assembling and installing connecting rods/pistons

He Measured .0004" - 4/10,000 th of an inch #5 MAIN CAP BORE DISTORTION TORQUED DOWN TO SPECS WITH THE OIL PUMP ON.
I DON'T.LIKE IT.

IT SHOULD BE +/- .0001" TOLERANCE.
+/- .0002" INCH MAX.
 
Grumpy said:
Ive found that .0024 - .0028 on the first four main bearings, and .0026-.0031 on the rear main bearing
Ok, what gives here. You called me out when I wanted a dial bore gauge that
measured in .0001. Wish I could remember the exact topic, but it's been too
long now....about 2-3 months ago.

Looks like to me you must be measuring to the 1/10,000 of an inch to quote
numbers like .0024 to .0028 inch.

I'm not mad, just wanting to get a proper explanation and have a discussion
surrounding measuring clearances. hehehehe!!!!

I suppose thats a Great question!
the fact is setting the engine bearing clearances and selecting the type of bearing surface, is a judgement call based on both intended use and the oil viscosity you intend to use.
the higher the average rpm range the greater the oil flow rate over the bearing surfaces and the greater the need for cooling the oil,the difference between what will function fairly well and what would be ideal may not be a great deal different, but in the long term, you should try to get things as close to ideal as you can, every choice made is a compromise in several areas, some choices are of course a bit more critical to the engine function that others and some cam be compensated for to some degree with other parts selected.
example. slightly larger bearing clearances will require a bit larger oil flow rate so a high volume oil pump might not be a bad idea, but that would logically usually require a larger capacity oil pump to provide that flow increase,a baffled oil pan and windage screen to control the oil flow return.
BTW youll find through experience that many of the main bearing sets tend to have the rear main bearing is designed with a slightly larger clearance for some reason

look at the charts below and youll see how the clearance effects oil flow rates ,heat build-up and load capacity, it should become obvious that clearance in the .002-,003 range provide a near ideal compromise in characteristics and a slight change has very little effect , but larger bearing clearances increase flow (with in that .002-.003 range), thus cooling as greater flow absorbs and transfers heat out of the bearing surface slightly more effectively. while tighter clearances slightly increase load capacity but require a thinner viscosity oil being used.

yes I use both micrometers and snap gauges and cross check with plasti-gauge
and yes when you compare the crushed width of the plasti-gauge youll find it rarely falls as an exact match to the bar chart tape that is packaged with it so you can judge clearance based on crush width
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bearing-clearances.2726/
plas1v.jpg

plas2v.jpg


bearing1a.jpg

bearing2a.jpg

bearing3a.jpg


as a general rule you select .001 bearing clearance for every inch of bearing journal diameter,
Rod bearings 0.002 - 0.025" , side clearance 0.010 - 0.020"

Main bearings 0.002 - 0.003" for most engines ( 0.020-0.025 bearing clearance on small blocks, .025-.027 bearing clearance is about ideal, on big blocks ), 0.005 - 0.007 crankshaft end play

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-clearances-engine-builders-magazine.11965/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/basic-info-on-your-v8-lube-system.52/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/building-a-custom-wet-sump-oil-pan.65/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-up-oil-feed-holes-in-bearings-shells.10750/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...m-sure-your-convinced-its-the-oil-pump.11085/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/whats-a-windage-tray-do.64/
 
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c85c52_b526d94623bb4a9f925c03124bf2abc9~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.webp


damage like this is rather frequently the result of the piston rings gap being too tight, the rings ends touch as they expand,
due to excessive heat and with no clearance the rings temporarily lock against the bore wall, the result is a broken ring, and fractured piston ring groove
 
BEAR-05.jpg

What is a Narrow Bearing?

November 12, 2018 / by Jeff Smith

Engine building is all about the details, and choosing the right set of engine bearings to match your crankshaft is an important one! Inside we investigate what a narrow bearing is and when you should use them.

It seems every day that there is a new post on social media about street engines making four-digit power. A killer late model Hemi with a blower easily pushes past 1,100 horsepower and Mike Moran has built an all-billet, twin-turbo engine that made 5,300 horsepower. The power numbers keep escalating and yet far less attention is paid to what it takes for crankshafts, pistons, and connecting rods to survive these ever-escalating, and easier-than-ever-to-achieve power levels.


A fillet is a radius created in the transition from the rod or main journal to the vertical portion of the crankshaft. The radius improves crankshaft strength but requires a slightly narrower bearing compared to stock production bearings.
One small point that is often overlooked is connecting rod bearing width. That’s what this piece will focus on. But first let’s take a look at crankshaft design.

