can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Wondering if anyone can identify who makes these center caps I got. I think they are GM aftermarket caps. I know their OEM 4 bolt caps were not splayed and these are splayed. But I'm not having too much luck in google and it seems the only markings on the caps is the position number.

Here's what they look like.
s-l1600.jpg
 
Aeroking

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

That rear main cap won't work on a stock block. That's a 2 piece cap. Unless you're running a bowtie block.

I would also check to see if the center caps are stepped on the bottom. 4-bolt retrofit caps are usually stepped to fit in a 2-bolt block without milling. But some OEM 4-bolt caps may be smooth on the bottom for an OEM 4-bolt block. If they are smooth on the bottom, you cannot use them at all.
 
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atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Damn. Well, guess I'm turning them around on ebay then. They are smooth on the bottom. Figures.
 
Aeroking

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

OEM 4-bolt blocks like the picture have a flat mating surface where the caps sit.
DARTSHPBLOCK004.jpg


For our 4.3 block, the 2-bolt caps sit down in a recess in the block. So the 2-bolt caps are taller than 4-bolt.
emcrra83a_engine_rebuild_99_Jimmy.jpg


A few companies make the 4-bolt retrofit cap with the stepped bottom like this picture.
$(KGrHqZHJBQE8+mGvRSDBPW!cn)Dhg~~60_35.JPG


I would ask your machinist if he can work with the caps you bought. I doubt they will work, you would have to measure them.
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Pretty thorough explanation there, Brandon! :tup:

Alex, if you want strong main caps, people seem to find Pro Gram quite popular. I wouldn't be surprised if a "parts wanted" ad on here garnered some attention.

Good luck!
 
Aeroking

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Quickstop [UK] said:
Pretty thorough explanation there, Brandon! :tup:

Alex, if you want strong main caps, people seem to find Pro Gram quite popular. I wouldn't be surprised if a "parts wanted" ad on here garnered some attention.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I know machinist time is expensive, and drilling for splayed caps requires a special machine. I remember paying something like $500 to drill and tap for my splayed mains. The shop I went to didn't have the capability to drill the splayed mains, it had to be sent to a race shop.
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

FWIW I have splayed non-stepped, 4 bolt caps on my stock (non bowtie) block. So it can be done. In fact my machinist won't even touch stepped caps.

So IOW don't get rid of them right away. It -looks- like your outer bolt-holes are slightly splayed which is what you will need to adapt these to a stock block.

HTH
 
Aeroking

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Don W. said:
FWIW I have splayed non-stepped, 4 bolt caps on my stock (non bowtie) block. So it can be done. In fact my machinist won't even touch stepped caps.

So IOW don't get rid of them right away. It -looks- like your outer bolt-holes are slightly splayed which is what you will need to adapt these to a stock block.

HTH
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. Thank you.

did the machinist mill down the web surface to meet the recess depth?
 
Aeroking

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Don W. said:
No worries. Yes. In effect he just widened the stock recess.

Go here to see what I'm talking about. This is exactly what my setup looks like.

http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32711
Click to expand...

Wow, so they milled the entire web down. I would think that would be a weaker setup than the stepped caps. The stepped caps give you a more accurate cap location, and provide additional side support.
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Well the caps fit tight between the milled edges so the side support is still there. There has to be -something- locating the caps. Either a narrow milled web like stock or this or dowels as is common in what ever bearing cap has the thrust bearing as that has to located precisely side to side and front to back so the thrust bearings surfaces line up. I doubt enough metal is removed to effect strength and the wide 4 bolt cap probably makes up for any loss that does occur. Just my :2cents:
 
atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Thanks guys. I received the caps yesterday and they are indeed flat on the bottom but feel rather beefy. I will take them with the block to the machine shop and see what they say and can do. Worst case I sell these back out and get a set that will work. Maybe the shop will be able to do a trade? They might be able to use the caps for something else and give me credit towards caps that'll work on my motor.
 
atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Re: can anyone identify the brand of these caps?

Turns out they are GM billet caps. So good strong stuff. Just gotta hope the shop can make them work. If not, I know they could easily use them for another motor and give me credit or something.
 
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