[Fot] TR4 main bearing caps

[Tony Drews]

We've taken to "strapping" the center main.  Not sure it helps but it 
doesn't cost much to do.  Have the top (bottom?) of the main cap 
machined off flat with the bolt seating surface, then buy longer ARP 
cap bolts and a Ford 400 front main strap.  Drill out the holes in 
the strap to fit the bolts and bob's your uncle.

If we could figure out how to make it a 5 main motor, now THERE's 
something to aspire too.  That and good flowing cross flow heads and 
we'd have some POWER baby!  Saw a MGA with an alumimum cross flow 
head at Road America a week or so ago.  He was faster than me...

- Tony Drews

At 07:49 PM 5/26/2009, Joe Boruch wrote:
>I have heard rumors of racers making reinforced center main caps for TR3/4's
>to reduce flex.  I think I saw a car advertised a few years ago in England
>that purported to have one.  The others are beefy enough that they should not
>need reinforcement.  I too have a block or two that did not come with main
>caps.  Joe(B)
>
>---------- Original Message ----------
>From: "Bob Kramer" <rkramer3 at austin.rr.com>
>To: Undisclosed-recipients:;
>Cc: <fot at autox.team.net>
>Subject: [Fot] TR4 main bearing caps
>Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 10:01:23 -0500
>
>In my never ending quest to never toss anything I am trying to rescue a TR4
>block that I got without main bearing caps. I have spare caps for the front
>and center caps that are close enough for line honing but not a rear cap. My
>machinist suggested that I could get a cap modeled and CNC'd to fit. We
>talked about whether there would be anything gained from billet caps all
>around. Has anyone done this?
>
>Bob Kramer
>Austin, TX
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