Mains girdle?

[jsol]

Hi, currently accruing parts for a 7A based turbo engine. Thinking of buying a Eurospec master builders billet bottom end set which comes with a mains girdle. Do you think the girdle is necessary? Engine will be around 500hp atw @ 30odd psi. Any thoughts?

[gnutz2]

No, not at that power level, they are very rigid blocks.

Would be nice to have one if you were thinking of future proofing the engine.

[Jamo]

Depends what you are going to be doing with the car really, if the engine is going to be under constant track abuse then it's a good safety feature but if a road car can't see the need.

[Error404]

If you want to bullet proof it and can do the work yourself why not, I would if I could.
If you are paying labour it's a very expensive job as the individual caps and spacers need to by machined very precisely and getting a datum for it involves a lot of work, you will probably need an align hone afterwards and finding someone to do that to a high standard is a job in itself.

[Thuppu]

I'm going to use a girdle with a diesel block in my next build, if I don't need to do a another fast ghetto build before that(if I suddenly blow my main engine ). Propably the hp goal will be some more than 500bhp...

[fatiii]

i am use my new engine billet main cap and main girdle kit.I've had a few problems for dimensions but I solved.

[jsol]

Car will be mainly street driven (though not a great deal) with 2-3 track weekends a year. Building this one mainly myself so I might avoid installing the girdle to save me a bit of stuffing around. Thanks.

[jsol]

Another thing though this is off topic (my thread so whatever) is whats the general opinion on stroke? Stay with the 92.8 or gain a little displacement with the 95.5? Personally I think staying with the original stroke is best but the TTRS has the longer stroke. Any thoughts?

[Thuppu]

Well, 92.8mm is already a little gain from the 7A stock 86.4mm.

[caterpillar]

the NEW 5 pot does have the 92,8 stroke... and i think it was 82,50 bore ( may 83 ??) and the doe have 525 hp in the newest car... high LITER / HP.....

[jsol]

Yeah sorry, 86.4 to 92.8.

[Jamo]

Go 92.8

[jsol]

Yeah? I mean 86.4 was good enough for the group B. The 92.8 gives 500cc per cylinder which is the best trade off in terms of revs/torque. Reliability is my main concern and keeping the main attributes of the engine. Revs.good power and reliability. I'm torn, it's only 200cc difference in displacement but what else could be affected.

[Jamo]

Your building a 500 bhp engine either way it will need maintainence constantly. 92.8 setup will put extra wear on bores in the 220 deck so it will wear quicker.

If you need to see what a 92.8 setup can do look at hapster project, the extra torque is well worth it if you are in a position to do the build

[jsol]

Ok, will check it out. I will have to start a build thread soon when I have more photos to post (Engine is out, will tear down soon just launching a new business next month). Gear box is sorted (Dave Swift is helping out with that and a few other bits). Thanks.