Rod bearing scratches

[4G63_Savage]

I installed my rod bearings an i rotated it once or twice to install the other pistons and i decided to change my ring gap so when i pulled my rods out i seen this

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

What can this be from? Clearence issue or gunk. My oil clearences on my rods were .002

 

[JacksonAuto]

Dirt.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Probably grime from the oil hole in the crank but definately gunk. I'd put some white lithium on it after using a q-tip to clean the oil holes in the crank with some brake parts cleaner on the q-tip. You will be surprised how much "stuff" you might get out of them. Clean until it comes out without any crap on it and then clean it one more time. Did you not use any break in lube on the bearings when installing them? Some do , some don't but I ALWAYS do, be it SBC's or DSM's. Your clearance was good though. Did you plastigauge it I assume?

 

[4G63_Savage]

Yes i plasti gauged but i also used a mic as well the plasti gauge was just an assurance thing. My crank was polished. You think i can still use these bearings? With a fingernail u can barley feel them

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Glad you mic yourstuff too. If I had it apart I would buy a new bearing and put it in, but remember the other half probably looks like that, or at least is possible to look like that too. Some folks would say its ok, but since you can look at it, replace it while your there. Is it the only one that has any scratches? My 2c.

 

[4G63_Savage]

No one more is like that. So i should just buy a new set?

 

[JacksonAuto]

That is dirt which was introduced while you've had it apart. Don't go digging around the oil holes in the crank unless you're prepared to remove it and clean it properly. If you disturb it now, anything that's in there that you don't get out is going to come free when you start it back up and do more harm than good. You could roll in a new set of bearings but I'd clean that one up and put it back in because it doesn't look to have any other problems. You can remove the scratches with a piece of gray scotch brite and then clean it real well with brake cleaner.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Is the motor in the car or out. That would make my mind up on what to do. I am not happy with any scratches on new bearings and would feel safe if I cleaned up whatever made that and pop in new ones but thats just me. I would look at my mains too if I saw this. Building motors since 1978 so thats a couple years ago. Some folks would be fine with it by scotchbriting it but you are taking bearing material away when you do that and making a bit more clearance. I like .002-.003 for rod clearance and same for mains. It could just be from an outside source that caused a bit of debri BUT if you think it could have come from the crank I would be taking it back out and clean the crap out because oil pressure will just push more into the journal. Are you just using motor oil for assembly? I use moly, but again that is just me and only suggestions.

 

[4G63_Savage]

The motor is on the stand and im using royal purple assembly lube. Bearings are cheap enough to just buy new and not take the chance. I'm just gonna rip my block apart and clean the crap out of it. But I'll keep these bearings for another build. They are sac able still though?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Yes I would say they are savable. Since its on the stand, just do yourself a huge favor and clean clean clean and you won't have to worry. And a new set would be what I would do. I hate saying it but they aren't to expensive so its good to put new ones back if you have the chance and the extra change for a new set but save the old ones, they can be used in a pinch. I have polished scratches like that out also and didn't have a problem but it wasn't in a NEW build. Maybe some more folks chiming in will help a decision but I think you are on the right path. You want a NEW engine, not a partially new one.

 

[4G63_Savage]

Exactly. She gets nothing but the best haha
So how should i go about cleaning this?
Like if it was your motor you had to clean what would be the process? I dont wanna use something and have it not agree with the block or something ya know

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I have always used a gun cleaning kit with bristle brush on the end and any kind of solvent. Careful with brake parts cleaner as it will melt the plastic bristles on the gun cleaning kit tho. Always ran it through every hole and passage that I could and then usually went to the car wash and pressure washed and rinsed everything out followed up by a good coating of wd or any other rust inhibitor. You might be surprised what kinda crap comes out of the crank and the block after that. I would rinse until its completely clear to be sure and get out any left over grime and gunk. I don't have a solvent tank or I would use it.

 

[4G63_Savage]

Excellent. I appreciate all your help. While i got ya i put a new front case gasket on the block alon with an OFH gasket. When i take that back apart should i get new gaskets as well?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well....if they dont stick and look brand new I would say they are reuseable, but my son (Black97spyder) just got his Talon running again with all new motor and he had a oil leak on his OFH so he chucked the gasket and went with pure silicone. I on the other hand would have got a new gasket, cause hell, its new. Both of our ideas work. I put a new OFH on my '90 because it had a crack in it and just went with a gasket on it and its working fine. I made sure I scraped every flat surface with a razor blade so I knew it would seal but he swears by silicone and hates leaks like everyone else does. I have seen people say put the gasket on and silicone (little) on both sides but if the mating surfaces are straight and clean then the gasket will work. But you are asking about reusing them....if they don't cost much, save them and the bearings and put new stuff on a new motor. I believe he was having some small leak on his oil pan also and planned on going with Rite Stuff silicone gasket maker but that stuff sets up super fast. In my experience, putting silicone on a gasket made the gasket "slippery" and sometimes would do more harm than good so its a choice you need to make. If they look new, I would say you are good to reuse them. If you truely want a "new" engine, put a new gasket on. This is an ongoing discussion with he and I, . And we both do things different but get the same results, although I see his point that silicone held his BOV on the UIP with NO bolts on it. Boy that thing was on there good when we were tearing things apart. I think it would have stayed on under a considerable amount of boost even. New is new and used is used, but sometimes reuseable.

 

[hotrodssnova]

Exactly. She gets nothing but the best haha
So how should i go about cleaning this?
Like if it was your motor you had to clean what would be the process? I dont wanna use something and have it not agree with the block or something ya know

You really should have the crank balls melted out and cleaned properly. The machine shop can do that. They will also tap the hole and install a plug where the balls were. That's the proper way to clean a crank.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well you got me on that one. I am used to SBC stuff so some of this is cross info and some is new like balls in a crank. Hmm. That one I didn't know about. Enlighten me. All my life I have done domestic engines and new to DSM stuff that sometimes is weird to me (like balls in a crank). What are they in there for? I may be old but am open to new stuff and would like to know more.

 

[hotrodssnova]

The cranks are cross drilled like the sbc. The balls are installed to cap the open hole in the counter weight instead of ending in a rod throw like a sbc.

 

[92awddsm]

Well you got me on that one. I am used to SBC stuff so some of this is cross info and some is new like balls in a crank. Hmm. That one I didn't know about. Enlighten me. All my life I have done domestic engines and new to DSM stuff that sometimes is weird to me (like balls in a crank). What are they in there for? I may be old but am open to new stuff and would like to know more.

He is talking about the plugs driven into the crank where the oil cross holes were drilled. Not like a small where it's just drilled from main to rod journals. The dsm has intersecting oil holes.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

I installed my rod bearings an i rotated it once or twice to install the other pistons and i decided to change my ring gap so when i pulled my rods out i seen this

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

What can this be from? Clearence issue or gunk. My oil clearences on my rods were .002

You didn't assemble with assembily lube?

 

[92awddsm]

You didn't assemble with assembily lube?

He said he used royalpurple asse mbly lube.

 

[4G63_Savage]

I did i used royal purple assembly lube

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Ah sorry i wasnt finished the whole thread when i asked

The motor is on the stand and im using royal purple assembly lube. Bearings are cheap enough to just buy new and not take the chance. I'm just gonna rip my block apart and clean the crap out of it. But I'll keep these bearings for another build. They are sac able still though?

Ah there it is

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Thank you hotrodssnova, I need to look at one of our old cranks so i am familiar with that thing. I never would have imagined what you told me. Appreciate you teaching an old dog something!!!