anyone use coated bearings in engine?

[GNFURY]

I was lookin through an old GMHTP mag, and i saw an article on a build up of a red camaro SS. The builder uses only coated bearings in all his engines, and stated that it provides a significant amount of added protection against bearing failure. Has anyone done this in an LC-2? What is the cost of coating?

 

[Dr. Freeze]

I cryo-treat and coat all bearings in my builds...It makes a pretty considerable difference; we rarely see much wear when we pull them back out. You can run tighter clearances and cold-starts are much easier due to the lubricity of the coatings... The cryo process helps with wear resistance and durability.
-Jeb

 

[NCTURBOS]

How much thicker does it make the bearing?

K.

 

[JDEstill]

I've got coated bearings in mine. I don't think they'll save you in the event of a dramatic meltdown, but can offer some additional protection. Polydyn here in Houston (http://www.polydyn.com) does coated bearings, last price sheet I got (a few years old now) says for a V-6 a set of main bearings is $26, a set of rod bearings $26, and a set of cam bearings is $17. Lots more on their price sheet; if it moves they'll coat it! Oil pump gears is a good example, or a booster plate. Mine has been done. How about rocker arms? Timing chain gears? Cams. Piston skirts. Hmmm... lifter bodies? Valve springs. Pushrods. The list goes on.

They do the heat barriers as well for piston tops, combustion chambers, turbine housings, etc...

They've got a pretty good client list. While there I saw a big box of coated bearings being packed up for Ed Pink Racing Engines for example. Plus some industiral stuff. I saw some big ole drill bits being done (oil well type stuff), and some gas turbine wheels too.

It's not that expensive, so I think it's worth a try.

John

 

[Lee Thompson]

coating

Its also a good way to control bearing clearance.
Lets say you have .002 clearance. With coating you will have .0015. This is the norm. They can also put it on heaver if ask for.

 

[JRGN]

When I built the new motor in the rosewood, I had talked to Lee and used calico coatings on the cam and had no problems, the next motor I build, all of the bearings will be coated. Jr.

 

[turbofish38]

Speaking of camshafts, does anyone know if having a cam treated will give you some extra insurance against wiping out a lobe assuming the cam manufacturers hardening process is a little lacking. I was just reading another post on how some people think that with the advanced ramp rates some cams have, its real easy to wipe a lobe or two and I know I've had the same problem on some of the 206/206 cams. I'm thinking with a coated camshaft it might be a little more forgiving on the break in procedure.

Thanks Eric Fisher

 

[Lee Thompson]

coated camshaft

BINGO!!! Most people hate to spend another $35-40 for coating on a newly purchased cam. It does work!!

 

[Dr. Freeze]

I cryo treat more flat tappet cams and lifters than I really care to count and the process does amazing things for them. Never coated one though as the coating is a surface treatment (much like nitriding) and will wear eventually; the cryogenic process is a through hardening process that never wears out. I do a lot of dirt track cams that see continuous 7k-8k use on flat tappets because of their class rules; most of the racers I've done them for still have good cams after the season ends where before they were going through two or more cams per season. Works well on valvesprings too; I've cryoed and had my springs coated (on my 434 sbc with a monster solid roller and our 440" BBC Super Stock 'C' NHRA car).

As for coating clearance, you generally get about a half thousandths (.0005") reduction...
-Jeb