Topic: 2 Bolt or 4 Bolt Mains
in Forum: C3 Engines
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Recently replaced the oil pan and also my oil pump. My engine has 2 bolt mains. I thought all Corvettes had 4 bolt mains.
The serial number on my engine matches the vehicle VIN.
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Corvettes have never used a 4 bolt main engine exclusively. Most base/lo horse engines were of the 2 bolt variety...only the higher horse engines were 4 bolt, tho some low horse engines did get built with 4 bolt blocks if there was a shortage.

Joel Adams
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Joel is right. The correct 010 block was available in either two or four bolt configuration, so you needn't worry.
Larry
Larry

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I'll throw in a bit of trivia here...
The 4 bolt main small block wasn't even "born" until '68 or '69(I fergit), so even the high output fuelie('57-'65) engines were 2 bolt mains...
This only proves that you can build a hot rod engine with a 2 bolt block.
The 4 bolt main small block wasn't even "born" until '68 or '69(I fergit), so even the high output fuelie('57-'65) engines were 2 bolt mains...
This only proves that you can build a hot rod engine with a 2 bolt block.

Joel Adams
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You are right. I had forgotten that. I had a 283 that made over 500 HP and turned 9,000 RPM. It lasted for years of abuse. I finally gave it to a friend in Vegas. He built a sand rail around it and abused it for several more years before it finally went bang.
Larry
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A lot of 400 ci in small blocks used in the roundy-rounds are 2 bolt mains and they are on the upper end of the RPM range for the whole race. My buddy has had the same 2 bolt block in his race car for over 10 years - rebuilt several times with different rotating assemblies and heads, but she's still turnin left!! 
LukesVette 2009-10-24 07:34:28

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MY BASE 300 ENGINE WAS BUILT WITH 4 BOLT MAINS.

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There's no way of knowing what the main configuration is without looking at the mains. Casting numbers won't really tell the whole story. Sometimes, the stamped suffix numbers can point to a 4 bolt configuration, but not always.
On a 400(early, '70-'76 or so), it's a little easier...just look for three freeze plugs on the sides of the block. Three freeze plugs on a 400 block means it is 99.9% certain to have a 4 bolt main. Some 400 blocks only had 2 freeze plugs...those were almost always 2 bolt mains. All 400 blocks had three bosses for the freeze plugs, but on some of them, mostly the two bolt kind, the center boss was not machined for a freeze plug, so they only have two actual plugs in them, altho there were also some 2 plug blocks that has 4 bolt mains....confused yet?
Lots of earlier, "base"/ low HP engines did have 4 bolt mains, even into the mid '70s.
Adams' Apple 2009-10-27 05:05:17
On a 400(early, '70-'76 or so), it's a little easier...just look for three freeze plugs on the sides of the block. Three freeze plugs on a 400 block means it is 99.9% certain to have a 4 bolt main. Some 400 blocks only had 2 freeze plugs...those were almost always 2 bolt mains. All 400 blocks had three bosses for the freeze plugs, but on some of them, mostly the two bolt kind, the center boss was not machined for a freeze plug, so they only have two actual plugs in them, altho there were also some 2 plug blocks that has 4 bolt mains....confused yet?

Lots of earlier, "base"/ low HP engines did have 4 bolt mains, even into the mid '70s.

Joel Adams
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in Forum: C3 Engines
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