This thread is for the boosted B16 guy's really but anyone is more than welcome to throw there opinion in.

Basically i'm wondering whether or not it would be a good idea to install a block girdle on my B16 block i'm going to be building. I'm going to be shooting for 400whp+ and plan to rev over 9000rpm. The bottom end will be fully balanced (including the pistons and rods) and i will be running a ATI street harmonic damper if that makes any difference.

So my question's are,

How many of you boosted b16 guy's run a girdle and what power and rpm are you at ?

Is it something you'd recommend i invested in ?

For those who may of torn down and inspected a few different B16 bottom end's that had and hadnt had girdles, was there any sign's of increased main bearing wear on the blocks what never ran girdles ?

Thanks for your time

 

i have a B18 but from what i have researched is that it isnt really needed at that power level...However with over 9k rpm i would say it would be reccomended....

I only have gsr cams so i only rev to about 8200ish...never over 8500. If i had aftermarket cams and wanted to rev higher i think i would get a girdle...

On top of price of girdle a line hone would be nessacary. You mine as well get a aftermarket 5 point girdle and ARP mains since youre going to have to line hone it anyways. That would be a nice bottom end there...but its kinda overkill for 450whp although i guess power level is irrelavant here since max RPM is really what is dictating using a girlde or not, not powel levels

if youre going over 9k id say a factory gsr girlde at minimum is recomended.

 

comes at a steep price tho 500$ for 5 point...300 for the 3 point golden eagle...here is a description of the ERL one. guess budget always comes first though so its at youre discression

Description: The new ERL Performance 5 MAIN GIRDLE provides the necessary strength and rigidity for high horsepower B series motors. Evidence shows, from years of inspecting bearing wear patterns and finding stress fractures in B series blocks, that a full stud girdle is needed. After all, Honda went to a full girdle in the F23 and progressed to a split case on the K series as horsepower increased. Cast-in sleeves act as structural members in the strength of the engine block maintaining bearing alignment, so the ERL 5 MAIN GIRDLE is excellent for those motors with cast-in sleeves. Our girdle, forming a truss connecting all 5 journals and the ends of the block, will more than double the strength. This CNC billet girdle fits all B16, B18A/B, B18C1/5 and Dart blocks and fits under a GSR oil pan to eliminate header interference

 

Thank you VERY much for that Anyone else feel like chiming in ? It would be great to hear from some of the high powered b16 guys.

 

Im factory bottom end B16 over 500whp revving 9800 and no girdle. I did balance the whole thing before the build 'tho. Dont know if that helps. Inspected the engine the other day... no issues.

 

Thank you, i think i'm going to leave the idea of a girdle now. I've spoken to Real street performance to and they told me its not really needed for my power.