Usually by the time a racer finds out that the bottom end of their block isn’t built strong enough, they’re sifting through the pieces on the track. There are a few good “insurance policies” out there to help make sure that guy or gal isn’t you.
One is a girdle kit from Hughes Engines. In the simplest terms, a girdle is a piece of sheet metal that fastens to the main cap studs to tie all of the hardware and, therefore, components together. When done correctly, the sum is stronger than the individual parts and it can add a significant amount of rigidity to the block skirt and main caps.
“Never worry about the bottom end holding together again! Adding our new girdle kit to your Mopar will greatly increase its strength. Installation instructions are simple and can be done at home by the average do-it-yourselfer. Our girdles work like a scraper and are worth 14+ HP,” says the Hughes team.
Installation can be tedious, but Hughes has detailed directions with pictures and it’s well worth the effort when done. Three versions are available for non-Hemi big blocks (HUG 7380K), 318/340 small blocks (HUG 7384K), and 360 small blocks (HUG 7382K).
ARP hardware is included, adding yet another level of strength for a beefy bottom end. Save yourself the sight of scattered engine remains by giving Hughes Engines a call today.
