main saddle/journal oil groove machining

[600supersport]

since i have an older redtop style SR20DET block, I've recently noticed that mazworx and JWT offer the service to CNC grooves in the main bearing saddles to improve the oil flow in those areas to mimic the design improvement made in the newer SR blocks and tho i've seen the topic covered a little bit in various searches, i haven't found much in depth discussion here.

so to avoid shipping costs, more down time and general wtf happened to my bank account even more, i'm curious if anyone has done this themselves...

i know a computer controlled machine will make a perfect cut to maximize the design characteristics or i could even pay my machine shop to do something very cleanly, but with a LOT of patience being very careful with my die grinder/dremel, if i'm conservative on the width/depth that i take out compared to what the factory did, just make a little space for some oil, what should stop me from a little massaging to improve oiling here?

it's probably not something to worry about or expect a lot of improvement, but i'm trying to take Some extra precautions to avoid spinning a bearing from oil starvation under hard cornering like the greddy oversized/baffled oil pan, a crank scraper/windage tray with proper crank ventilation. I know that these grooves won't have much affect on lateral forces, but if it puts a little more oil in important places, i can't see it being a bad thing since the bearings have the 5 holes for this reason anyway...

any actual experience would be appreciated...

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii85/tommy2dollaz/grooved%20block.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/tommy2dollaz/media/grooved%20block.jpg.html)

[TheRealSy90]

You'd have a better end result and even more durability by simply having all your bearings WPC treated. There's been race sr20 engines with WPC treated bearings that finish half a race with no oil pressure and the bearings came out looking perfect.

[600supersport]

I was on the fence between both wpc and calico or just calico for the bearings at this point...where will it ever end? lol

[S14DB]

It's really an old school method that doesn't really work with modern bearings. It can increase bearing wear.

Clevite and other main bearings already have a grove in them to feed oil to the rod bearings. No need to do all this work when modern bearings already have provisions for this.

The main thing you want it to blueprint/clearance the oil journal and bearing so the oil has a clear path to the crank.
i.e. the hole in the bearing lines up with the journal in the block.

Also to note, this was done to run late model GTiR or VE bearings with multiple oil holes in them. No point running old tech bearings when newer technology is out there.

[600supersport]

It does seem like more work than it's worth thinking about what it'll actually take to get it done, but for Mazworx to take the time, I'd imagine there's either a hidden benefit...or just another opportunity for them to make a bit more $ lol. maybe I'll just calico the bearings and call it a day

[TheRealSy90]

WPC treating is 100x better than a calico coating that wears off. And it's cheap for bearings.

[TheRealSy90]

It does seem like more work than it's worth thinking about what it'll actually take to get it done, but for Mazworx to take the time, I'd imagine there's either a hidden benefit...or just another opportunity for them to make a bit more $ lol. maybe I'll just calico the bearings and call it a day


WPC treatment is 100x better than a calico coating that just wears off anyways.