After a disaster I'm trying a second rebuild. For my main bearings should I use a full groove or a half groove? Its a mild performance build, 383, Trickflow's, yadda yadda with the standard size journals.

 

Half

 

I thought you asked this before...?
Well, good luck on your 2nd rebuild, I know i've been there before... It's more fun the second time, just don't get cocky and rush it, you'll screw it up even worse!

 

Yea I've probably been through this but I took some time completly away from the car (school and to clear my head) so now I'm back at square one. Hopefully it will get built properly over winter break since I've picked up my dial indicator, inside and outside micrometers, etc but my front cam bearing seems cocked from the machine shop so I'm already off to a bad start.

Why can't I find any half groove Federal Mogul bearings at Summit???

 

CLE-MS909P - for main bearings (those are clevite)
SUM-172010 - summit brand (apparently king brand)

Couldn't find FM, you're right, they only do a 3/4 or full groove.

 

I guess I don't have a problem with Clevite except for the fact its what was in the motor the first time when it failed but for some reason I wanted to try FM (Clevite quality control I've heard about).

 

Yea, i've heard that about clevite as well - but i'm pretty sure they're still the most popular brand out there, so they can't be that bad.
Remember, if a bearing is failed, and screwed up, that's a good bearing! They're the sacrificial part eh? If your crank is ok, kiss your bearings a "thank you". I went summit for my bearings, and toasted a cam (i'm sure you remember my story), and had to rebuild the motor all over again. I went summit bearings again (nice and cheap), since they did save my crank...

I'm jealous of your tools. Out of curiosity, what did you pay for the outside micrometer set? local purchase?

 

Got a set off Ebay. Not very much but they aren't very good ones either. I take care of my tools and I can't afford an expensive set but these should be fine. I plan to plastigauge and mic them for the heck of it.

 

ah, apeiron pointed me in the direction of some Ebay micrometers. Couldn't justify the cost at the time. I will after I grad though.
Let me know how well they work compared to the plastigauge, I imagine you can get .0001" accuracy with the mics, but you'll soon find out.