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Spool imports billet main caps opinions


bayside_supra

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Perhaps you should consider having Lee build your engine then? ;)

 

Ha, just noticed what you done there... :rlol:

 

No James hart is building mine, even James asked and lee wouldn’t give them out.

 

Shame really as it would be nice to see lee support other Supra’s and builders with good products.

 

Haha yeah you got me then! Haha

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No James hart is building mine, even James asked and lee wouldn’t give them out.

 

Shame really as it would be nice to see lee support other Supra’s and builders with good products.

 

I don't think it is in any way sinister nor has it got anything to do with a reluctance to support other engine builders. I suspect that it is much rather a desire to preserve his proprietary designs that he, and he alone, had to invest money into in order to design and manufacture the kit that he uses on his big power builds.

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I don't think it is in any way sinister nor has it got anything to do with a reluctance to support other engine builders. I suspect that it is much rather a desire to preserve his proprietary designs that he, and he alone, had to invest money into in order to design and manufacture the kit that he uses on his big power builds.

 

Yeah I totally agree mate. I found some company’s that do main straps like lee supply’s. Med engineering is one

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Yeah I totally agree mate. I found some company’s that do main straps like lee supply’s. Med engineering is one

 

I don't think anyone stocks them on the shelf in the UK. It's worth contacting whoever you decide to go with first to ensure that they will fit and that no machining will be required.

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I don't think anyone stocks them on the shelf in the UK. It's worth contacting whoever you decide to go with first to ensure that they will fit and that no machining will be required.

 

Yeah totally agree mate. If I can’t find anyone then I won’t use anything but the stock caps anyway. Worth a try anyway for now.

 

Most of the Strap caps used require stock caps a skim/flattening for a seated flush seat. Very minimal but very affective when seated correctly

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Also bear in mind that you will need to machine your block to fit these. The brace kit from SRD is a far safer option in the UK, imo.

 

Forgive me i'm not an engine builder but what does the brace kit do, i don't see how it adds any strength to the cap

 

If i was having a 1000 hp engine built it would be getting billet mains and line bored from a

known source and i'd not be looking to save money, you either do it 100% or don't bother

Edited by Dnk (see edit history)
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I think it is this kit that for some reason ended up on supraforums for discussion but not here?

 

https://www.supraforums.com/threads/main-cap-brace-kit.1119960/#post-13914991

 

Forgive me i'm not an engine builder but what does the brace kit do, i don't see how it adds any strength to the cap

 

If i was having a 1000 hp engine built it would be getting billet mains and line bored from a

known source and i'd not be looking to save money, you either do it 100% or don't bother

 

Just to plagiarise an excerpt of the response on the US Supra forum;

 

Main cap bracing has been done since the 60s with incredible rates of success. Cosworth used to do this in the early turbo charged F1 days, and as we know, F1 engines tend to live a hard life.

 

The brace kit works by adding rigidity and strength to the main cap, as you would expect from billet mains, but without the need to machine the block.

 

I am sure your local engine builder can tell you about at least one destroyed block that was sent to a machine shop in order to fit a set of magnificent billet mains only to be returned with imperfections and defects which ultimately rendered the block; a heap of scrap metal. Sadly, whilst our engine builders are up to par with their American counterparts, our machine shops are no where near as good.

 

This brace kit does not save you any money really, but it might just save your block from being ruined by an inexperienced machine shop.

Edited by Mo Reviews
addendum (see edit history)
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I agree with Adam.

 

Cap straps will help to counter the problems of bottom-end stress and flex management.

 

Been used for decades and aren’t much cheaper than having a line boring done.

 

They are a very good option to have and are very proven to strengthen your bottom end

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Just to plagiarise an excerpt of the response on the US Supra forum;

 

Main cap bracing has been done since the 60s with incredible rates of success. Cosworth used to do this in the early turbo charged F1 days, and as we know, F1 engines tend to live a hard life.

 

The brace kit works by adding rigidity and strength to the main cap, as you would expect from billet mains, but without the need to machine the block.

 

I am sure your local engine builder can tell you about at least one destroyed block that was sent to a machine shop in order to fit a set of magnificent billet mains only to be returned with imperfections and defects which ultimately rendered the block; a heap of scrap metal. Sadly, whilst our engine builders are up to par with their American counterparts, our machine shops are no where near as good.

 

This brace kit does not save you any money really, but it might just save your block from being ruined by an inexperienced machine shop.

 

I don't see how that makes the OE cap stronger especially when its only contact to the cap is at the bolt holes.

 

I'm eager to learn how this is as good as a forged main cap ?

l6ufv1tl.jpg

Edited by Dnk (see edit history)
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Personally wouldn't touch an unknown brand when it comes to engine internals, granted they might work perfectly fine but that's an expensive risk you are taking. I also wouldn't bother trying to cut corners with support brackets, get a truly tested product and job done. Here's my main caps below.

20171101_204242-small.jpg

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