I saw some pics a while back in here of a chevy 350 2 bolt main block and the caps looked different than I have ever seen, it looked like a better design, instead of the caps being pretty much square looking, the caps were angled outward where they attach to the block like this /---\, this was not a splayed 4 bolt conversion but it just had 2 bolts, I was thinking it was just a stock block, but it looked stronger than a regular 2 bolt.

 

All the front caps are like that. Are you sure the photo wasn't deceiving you? They may have been aftermarket caps, too, but I can't fathom installing two-bolt aftermarket caps.

 

No, the center caps were like that, that's why I noticed it so much, after some more thought maybe it was a 2 bolt 400 block, with the bigger main journals GM may have spread the caps out at the base.

 

Like this?

 

SK,

If you can find the link or photo, it might answer a lot of questions.

 

Some one probably worked over a 2 bolt main. Theres a machine shop around here that will trade one of thier 4 bolt 350 blocks for a 2 bolt 350 straight across. This guy claims the 2 bolt blocks are stronger when splayed caps are installed. Ive also heard this myth sevral places. I just use what Ive got, usually 4 bolt with aftermaket caps but ive never had a stock main fail...

 

So it's not a splayed 4 Bolt???

Duh - My bust.... I see it is. I've always heard if you splay your caps, it's as strong, if not stronger than an original 4 bolt.

Any truth to that???

 

Sorry but no, not like that, I know what splayed caps look like, this was a cast 2 bolt cap, I have searched for the pic but can't find it so far, I'll keep looking and post it if I find it.

 

Ok, mystery solved I think, I just found a pic of a 400 block on E-Bay, it has the mains like I was discribing, here's a pic

 

The 400 block has straight bolts just like a 350 it's just the shape of the caps that make it look like a splayed bolt pattern.


Jerry

 

Yeah, I knew the bolts were straight, that's easy to tell just looking at it.