quote:Originally posted by DOES 200:
Is that similar to what I have sticking through my valve covers? Other owner told me would do 6,500 RPM all day.....
There are two types of 351-C 'girdles': one is a massive metal plate inside the oil pan that reinforces the crankshaft's main bearing caps while the other is a set of bars that clamp all the rocker studs together under the rocker covers, reinforcing them. Your special SVO covers are much thicker than normal, with special long rocker studs extended thru the thick cover top. The effect is the same as a girdle inside, but they weren't popular with go-fasters 'cause it's much less convenient to get inside the covers & adjust valve lash with 8 bolts plus 8 stud-nuts to r & r each time- on each head. If you ever find any, pick up as many of the spare stud-seals as you can find- each top acorn nut has (or had) a conical washer and a dead-soft copper seal under it to prevent oil leaks. They've all been unavailable from Ford/SVO for decades.