I have Clevite 77 bearings and I put the crank in to do clearance checking. The crank was ground .010" under, so I got the right bearings for that. Well I washed the block/crank and then washed the bearings. This is my first engine build, so I think I screwed up. I checked the clearance with Plastiguage (which I know ain't the best, but I can't afford a mic set right now) and came up with approx .0035". I know that this is way too much for street/strip use. Should be more like .0025-.0028" The prob is I'm used to getting metal (I'm a Sheet Metal Worker) that has a protective film on it so that the metal doesn't rust, like on galvanized pipe. Well I scrubbed the bearings 'till they were shiny. After further confusion I finally figured out that I probably washed/scrubbed off the electroplated white metal surface layer that Clevite bearings have.

This would probably give me more unwanted clearance, right? Or would it throw off the clearance that much? Should I try new bearings ($20) before I question the machine shop? And should I even wash the new bearings, and if so, How?

Like I said, I think this is my f-up. I know now to wait until I get a mic set. I AM A DISCRACE TO HOT RODDING!!!!!

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92 RS w/t-tops 305 TBI Auto.
170K miles and don't burn a drop o'oil
-K&N Truck filter #1500 w, open ele.
air cleaner
-Dynomax 2 1/2" cat-back
-B&M TransPak
-Jet Stage2 Chip
-180* T-Stat w/ 185* Fan Switch
-JVC CD--Alpine speakers & 4ch. amp
Rockford 2ch. to 2 MTX 12" subs

 

If you washed and scrubbed the bearings it's completely possible that you took .001 off of them. I just take them out of the package and install. Lately I've been wearing latex gloves during the process so as not to get any oils from my fingers on them. If your worried about weather it's somthing you did then make sure before you start making accusations. Get another set of bearings, chalk this up to learning, and start over. If you get the same result, borrow a set of mic's and investigate. Then accuse.

We all had to start somewhere and we all made some mistakes. Don't feel bad, it could have been alot worse. I've known guys that screwed up so bad the whole engine was toast after 5 min of running.

 

I don’t do this myself, but one preparation method for bearings is to take a fine scuff pad (scotch pad) and run that on the inside lining of the bearing, so you might not have ruined your bearings.
Bearing sets aren’t always 100% matched sets and you may have to swap the bearings around in order for you to get the desired clearances. It’s not uncommon for engine builders to have out up to 5 sets of bearings and swap bearings around until the desired clearance is achieved and uniform.


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N/A 406, TPIS Miniram, 58mm TB, 30lbs injectors, Custom Ground Elgin Cam, Ported TFS heads, SLP 1-3/4", & DFI computer.
11.70@117mph

 

Well thanx for the vote of confidence FAST LiFE, but I pretty much know I did it. Yea, I have read about switching the bearings around a bit to possibly get better results. Unfortunately all of the caps had about the same results as far as clearance. The machine shop that I used is the best in town, so I doubt if it was them. It was my goof.
Sometimes you just gotta hear someone else say "I think you screwed up dude!" just to remind you that you are human and screw up every once in a while. If I was perfect then I wouldn't need a wife right? All she does is pick things up after my screw ups and keep me in line.

Thank you though, very much. I guess my wife needs help keeping me in line. HEHEHE!!! LOL

[This message has been edited by AJ_92RS (edited May 29, 2001).]

 

Buy some new bearings, put on your startup lube and slap em in. You'll sleep better at night knowing that there are new bearings in there and $20.00 is a very cheap price to pay for a warm fuzzy feeling.

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Red '85 MPFI V-6 T-5 Sport Coupe (bought new),now an IROC in sheeps clothing.
Rebuilt and installed '88 IROC L-98 TPI,700-R4,3.27 posi/disk rear,instrumentation, steering gear, and all suspension parts (even the wonder bar)
Mods:
IROC wheels, Hi-perf. rebuild on 700-R4,TCI sizzler torque conv.,B&M megashifter, L-98 .030 over,balanced,decked,blueprinted, SR Torquers, KB pistons,9.1:1 CR, port matched stock TPI, comp cams .450/480 206/210 cam, all free mods, subframe connectors, Edelbrock TES/jet hot coated, CATCO cat, Hooker catback, MSD 6A, airfoil, AFPR, K&Ns, polygraphite bushings all around, 1989 IROC memcal in summer, ARAP memcal in winter.

 

i will share my biggest engine mistake. i used to have an oldsmobile 350(dont knock olds, they are good engines)anyways, i wanted to put 403 heads on the 350 cause it had bigger valves. i rebuilt the 350, turned the crank, new cam, bearings, rings, you know a good rebuild. i put the 403 heads on it, and used the 403 head gaskets, what i didnt realized was, i should have used 350 head gaskets, my thinking was, well, i wont go into it. the 403 has a bigger bore than the 350, so when the block sealed against the head, the 403 head gaskets where they sealed at, there was waterjackets and not a steal ring. oopppsssssssss. so after running the damn thing for a few minutes. the engine filled up water. well the thing died and couldnt get it restarted, and couldnt figure out why. i had to batterys hooked up to it, and it still wouldnt turn over. so i took a spark plug out, and got shot in the face with water. i have never been so pissed in my entire life. i took the heads off, put the 350 heads on, and drove it for a while, then bout 3 weeks later, i had 0 oil pressure at idle. so i took it apart, and H20 is not a good lubricant(i should have listened to my ex gf, hehe)so basically, the whole engine was junk. i did this about 6 years ago when i was 16. geezzzz. i am still mad about it

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Wide Open Till You See God...Then Brake

[This message has been edited by LilJayV10 (edited June 06, 2001).]

 

i'd buy a new set of bearings, and i'd consider getting a mike and snap gauge or a dial bore gauge for checking clearance and not use plasti gage. some bearing makers have bearings in .001 over sizes so you can mix and match to get the clearance you want ,but i doubt if they make them for a ground crank. i too use surgons gloves when i handle bearings any mroe to protect them from finger prints and oil from my hands.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
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