Everybody is aware that a 4340 alloy steel crankshaft is significantly stronger than the typical cast iron version. This alloy steel offers a higher tensile strength and is also more malleable – meaning forged steel is able to bend slightly under high loads. Cast cranks tend to be brittle and crack under high stress.

A further trick to improve durability is a simple technique known as a fillet radius. In a typical V8 crankshaft, stress occurs in several locations but concentrates in the corners created both at where the rod journal meets the cheek of the crank and also at that same position on the main journals. One way to minimize stress in sharp corners is to create a gentle radius. OE cast crankshafts sometimes undercut this corner to create the radius.

BEAR-02.jpg

To illustrate the difference between a production bearing and a narrower performance rod bearing, we measured these two big-block Chevy Federal-Mogul bearings. The tri-metal high performance bearing measured 0.020-inch narrower than its OE aluminum cousin.
Forged crankshafts add material at this position. Then after the journal is machined, a very gentle radius is created that improves strength. However, this process also reduces the overall journal width. With a performance crankshaft, this reduced width demands a narrower bearing compared to a stock replacement version.

Taken as a generalized statement, stock replacement rod bearings are often slightly wider than their high performance bearing cousins. It’s beyond the scope of this story to get into bearing materials – but most stock replacement bearings employ an aluminum alloy while the majority of high-performance rod and main bearings use a much softer and more compliant tri-metal material that wears more quickly but will not peel or scrape like stock aluminum bearings.


In addition to narrowed bearings, performance bearings also employ a chamfer that is placed to match the chamfer on the rods where the rod meets the sides of the crank. This chamfer creates additional clearance. These chamfers must match the connecting rods so rod bearings are stamped upper and lower to ensure their proper placement. Be careful when selecting bearings since not all are chamfered.
To illustrate this point, we measured the width of a set of stock replacement aluminum Federal-Mogul connecting rod bearings for a big-block Chevy compared to a set of Federal-Mogul (Speed-Pro) performance tri-metal bearings. The stock aluminum versions measured 0.885-inch while the performance bearings were 0.020-inch narrower at 0.865-inch. Using the wider bearings on a performance forged steel crankshaft could cause the outer edges of the bearing to bind on the larger fillet radius of the crankshaft. This could cause immediate bearing failure, and at the minimum will cause bearing debris to be released into the oil.

There may be concerns about running a now 0.020-inch narrower bearing in terms of bearing loading but the small difference in width is really inconsequential since the width difference represents only a two (2) percent decrease in width in this big-block application.


This photo illustrates the clearance created between the edge of a narrowed rod bearing and the fillet radius. This prevents edge contact with the radius on the crankshaft.
Narrowed bearings also brings up the issue of rod bearing chamfers. Most performance rod bearings are designed with a chamfer on one side of the bearing to accommodate the large radius on the edge of the journal. Since the inboard side of the bearing avoids this fillet radius, there is no need for a chamfer on both side of the bearing. But with both upper and lower bearings, this demands that the bearing be placed in their proper orientation. Because the bearing is located by its tang, a chamfered bearing must be installed either as an upper or lower bearings since the chamfer will be on the opposite side for a lower compared to an upper bearing half.


It is important to note that there are basically two different rod and main bearing materials. OEM and some mild street engines can use aluminum alloy bearings (left), but the best plan for any performance engine is a tri-metal bearing using a very soft alloy of tin, copper, and lead.
This requires performance rod bearings with these chamfers to be marked “upper” and “lower”. Some bearing companies abbreviate this by using “U” and “L” as stamped on the back side of the rod. If these bearing halves are incorrectly installed, the bearing’s flat edge will face the fillet radius and create immediate bearing wear in this location–often the rod will even bind once the cap is torqued. Even without looking at the stamping on the bearing, an attentive engine builder knows the correct way the bearing should be installed by merely matching the bearing chamfer to the chamfered side of the connecting rod.

All of this falls under the category of important details that are required in the process of building a performance engine. Build it correctly and the engine will reward the builder with solid, reliable performance. Miss one or two of these details and reliability immediately becomes suspect.
 
How to Build Racing Engines: Engine Bearings Guide

APRIL 6, 2015 BY MUSCLE CAR DIY

Virtually all modern engines use bearing shell inserts for the crankshaft, rods, and camshaft. Mains and rods use a split bearing with upper and lower half-shells. Cam bearings are mostly single-piece, ring-style inserts that are pressed in place with an interference fit in each housing bore. Most bearing inserts have a thick metal backing made of aluminum or steel to maintain their shape.



