I'm looking for some advice on building a 350! Now most of the time I always use a 4 bolt main but with them getting hard to come by in this neck of the woods I'm going to try a 2 bolt! But my question is if I use Milidon caps are they as strong as using 4 bolt? I've been told this from a friend but he heard it from someone else so any information will be helpful!
Thanks in advance!
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Mike,Charter DRSA Member

Nothing wrong at all with a 2 bolt main engine. Just a lot of Hype. ( well I have a 4 bolt). Go for it. Unless you are going super super radical it won't be an issue. Good Luck. By the way come and get these two four bolts out of my garage. Taking up space. Been carting one around for 15 years now.
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I'll drive it anywhere anytime.

I want to pump about 425 to 460 hp out of it! I have a 283 that dyno at 365 but want a little more! HE HE
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Mike,Charter DRSA Member

If you change main caps you will have to align bore the mains. Purchase 4 bolt main caps and have the block drilled and tapped to work with the new caps.

It would most likely be less expensive to go ahead and buy a 4 bolt main block. The '010' block that is so common came both ways....2 bolt or 4 bolt. The blocks only difference is that the 4 bolt blocks were machined for two extra bolt holes. They are the same EXACT casting.

Most Chevrolet engine builders (professional) say that the 010 2 bolt main block is capable of 475-500HP without failures related to strenght of the block or the main caps.

I would not worry about the 2 bolt main block at the 460HP level.

BUT all of my 350's are 4 bolts......



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Same Wife, Same DEUCE Roadster, Same Job for over 20 years. Must be in a rut. AIN'T LIFE GRAND.....

I know this is like comparing apples to oranges,but I am in the process of building a 408 inch stroker,based on a 2000 Dodge 360 Magnum block.(.030 over,stock rod length,4 in. stroke) They regularly get 450 to 550 hp out of these(all engine,no bottle) and they are only a 2 bolt main style block. Push them much more,and they start to have problems though. I have seen some pretty stout small blocks(chevy) built using 2 bolt mains and they hold up quite well in street use. You should't have a problem if you pay attention to details and do the rest of the block preparation properly.
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Some days you get the elevator,
Some days you get the shaft......

Mike, if you're looking to build a street engine without a blower or nitrous, a 2-bolt main block will suffice. If you're building a race motor, the 4-bolt may be more desirable.

I have a 1969 350 with 2-bolt mains. The crank, rods, and pistons are stock. I regularly run the engine to 6500 rpm, with no problems. ...With aftermarket cam & heads, this thing winds up very quickly -- sometimes, too quickly! I have seen it hit 7200 rpm a few times, with no ill effects.