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harveyhead01 Newbie
Joined: 27 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Location: down east, nc 171.36 points
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject: Bearing clearences |
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What is the proper/best method to achieve the correct bearing clearences? (Rods and Mains) |
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William Jones Member

Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 823 Location: Lake city, FL 28541.86 points
1971 Ford Mustang
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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Are yours tight or loose?
Bam _________________ Take the horse out off the barn and let her RUN BABY RUN!!!!!
92 LX 454ci Clevor 9.24@142.53 N/A
71 Mach1 454ci Clevor 10.16@134 N/A 3850lbs race weight "Lost in fire"
03 Cobra Bone stock 12.42
68 Falcon 363ci 10.55@126 N/A
95 GT 363ci 11.08@118 N/A |
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af2 Member

Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Posts: 5568 Location: grassvalley, ca 71528.86 points
1933 Willys Coupe
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: Bearing clearences |
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harveyhead01 wrote: | What is the proper/best method to achieve the correct bearing clearences? (Rods and Mains) |
The best method? Inside and outside mics correlated with each other then Plastiguage to make sure the #'s are correct. |
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10sec.et Member

Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 3483 Location: Houston,Texas 347040.52 points
1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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assuming you have the proper measuring tools....
BEFORE turning the crank, have your finished rods, block and bearings and torque the bearings in place. measure everything and take the crank to the grinder. TELL HIM what to cut the journals to. that is all he needs to know. _________________
af2 wrote: | It seems we can look at our magical Balls and come up with a fix?
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harveyhead01 Newbie
Joined: 27 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Location: down east, nc 171.36 points
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: bearing clearences |
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I geuss to rephrase my question, say I ordered a name brand crankshaft. I run through all my measuring checks and find out I have 1 main and 2 rod journals out of spec...too tight we'll say. Do I take crank, block and all to machine shop? Or is there something I can do myself? |
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William Jones Member

Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 823 Location: Lake city, FL 28541.86 points
1971 Ford Mustang
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: bearing clearences |
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harveyhead01 wrote: | I geuss to rephrase my question, say I ordered a name brand crankshaft. I run through all my measuring checks and find out I have 1 main and 2 rod journals out of spec...too tight we'll say. Do I take crank, block and all to machine shop? Or is there something I can do myself? |
If its tight you can buy a X bearing which gives you a little more clearance. When building motors I often mix bearing halves. I might end up using a half set of X bearings (undersized) or just pair the bearings up differently then packaged. Make your measurements if you are tight on 1 but loose on the other swap bearing halves until you get what your looking for. If that doesn't work buy the undersized bearings until you end up with what you want. But if its way off a trip to the machine shop will be required.
What crank is it? I know eagles require some work out of the box. Also if its a aftermarket crank I don't think I have built one yet that didn't need at least a half set of X bearings. But I like my stuff on the loose side.
Bam _________________ Take the horse out off the barn and let her RUN BABY RUN!!!!!
92 LX 454ci Clevor 9.24@142.53 N/A
71 Mach1 454ci Clevor 10.16@134 N/A 3850lbs race weight "Lost in fire"
03 Cobra Bone stock 12.42
68 Falcon 363ci 10.55@126 N/A
95 GT 363ci 11.08@118 N/A |
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af2 Member

Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Posts: 5568 Location: grassvalley, ca 71528.86 points
1933 Willys Coupe
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: bearing clearences |
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William Jones wrote: | harveyhead01 wrote: | I geuss to rephrase my question, say I ordered a name brand crankshaft. I run through all my measuring checks and find out I have 1 main and 2 rod journals out of spec...too tight we'll say. Do I take crank, block and all to machine shop? Or is there something I can do myself? |
If its tight you can buy a X bearing which gives you a little more clearance. When building motors I often mix bearing halves. I might end up using a half set of X bearings (undersized) or just pair the bearings up differently then packaged. Make your measurements if you are tight on 1 but loose on the other swap bearing halves until you get what your looking for. If that doesn't work buy the undersized bearings until you end up with what you want. But if its way off a trip to the machine shop will be required.
What crank is it? I know eagles require some work out of the box. Also if its a aftermarket crank I don't think I have built one yet that didn't need at least a half set of X bearings. But I like my stuff on the loose side.
Bam |
I was going to cut some of what William said but left it because it is the way you have to get the correct clearance.
Read his quote a few times and you will see that is the only way without spending big$ to get the clearance you need. |
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Big Dave Moderator

Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 2660 Location: Tampa Florida 120444.52 points
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with William's method as I have done it that way for years. Before I bought my Bore Gauge (you can get a cheapy for about $250) I used an outside mic for the crank and either telescoping snap gages (very easy to use and fairly acurate) and the outside mic again; or I got out my inside mics which were harder to use (I have big fingers and twirling the little knob inside a main cap tended to affect the reading so I would have to average about three readings to be sure).
The bore gauge is the best way as it is fast, accurate and very easy to use. You will be using it on all of your builds, even for your close friends who have to wear name tags so that you know who they are, who just happen to drop by the shop so that I can HELP them with their engine build (I was in a partnership with three other mechanics in a seven bay four lift garage and they were close associates/close freind of the my partners who showed up looking for help, not total strangers off the street though I often wondered). |
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Paul P Member

Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Posts: 2436 Location: Townsend, Mass. 82671.86 points
1971 Chevrolet Chevelle
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: |
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I used an outside mic for the crank and telescoping snap gages on the torqued bearings on my last build. It worked well. _________________ 2001 Focus 2.0 Zetec
stock cams, bolt-ons and tune
15.63@87 MPH 1/4mi
1971 - Chevelle 408 SBC N/A
6.86@102.5 MPH 1/8mi
10.78@122 MPH 1/4mi
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