This Tech Tip is From the Full Book, COMPETITION ENGINE BUILDING. For a comprehensive guide on this entire subject you can visit this link:
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK HERE



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The inserts are coated with copper or Babbitt material, which usually consists of copper, tin, and antimony depending on the application. Bearing Babbitt is relatively soft. This allows it to embed small particles of dirt and debris and prevent them from damaging the journal surface. In a race engine, embedability is often sacrificed in favor of high-fatigue strength and the ability to carry higher loads—the idea being that race engines have highly filtered oil that is changed frequently.

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Lower main bearings must have full load-carrying capacity. Grooved bearings should never be used on the lower half of the bearing shell. Again, maintaining the load-carrying capacity of the hydrodynamic wedge via proper clearances and oil pressure is the primary goal. Rod bearings are not grooved because they are fully loaded all the way around.



237.jpg

Note how this Calico main bearing extends slightly beyond the hous¬ing bore. This is the bearing crush that helps the tang lock the bear¬ing in the housing bore. Both bear¬ing shells have a small amount of crush built into them. When torque is applied to the main cap bolts the shells crush against each other forcing them firmly against the housing bore.



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Arrows indicate the oiling hole and groove in the upper main bearing shell and the locator tang used to position each half shell in the bearing housing bore. This Calico coated main bearing illustrates bearing spread or the spring effect that holds the bearings in place during assembly.



425.jpg

Roller cam bearings are used primarily to reduce friction and lower the total volume of engine oil flow. This lessens the load on the oil pump and helps to reduce windage in the crankcase.

Tri-metal bearings are the preferred bearing for all race applications except perhaps the extremely high-load environment of blown fuel and alcohol engines where short-duration applications require a softer Babbitt material to absorb shock loads. Tri-metal bearings consist of a hard steel shell to provide conformability and load-bearing capacity. The shells are then coated with copper, lead, and tin to provide the desired characteristics. The bearing shell surface is first treated with a copper micro-structure that incorporates minute pockets. This matrix is then covered with an overlay of a tin-copper mix or lead-indium.





Examine a bearing shell closely and note that it fits snugly in the housing bore with a noticeable amount of tension (called spread) and extends beyond the parting line of the bore. This small degree of tension and oversize on both shells provides bearing crush to increase the contact friction between the bearing back and the housing bore and help the bearing tang lock the bearing in place so it can’t spin. This is called conformability.

In the case of aluminum rods, high thermal expansion causes the rod to relax its grip on the bearing even with adequate bearing crush. The solution is a dowel-pinned bearing. All aluminum rods come pre-fitted with a fixed dowel in the rod cap. All race bearing manufacturers make rod bearings with the dowel hole pre-drilled.



Characteristics of Engine Bearings

The physical characteristics of engine bearings vary with the application, but it is important to recognize and take advantage of the primary characteristics associated with all engine bearings.



Crush

This refers to the characteristic that forces or crushes the bearing into its housing bore. This is done to assist the bearing tang in preventing the bearing from spinning. Race engines with higher loads require bearings with more crush. Bearing manufacturers are very precise in their tolerances, making it incumbent upon the engine builder to check and adjust bearing crush. This is done primarily by precise machining of the bearing housing bores to exact specifications. In the range of journal sizes for most racing engines, the target bearing crush is typically about .015 to .016 inch for rod bearings and .019 inch for main bearings.



Eccentricity

Bearing inserts do not maintain uniform thickness throughout their circumference. They are thickest at the center of the bearing and taper toward the parting lines, creating a very slight eccentric oval shape. This is necessary to accommodate bore distortion under extremely high load conditions. While very slight, these minimal dimensional changes must be spot on to prevent undesirable engine damage.



Spread

Bearing shells also incorporate a slight degree of spread, which in effect spring loads or preloads each insert against the housing bore to lock it in place. Spread is incorporated as an assembly aid to hold the bearings in place during engine assembly. A small amount of effort is required to force the bearing inset into place during assembly.



Parting-Line Relief

Bearing inserts are slightly thinned beginning approximately .375 inch from each parting line to prevent the bearing from bulging inward and contacting the bearing journal when the bearing is crushed in its housing bore. This prevents unwanted contact when the big end distorts and tends to pinch the bearing upon piston reversal (at TDC). This is why you cannot measure bearing clearances in the vicinity of the parting lines.



Chamfer

Most race engine bearings are pre-chamfered on the edge facing the crank throw to accommodate large journal fillet radii. This does not excuse the competent engine builder from checking each insert in place to ensure that the chamfer provides adequate clearance.



Oiling Grooves

Most main bearings are grooved on the upper half only, leaving the full load-carrying capacity available on the ungrooved bottom half. It is important to remember that any groove or journal chamfer introduces an interruption in the hydrodynamic oil wedge causing a partial collapse. This is critical since the wedge’s greatest load-carrying ability is near the center of the bearing and tapers off toward each side due to oil leakage from the bearing. Manufacturers do not recommend extending grooves into the lower bearing inserts. The oil groove in the upper insert provides the oil supply for the rod bearings. Also, the insert with the oil feed hole must go in the block and not in the main bearing cap.

