using the plastiguage strips?

[twinkiemobile]

Ok guys, I'm looking into building a motor very soon, and i'm going to try to do everything by myself(minus machine work of course)

Anyway, i've been reading up on determining proper bearing sizes. using the plastiguage strips?

My question is, will i still have to check for bearing size if I use all brand new equipment? wouldn't the just be standard? Thanks in advance
- Jose

 

[NN4S]

You will want to check clearances no matter what parts you use. There's no point in just slapping things together only to have to redo it again & again (especially having to pull the thing out of the car). If you don't have any experience with precision measuring tools (or even have access to them) so that you can measure the bearing bores & journals to predetermine the sizes you'll need, buy a new set of standard size bearings and use the green Plastigauge to determine if they are withing the tolerance limits or not. Either way, you DEFINITELY want to know that you are properly clearanced unless you enjoy replacing engines!

On some of my engines, I've bought multiple sets of bearings (generally the coated ones from Calico) that were intended to provide different clearances. I then checked each journal for the best possible fit and used what was necessary to have each bearing's clearance as close as possible to the others. It just depends on how exact you want to be. I want to know that I've got everything just so for my peace of mind in knowing I won't be dealing with that stuff again once the engine's installed (that is, unless there's a darned good reason for it (hole in the block, etc!)).

 

[SBR Joe]

Ok guys, I'm looking into building a motor very soon, and i'm going to try to do everything by myself(minus machine work of course)

Anyway, i've been reading up on determining proper bearing sizes. using the plastiguage strips?

My question is, will i still have to check for bearing size if I use all brand new equipment? wouldn't the just be standard? Thanks in advance
- Jose

When you take the block to get machined give them the crank as well and have them mic out the journals to see if they are still in spec. If so just have them polish it and it will be fine.For you to see whether they are STD bearings or not, when you dis assemble the engine, remove a bearing and look on the back side of it, usually on one of the ends, there will be stamped the size of the bearing. If its standard size it will just be stamped STD, if its .010 it will be stamped that, or in mm it would be .25mm etc, etc.



Joe

 

[twinkiemobile]

Would I have to do this even with a new eagle crank and rods?

 

[90laserRSfwd]

You shouldn't have to with new components, although you should check clearances anyway. Like was suggested to you already, you don't want to do the work twice.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

You should always check bearing clearences even with new parts. You have checking to make sure the bearings are right, not if the new parts are good. I went through a set of misboxed main bearnigs and 2 sets of rod bearings til I got what I wanted. Hit me up in a PM if you want some help with this build.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Definately check all clearances no matter what. Doesn't matter if they are brand new or not, if I am to trust a $40 set of rod bearings on my expensive rods/crank they damn well better be the right spec. I have only had to send back one set of bearings (out of spec), but had I not checked, that persons engine could have developed some serious problems.

It really doesn't take that much longer to spec everything, and you know for sure that it'll last for as long as you intend it to. Plus plastiguage is fairly in-expensive.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Like everyone has already stated...

30 minutes or so screwing off and a pack of plasti-gauge verses how much time and money to pull a motor that had a wrong set of bearings thrown in it...your call.