• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Girdle???????????

  • Thread starter Thread starter mustangfan1990
  • Start date Start date Apr 2, 2008

mustangfan1990

New Member
Jul 17, 2005
505
1
0
Lenoir, North Carolina
Apr 2, 2008
#1
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #1
Ok I have A BUNCH of different people telling different things. A few guys that I work with tell me if I put a girdle on my stock block that the block will hold more than 500 HP. I have others tell me that a girdle is a safty measure to keep everything together if the block does spilt. I was thinking if it wa as simple as buying a girdle then why would people even buy aftermarket 302 blocks so I am not sure. I would like to get a girdle though anyway but was wondering if it would help me with the numbers that I will be putting down to keep the stock block in one piece
 

88mouse

New Member
Apr 18, 2007
630
0
0
Mooresville nc
Apr 2, 2008
#2
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #2
It will just help hold ever thing together.

A valley girdle would help more than a main. The block try to split from the top to the bottom.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,942
2,896
194
Middle of Maine
Apr 2, 2008
#3
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #3
My Aunt wore a girdle to keep her dress from splitting from the top down Sorry, could not help myself I have a main support on my engine because it is a stock block.
 

enyawix

Member
Dec 18, 2005
507
0
19
127.0.0.1
Apr 2, 2008
#4
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #4
Bullitt347 said:
My Aunt wore a girdle to keep her dress from splitting from the top down Sorry, could not help myself I have a main support on my engine because it is a stock block.
Click to expand...

where did you get your engine support? do they make a 351 support?
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,942
2,896
194
Middle of Maine
Apr 2, 2008
#5
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #5
D.S.S. makes the main support. Yes they make one for the 5.8L engine. Mine was for a 331cid stroked 5.0 and it fit perfectly. Very good quality. Worth the $$.
 
B

blueblazes

New Member
Jan 11, 2008
76
0
0
Apr 2, 2008
#6
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #6
something to keep in mind here the valley girdles are a joke they do absolutely nothing when the block splits other than add 1 more thing to take apart. Just look at how they bolt down if you need more proof.

2nd.. your lower intake manifold if anything is a valley girdle at least it bolts on both sides

3rd.. only thing a main girdle will do is help hold the pieces together when the block splits. If you dont have the money to build a good block then you might as well tone it down some and realize what your doing. Your trying to squeeze every little bit of hp out of a motor thats not gonna last long with you raping on it at the 500 level. Then your gonna have to build another motor to put back in the car and your going to be in the same boat. Main girdle will help with crank walk since the 302's dont have as many crank bolts holding the turds together.

If you want 500hp on stock block then you need to fill the water jackets with concrete and hope she holds and pray it stays cold out side lol. Otherwise you need to invest in a good block such as dart, windsor, r-block, a-block, or boss.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,942
2,896
194
Middle of Maine
Apr 2, 2008
#7
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #7
I took a 302 block had it cryogenicly frozen along with the cast crank, 78' vintage if I remember, and that combo was good for almost 700 h.p. for 2 seasons of racing before it broke. And the reason it broke was because the vent tube from a dumb ass Holley carb vibrated out and went down the intake at 8,000 rpm. Not bad for a 2 bolt block with a main support. Maybe I was lucky? If I had to do it over again, I would have spent the $ of a R-302 block, (they did not have the Boss block back then) but even then it was cheaper than buying the race block, and we tend to run what we have, or what we can afford. The R-302 block back then was not machined at all, except the main line. The bores were unfinished at 3.950". So you had to look at the machining cost as well.
 

enyawix

Member
Dec 18, 2005
507
0
19
127.0.0.1
Apr 2, 2008
#8
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #8
blueblazes said:
If you want 500hp on stock block then you need to fill the water jackets with concrete and hope she holds and pray it stays cold out side lol. Otherwise you need to invest in a good block such as dart, windsor, r-block, a-block, or boss.
Click to expand...
I do not see a 351 splitting at 500hp unless bad tune.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,942
2,896
194
Middle of Maine
Apr 2, 2008
#9
  • Apr 2, 2008
  • #9
enyawix said:
I do not see a 351 splitting at 500hp unless bad tune.
Click to expand...

Thats right, we were supposed to be talking about a 5.8 NOT the 5.0.. my bad.
 
B

blueblazes

New Member
Jan 11, 2008
76
0
0
Apr 3, 2008
#10
  • Apr 3, 2008
  • #10
enyawix said:
I do not see a 351 splitting at 500hp unless bad tune.
Click to expand...

even a bad tune would be hard to split a windsor you would be more likely to chew the pistons or destroy the bearings on the rods/crank from detonation before you split the block

we were talking about 302's not about 351's. If this guy had a 351 i would be telling him a higher # before hed have to worry about block splitting lol

I should also mention there are a few older blocks during 70's that were mexican blocks they actually had a higher metal content <wanting to say nickel but cant recall its to late> and they are a little more friendly at 500hp level than the standard 302 blocks that came in mustangs. Theres a local guy with a 347 with s trim on conservative tune in high 400's on mustang dyno but he still is wary about how far to go with it considering it sucks to have to replace stroker parts.
 

Fast63

New Member
Sep 20, 2007
717
0
0
Apr 3, 2008
#11
  • Apr 3, 2008
  • #11
I have never been a believer in the girdles of any kind. I bought a 347 crate engine that was never installed by someone, and it had a girdle on it. I took it off and replaced the studs with ARP bolts because the girdle wouldn't fit under my oil pan. I don't lose sleep over it, that's for sure.
 

S&B

I hate my CT. :(
10 Year Member
Dec 18, 2005
1,634
695
204
Cheesehead
Apr 3, 2008
#12
  • Apr 3, 2008
  • #12
My girdle heald all the pieces together so we could get the engine out of the car in one piece. snaped on the dyno at about 560hp and a bit more torque. IF you want a girldle PM me Ill sell you my old "parts holder" its in the garage
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine Suggestions on an engine rebuild. Stock cam/GT40Ps or aftermarket on both for a fun weekend driver?
  • MadSquirrelTech
  • Apr 28, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
577
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
MadSquirrelTech
Need some camshaft guru advice on power loss from supercharger to nitrous
  • TTSaleen
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
18
Views
573
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 29, 2025
revhead347
S
Block questions
  • s_vargas54
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
636
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 8, 2026
Trogdor
  • Locked
Engine Might have to get a Dart block but don't want to and if I do, then 363 instead of 331. Thoughts on what I've already bought so far.......
  • from6to8
  • Jul 8, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
406
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 8, 2025
Noobz347
Progress Thread Progress Thread- From6to8's 95 GT/Saleen Supercharged 331 install
  • from6to8
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
712
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 6, 2026
from6to8
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?