Rods and Mains

[CGASTON]

I have briefly read through the forums and have started to wonder what type of rods and main bearings everyone is using. Last time I put my motor together was several years ago and I used Clevites. So please tell me what bearing you are using and why? Pros and Cons..... Thanks!

 

[turbodave231]

Bearing availability is getting a lot tougher on Buick engines. For my S2 engine I use Clevite 1398H bearings on the rods and FM 107M bearings on the mains. I use Clevite cam bearings...the number escapes me at the moment. Why? Well I would prefer to use the Clevite "V" series bearings, but I can't get the "V"s in - .001 or +.001 any more. The V series are a Vandervell formulation that is a bit softer and has better conformability than the H series. Clevite also stopped making the 77 trimetal mains in -.001 and FM is the only option there too. I buy the individual Clevite cam bearings so I can get the extra wide bearings for all 4 positions.

For a street engine, I use the Clevite P series rods (available in .001 US) and FM mains for the same reason stated above.I try to use std/std cranks whenever possible so I can selectively fit bearings and keep the clearances exactly where I want them.

Dave

 

[CGASTON]

Really..... Seems like they are trying to kill off the turbo cars. So where are you buying your bearings?

 

[turbodave231]

Bearing manufacturers only make what they can sell. There are fewer and fewer people playing with Turbo Buicks. Just like Bob Dylan said: "The Times, they are a changin"