[Anthony]

Steelcomp, but for a production/performance engine, what is more prone to cause bottom end failure, cap walk or vertical strength failure. I had just assumed it to be cap walk, to "strengthen the bottom end from flexing". When bearing failure occurred in NASCAR, in the 60's, was it because of cap walk or because of vertical bolt failure? If it was cap walk, then I think the appropriate design alteration was to install cross bolts, assuming cross bolts are better for cap walk than 2 additional vertical splayed bolts. We're talking production engines here, not top fuel engines, engines that are built on assembly lines. My shelby block has 4 cross bolts per bearing.

I haven't looked at a FE block in the last day or so, But I think there is enough of room to make the caps/webs wider, so splayed 4 bolts could have been incorporated in the design, but what forever reason, ford decided to go wiht the cross bolts.