I'm building my 355 engine and was doing the pre assembly and noticed something strange. I'm using ARP 8740 connecting rod bolts along with scat 6in H-beam rods and a scat forged crank. On the left side of the block the the connecting rod bolt comes EXTREMElY close to the bottom of the cylinder bore on the inside. One of the bolts actually touches just barely tho. Is it wierd that this is just on one side of the engine? Or did I assemble something wrong? And is it possible for me to grind away some of the block so the bolts will clear? Thanks for the input and advice

 

No, not weird at all. Pretty ordinary actually.

Yes you can do that.

Just don't get too enthusiastic. You need around .050" or so of clearance. Use a plastic wire tie or something about that thick as a go/no-go gauge.

Check the clearance from the rod bolts to the cam... probably OK, but very bad things would happen if it's not.

 

Yeah I checked the clearance and it's about .002 so I guess I've got a little ways to go. Thanks for the quick reply