[Rebel1]

Thanks for your thoughts Jack....Much appreciate them.

On the subject of girdles....My engine will be street use only...weekend toy if you will..no track work....built not unlike what you described. Quote: "In fact the first thing I'd change would be the displacement. Go with the 393 crank, aftermarket rods, and pistons made for this setup." Unquote. Of course all the ARP stuff is manditory as far as I'm concerned.

The girdle is cheap insurance...not there because I'm going to rev the guts out of it...simply because the ODD time I might wind it up to 5500 to 6000 RPM for a short period then I'd like to think the bandaid is there to help.

My enquiry had more to do with the reliability of the 89 series block built as you described driven by an old fart who doesn't flog his cars.

Thanks anyways.