Machined block... but no main caps

[spade33]

i have a chance to buy a non roller 5.0 block for 135 with all the machine work done and its bored to the right bore i need. The only problem with it is that it has no main caps.. Is this worth it to buy or should i just pass it up. I know i would need new caps and it may need machining for the caps to be all inline. But i am not sure how much that would cost. Let me know what you guys thing

 

[D.Hearne]

Unless it's really cheap ($50 or less) pass on it. New caps= WILL NEED line boring to align the caps. No maybe about that.

 

[spade33]

how much does line boring cost? forgot to say it also has the freeze plugs and cam bearings and oil valley stuff done apparently

 

[10secgoal]

I can't recall, but I remember there was a preferred order to machine a block. I want to say you want the caps on an torqued when you bore and hone for the same reason you want a torque plate on when you bore and hone. But probably splitting hairs.....I would check farther into it though. If it will work, doesn't seem like a bad deal. If it's bored, honed, cam bearings, decked, etc maybe worth it.

 

[57fairlane]

how much does line boring cost? forgot to say it also has the freeze plugs and cam bearings and oil valley stuff done apparently

my local place is $65 if I bring them just the block with the bolts/studs ready to go.

 

[10secgoal]

I gots to move lol

 

[spade33]

Haha I was going to ask where your at because that sounded really cheap. Does anybody know where I could find main caps for sale

 

[2+2GT]

Haha I was going to ask where your at because that sounded really cheap. Does anybody know where I could find main caps for sale

If you're really hard-core, Cobra Automotive has the #1, 2, 3, & 4 caps for the 289HP reproduced. There was nothing special about #5. They are left semi-machined so they can be fitted and align-bored to match your block. It's important to have align boring done, ask me how I know

 

[spade33]

Damn those things arnt cheap at all. I figured if I needed to I might try looking around a a pick and pull place and digging into one of those

 

[D.Hearne]

Try ebay for main caps. I used to have a spare set, but sold em.

 

[65ebd65]

If you can use them I have a set of a ford 260 CID yours for the shipping.

 

[brianj5600]

If you do it, have the machinist measure the crank to cam center line. Align honing moves the crank closer to the cam and can cause the timing chain to be loose. Cloyes has matched sets to compensate. With an acurate measurement it can be corrected. I wish I had done this and only bought one timing set. This is copied from the Cloyes web site. There probably other companies that offer shorter sets if you look. Most parts stores have them available, but don't list them online so you may have to call the supplier for a part #.

Center Distance is the measurement taken from the center of the camshaft to the center of the crankshaft.

How to Determine the Center Distance of your Engine Block

CENTER DISTANCE = MOS-(CRANK DIA./2 + CAM DIA./2)


Though all engine blocks will vary slightly, your everyday vehicles will already have standard center distance. However, if your block has been machined or aligned honed, then your camshaft and crankshaft are going to be closer together. For everyday street applications you can get away with just using a shim kit to take up the slack. However, in a race application, you should order a Cloyes reduced center distance performance set.

 

[spade33]

I wouldn't know if th 260 CID caps would work. Any advice here guys? Also was the 85 302 block a one piece rear main seal? I think I'm going to give it a try

 

[D.Hearne]

85 is a 1 pc rear main. The 260 caps aren't going to work on it. 85 was the first year of the rollers, but the block's not as strong as the 86-2001's.