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Anyone have a 96+ stroker w/ no main bearing girdle?

nectarXJ

nectarXJ

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Utah
The shop building my stroker said to just leave the main bearing cap girdle off (from a 2001 xj) because of the clearance issue. As far as I can research the only effect of leaving it ou might be vibes at high rpms.

I'm trying to decide whether to leave it out or put it in with some form of the various spacing ideas out there.

If there is anyone running a 96+ stroker with NO girdle I would love to hear from you! Does it run fine or do you have NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) issues.

Thanks
 
I ditched mine when I built my stroker.... didn't seem to bother it a bit. It's currently in my brothers Sand Drag Comanche with 505 heads and he abuses it... been 3 years now with no problems.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I guess I'll leave it out, especially since the oil pan is all buttoned up now. I told the shop to ship the girdle back with the engine so I could still put it back in later (with spacers) if there are issues without it.

...can't wait to fire this stroker up soon!!!!
 
We used 2 grade 8 SAE washers stacked. IIRC we used a .120 and a .060 together.
 
Obviously there's no downside to running a girdle. Adding rigidity is a good thing.
That said be prepared to do a little massaging depending on the size and depth of the connecting rod balance pad. I use .120 ground washers to help space it down.




Although this isn't the best picture but it will or may interfere with the front of the pan.
The earlier pans seem to be flatter causing more of a problem.

 
I will never grow tired of Russ Stroker Pictures.

yay geekporn.
 
Thanks for posting the pics, they're very helpful. Looks like you just machined the girdle down with a grinder(?).

The more I think about this the more I'm agreeing with you all. I think what I'll do is pull the oil pan and put the girdle back in when I change out the break-in oil at 500 miles. I'll probably do a combination of grade 8 washer(s), shave the girdle, and carefully "massage" the oil pan with a hammer (if needed). :)
 
A good way to verify you have enough clearance between the bottom of the connecting rod and girdle is when piston/rod is at BDC, is to make sure you can slide a .050 drill bit between the two.
 
Russ Pottenger said:
A good way to verify you have enough clearance between the bottom of the connecting rod and girdle is when piston/rod is at BDC, is to make sure you can slide a .050 drill bit between the two.
Click to expand...

Good tip thanks!
 
mechbullxj said:
Anyone ever distorted their engine for lack of a girdle?
Click to expand...

I am wondering this too.

I've heard lots of good thoughts on keeping it in place (most of which I agree with) but I have not yet heard anything definitive like "if you don't have the girdle then "X" (something bad) will happen."

I know Chryster put in the girdle for a reason and I'm not questioning that it was for a good reason. If I were to leave the girdle out then it would be great to understand what Chryster was trying to accomplish with it (definitively) so I know what issues to look for later.

...Anyhow, here's some eye candy before the 2001 stroker gets installed back into the XJ (without a girdle):

20150601_125442_1024.jpg
 
it helps cut out vibration with rpm.

its one of those things you don't notice not having, but you notice having.
 
cal said:
it helps cut out vibration with rpm.

its one of those things you don't notice not having, but you notice having.
Click to expand...

Okay, so how would you characterize these particular vibes? I want to know what to look for.

If it's a subtle type of vibration I'm worried I won't notice it over the other vibrations already present in my jeep. ...I should clarify, none of these other vibrations are very bad and I can cruise on the freeway just fine but I'm not exactly driving a Rolls Royce here; I've got subtle shimmy's and creaks and groans here and there. :)

Perhaps I should be looking for vibes when pulling hard or at a particular RPM or both?
 
I don't really know how to describe that in words.

go rev up a 99 XJ to 5000 rpm's, then do it with a 91 XJ, back to back. You'll see it.
 
cal said:
go rev up a 99 XJ to 5000 rpm's, then do it with a 91 XJ, back to back. You'll see it.
Click to expand...

Ah good idea.

So I had heard / read that something was different in the later blocks (like less material in the block or less nickel in the metal) that resulted in them needing the girdle for support. Is this not so? Are you saying that the girdle remedies high rpm vibes that have always existed in this inline 6 design? If the older blocks also have these high rpm vibes then perhaps the girdle was merely a design refinement for engine longevity and / or rider comfort rather than a fix due to some sort of structural change.
 
the later blocks were specifically designed to cut out noise, vibration and harshness. The side of the blocks are embossed NVH to show that.

The girdle was part of that, and not a fix toward some weakness.
 
Yeah, I noticed the NVH on my block.

Thanks for the discussion cal!
 
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