already has a lifter girdle. He also knows my recommendation for his power level.
    gary
     
  5. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Here is what I know...

    Keep it simple, lifter bore support is insurance, nothing else. The area is stronger than it looks. I an no fan of epoxies and putties, I feel the effectiveness of those products is in question, and they don't fail because more than likely they were not needed in the first place. Oil return gets unnecessarily complex and expensive, with fittings and external lines.

    I think the major benefit of the TA lifter bore girdle is actually tying the front and rear of the block together, to try and limit that movement, which is the fundamental root cause of almost all block failures. That is the biggest reason I favor the TA piece.

    Open valve spring pressures above 600lbs is my benchmark for a lifter bore girdle.. I think I have put 3 in so far. Big solid roller cams with godzilla valve springs, in an iron block. Not many folks doing that anymore.

    If I build an iron block bracket motor for myself, it would certainly have a flat tappet solid lifter cam, the whole idea of staying with iron is keeping the cost down, for a day in, day out bracket engine.

    JW
     
  6. Jim Rodgers

    Jim Rodgers Well-Known Member

    TA Girdle. I had 2 rods let go at 6800 and they beat the snot out of everything they could. But the TA Girdle kept all the lifters in place. No lifter bores were even cracked. Around 650-700 lift.
     
  7. mbusher83

    mbusher83 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the input guys, just trying to get insight before we move forward.
     
  8. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

  9. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    I love solid rollers with Godzilla springs,but I will use hydraulic rollers for the mild and resto applications.
    I was never a fan of super-glue in the lifter valley,but I did see a very serious BBB,running 8:50’s on alcohol,with the valley done that way,and it’s living fine.
     
  10. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

    Lots of work here
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    Wow!!! That is a busy lift valley!:eek: I hope there is an easier way? I got to believe you can achieve longevity, without going to the above extremes??o_O
     
  12. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

    I went to the extrem for a reason lol
     
  13. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    Believe me, I understand! ;)
     
  14. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    nickbuickgs, I have looked at the pics you posted several more times. I have a question. If you don't mind sharing? How much of the reinforcement in that lifter valley is welded in??
     
  15. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

    I made it T shaped support 1/4 with grade 8 bolts between each lifter Boss . First I cut sheet metal And Devon to hold epoxie , then ground the first layer and set the Truss in Devon . The support is cut around each lifter bore . 2 3/8 24 bolts at the ends . The heads Of the bolts on the support sit on the floor of the lifter valley between each boss . Same theory as rebar in concrete I would suppose . Block is fully filled and Girdled . Heavy !
     
  16. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    That is very interesting. I had some of it figured out, but was way off on the rest. Thanks for sharing.
     
  17. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    you mean Devcon instead of Devon
     
  18. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Auto correct I'm sure, my phone thinks it's smarter than me too
     
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  19. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

  20. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Yeah I figured it was auto correct...
     

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