Main caps swappable?

[virgil]

Are main caps from physically different engines, but the same type generally swappable...I'm specifically talking TVR (Rover) 5 litre 2.3 journal crank...

[Boosted LS1]

No, don't swop them. They are align honed as part of the block that they're originally fitted to.

[virgil]

Thought as much...and then also thought how the hell would you line up to drill the hole in the block to match the hold in the cap properly...

So there really is no way to retrofit cross bolts to a cross bolt 'cast' block if the caps are the old non-cross bolted type? New undrilled caps, drill the block and cap and have the block/caps re-honed??? Or should I just stop talking now :-)

[Mr2Mike]

You could probably fit them and then get the bearings line bored. You'd also need oversize bearings of course.

[stevieturbo]

virgil said:

Thought as much...and then also thought how the hell would you line up to drill the hole in the block to match the hold in the cap properly...

So there really is no way to retrofit cross bolts to a cross bolt 'cast' block if the caps are the old non-cross bolted type? New undrilled caps, drill the block and cap and have the block/caps re-honed??? Or should I just stop talking now :-)

Anything is possible with enough money and skill.

Certainly new caps are one option, again lots of machining will be required.

It'd probably be cheaper to source a new block !

[Evoluzione]

Mr2Mike said:

You could probably fit them and then get the bearings line bored. You'd also need oversize bearings of course.

How does that work then?

[stevieturbo]

Evoluzione said:

How does that work then?

The simply bore a bigger hole down the middle, then source bearings which have a larger than normal outside diameter.

[Boosted LS1]

^ and you may need to mill slots in the cassing to accept the bearing tabs.

Option one, get a new block.

Option two, shorten the caps and align bore. Assuming you can trust somebody to keep it all nice and straight.

I'd just get a new block if it were me.

[Evoluzione]

stevieturbo said:

The simply bore a bigger hole down the middle, then source bearings which have a larger than normal outside diameter.

You can actually buy bearings which have a bigger outside diameter? That's interesting.

Of no use to me, but interesting!

[PaulKemp]

Gosnays A12 Romford will do it, give them a call

[stevieturbo]

Evoluzione said:

You can actually buy bearings which have a bigger outside diameter? That's interesting.

Of no use to me, but interesting!

They probably wont be available for all engines, but they are available.