A cylinder block assembly for a V-engine is provided. In one example, the cylinder block assembly includes a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders divided into a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank, a valley positioned between the first and second cylinder banks, and a plurality of crankshaft supports. The cylinder block assembly further includes a structural frame including an interior surface coupled to the plurality of crankshaft supports and two top surfaces arranged above the interior surface and on opposing sides of the assembly, where each top surface is coupled to the cylinder block above a top of the plurality of crankshaft supports.