The machine shop I used is called Three-S Engine and Machine located in Palmyra NY. I had used there services 22 years ago when I was building a 350 chevy engine and had no problem then and many people recommended them to me again this time as well. I had noticed the crack in this Main Cap when I brought it to him and I specifically pointed out the crack and asked him for his opinion on what to do about it. His opinion was that the crack was due to the fact that Chevy did not use harded washers to spread the load and that the bolt had probably cracked the cap when it was torqued down the last time. I asked him if I should get a new cap and he said that if I did get another cap the engine would have to be line bored, which be expensive. He then went onto say that if I just use the proper harded washers that it would be OK. He gave me what he said were harded washers and I went home to give it a try. But the washer trick did not work and the cap cracked worse when I tried to torque it to spec. As it turns out the washers he gave me were not hardened either, since torqueing process tore the washers up. I talked to a friend of mine who is a professional machinist and He is looking into the possibility of welding and inserting a sleeve to repair the cap, but he is not too sure that this will work for the long haul. He did say that if I was to get another cap he could machine it to an exact match of my original (minus the cracks of course). I think that this is my best option as long as I can find a good used Main Cap, so please let me know if you know where I can get one. Thanks.
