Does anyone know if a stud girdle for a 302 will interfere with a motorsport windage tray?? I am thinking about using one the the 4spd 302 and think it might be a good insurance policy. Should I even bother with a mild built 302 that will launch about 4000 rpm....Thanks.
If you mean can you use main studs with a windage tray the answer is yes but you may have to make the holes bigger in the windage tray . The kit that comes with the tray has new main bolts that have holes drilled and tapped into the head to attach the tray to. At least all the windgage trays I a have used .
Yes, but... Yep, I know that...but I need to know if a stud girdle will interfere with the windage tray installation. I imagine the studs you get with a girdle are longer than normal main bolts. This would mean that I cant use a windage tray with a stud girdle unless I can come up with longer tapped bolts to attach the windage tray after the girdle is in place. Unless the windage tray bolts are long enough. and....if the girdle moves the windage tray farther out from the crank, will it be as effective? I hope I am explaining this well enough...sorry. JP
I don't think there's any way a motorsport windage tray will fit with a stud girdle. They're pretty tight as they are, in fact, mine actually hit the rods during operation with the turbo motor and destroyed the tray. Didn't hurt anything else, though. Pulled the tray and left it stock. How much help is a stud girdle? I keep seeing 302's breaking down the middle, with and without girdles. They always seem to break at around 450-500 HP. In fact, when I was boosting mine, the tray would contact the rods, but only from 10 psi and up...tells me that the block was flexing and allowing the crank to move around. I could be wrong about the fitment with the tray, but the only real way to tell is try it and see for yourself.
It sounds like I should forget the stud girdle. I dont think I will be making anywhere near that kind of horse power any time soon. I figure I might reach 300hp so the girdle should not be needed. I should get more benefit from the windage tray than the girdle. Thank you very much for the input. JP
