MED 1275 CENTRE MAIN STRAP

Name: MED 1275 CENTRE MAIN STRAP
Brand: MED Engineering
SKU: MED-1800-MS
Price: 45.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

Part No: MED-1800-MS

£45.00 £37.50 EXC VAT

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Availability: In Stock

Description

MED high quality centre main strap and AFS stud kit for high performance 1275-based engine builds. Not to be confused with budget types on the market - these sit perfectly flat and are a huge step up in quality.

CNC machined from steel billet with an engraved MED logo.

These are ideal for when an MED steel main cap set is not deemed necessary, so fast road and light competition builds.

Don't forget that the centre main cap from your block will require machining flat - contact us if you're unsure on fitment.

Torque to 66lb/ft.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the benefit of an A-Series centre main strap?

Unlike more modern, larger capacity engines, the A-Series only has three main journals on the crankshaft. As a result, the crankshaft can flex in the block, or 'whip', at higher RPM levels. In turn this can lead to minute movement of the main caps, particularly in the centre, evident by chatter marks to the block. The centre main strap reinforces the centre main cap to better support the crankshaft and prolong life of the bearings.

Which engines does this fit?

The 1275 centre main strap will help to reinforce the centre main bearing cap on all large-bore A-Series engines, apart from original Mini Cooper S, which had decent steel caps and studs from the factory.

Is a centre main strap upgrade essential?

For peace of mind we would highly recommend installing a centre main strap on any performance engine build. If you're likely to drive the car more enthusiastically, then it would make a sensible upgrade.

How does the centre main strap fit?

The standard centre main cap will need to be removed from the block and the top milled flat by a machine shop to accept the strap. To create a perfectly flat mounting face, the cap will then ideally need to be surface ground to match the MED strap.

What are the torque settings?

The studs should be installed by hand, the unthreaded sections facing downwards to fully locate them in the block. Then torque the nuts to 66lb.ft

On an inline engine, how do I fit the oil pick-up pipe?

The standard pick-up pipe attaches to the centre main cap. Simply remove one of the two mounts from the pipe when installing a centre main strap, and this will still be perfectly strong enough to support it. As a side note, some 1275 Midget engines will need the centre main cap machining lower than usual to achieve a flat top surface. On certain engines you may need to file a small relief in the strap for thrust washer clearance.

Does the gearbox need to be modified for clearance?

No, this will not cause you any issues at all, as long as the studs have been installed correctly with the unthreaded section located downwards in the block.

What's the difference between a centre main strap and steel main caps?

This fits on top of the standard (modified) centre main bearing cap. The steel main cap sets fit in place of the original caps and will need to be line-bored to the block - an involved job that we would usually reserve for full competition engine builds due to the cost.