Since I have the engine tore apart, and I have decided to push the power farther than I was thinking during the install, I am thinking about pinning the mains. Who here has done that? Has anyone used the dowel pins as opposed the drilled main pins? Just trying to decide what direction to go in, but am leaning more towards having the caps and block drilled for the pins.

 

I have heard the maching for it is pretty expensive...and if you are going to pin them I would use some billet main caps...but then you are right around an LSX block anyway.

 

It looks like the expensive part is making sure the pins are drilled properly and some people like to do this without drilling through the cap. The cheaper method for a shop that doesn't have a program written up for this is to drill through the cap while it is in position. It sounds like this could weaken the cap because there is a hole through it, but according to guy that have done this, it does not weaken it. Has anyone experienced cap walk? Maybe Richard or Rob? I have never seen it, but I guess you will be able to see the machined surface of the cap or mating area of the block as if they have been rubbing.

 

As Atomic stated its best to do this with a billet cap Vs. using the factory powder metal main caps. The caps don't walk as easy on this style of block Vs. the traditional SBC BBC but it is possible.

Considering billet caps are like $500 and then you need to have additional work done you're probably looking at close to $1000

As far as cap walk goes, Yes you can see when the caps rub but I don't have any pictures but you will discoloration around the mating surfaces of the block and cap.

 

6-bolt mains ftw!

 

Well I am not going to be using billet caps, but I think I might just drill these and install pins. I really want the support of the pin, but need to draw the line somewhere. It seems as though I could get away without them, but since it is opened up I figured I should do it. Thanks for your help. Maybe I will start a build thread and show what I will be doing.