525.jpg

The bearing chamfer on rod bearings prevents contact with the fillet radius on the rod journal. Note how the bear¬ing shell chamfer closely matches the chamfer on the connecting rod.



Size

Engine bearings come in standard, undersize, or oversize depending on the journal size. Unlike street engines, most true racing engines rarely incorporate crankshafts with journals that have been turned down from standard size. Manufacturers do, however, provide special .001-inch-plus-one inserts that can be used to fine-tune clearances. Builders often use a standard shell on one side and a .001-over shell on the other to adjust the clearance by a few tenths.



Tang Depth

One important clearance that many builders overlook because they assume it is correct is bearing tang depth. If incorrect, it can prevent the bearing from properly seating in the housing bore and ultimately lead to insufficient clearance and probable engine damage. While this is normally not an issue with high-quality aftermarket racing connecting rods, it is nonetheless part of the essential “check everything twice” philosophy that top engine builders practice.

624.jpg

This bearing has been run in the adjacent Carrillo rod cap. Note the even surface contact pattern between the back of the bearing insert and the rod cap bore with no sign of movement.



Coatings

Bearing coatings have become commonplace in many racing engines. They reduce friction and improve heat transfer, which generally permits tighter clearances, but they are not a cure-all for bearing issues. They possess better survivability characteristics that can help save a bearing during brief periods of low oil pressure. While they do support tighter clearances, they are not a substitute for the minimum safe clearance. All good engine builders know that being a little loose is better than being a little tight, especially when it helps you finish a race that might otherwise end prematurely due to engine failure.


Polishing

All bearing manufacturers recommend installing bearings without modifications other than perhaps increasing the chamfer if it is found to be insufficient. Some builders still insist on polishing their bearings with a variety of materials from newsprint to the more common Scotch-Brite pad.

Some suggest that the coating applied by the manufacturer comes off and wads up in small chunks. If that is the case it probably has more to do with insufficient clearance than a problem with the coating, which manufacturers have spent untold sums on perfecting. Interestingly, you won’t see many builders polishing bearings with high-tech coatings, which seem to be more readily accepted.

719.jpg

Coated bearings like these from Calico Coatings are favored because they reduce friction, permit tighter clearances, and increase survivability in the event of a temporary low oil pressure event.










Another trick practiced by some builders is polishing the backs of the bearings to theoretically improve the contact surface between the bearing and the housing bore. This may or may not provide some benefit, but it is undoubtedly less harmful than polishing the actual bearing surface where the coating is designed to help wit h initial fire-up and break-in.



Roller Cam Bearings

Many race engines incorporate roller cam bearings to reduce friction, but they are not necessary in every case. Standard cam bearings are employed in many successful race engines with great success. Roller bearings require a block designed or machined to accept them and their chief advantage is their high load-carrying ability with valvespring pressures that approach or exceed 1,000 pounds.

Because the rollers are splash oiled off the spinning crankshaft they do not require pressurized oiling. When the bearings are press fit in the block they cover the oil feed holes for the camshaft, reducing oil flow volume through the engine with less oil through the pump, hence less drag. That said, some builders shy away from rollers because of the havoc they wreak when they fail. In many cases they install larger diameter Babbitt bearings with good results. It all depends on the combination and how hard you stress the cam.



Clearances

Consistency is the cardinal rule of bearing clearances. Always set clearances the same way and with the same equipment. Engine bearings and the journals they run on are also temperature sensitive with regard to size. Clearances are used to accommodate thermal growth, but the components themselves should always be set at a consistent temperature for best results. If you’re working in a cold shop, don’t check clearances with bearings you just retrieved from a warm storage room.

813.jpg


The same goes for measuring equipment. Bearings, crankshafts, rods, and micrometers are manufactured from various steels that expand and contract differently according to temperature. Micrometers are designed to be used at a standardized temperature of 68 degrees F. For best results, all components and measuring equipment should be close to the same temperature.



Main Bearings

Main bearing preparation and installation must be preceded by proper housing bore dimensional preparation and careful deburring of the main caps and housing bored edges. No bearing should be fitted prior to checking for proper tang depth.


Rod Bearings

Quality racing rod bearings are very consistent in their manufacture. An issue with clearances is that it is almost always related to inconsistent journal sizes or housing bore diameters. All engine builders have preferences when it comes to checking rod bearing clearances. The procedure is critical because we are taking about tenths of a thousandth of an inch.

Many builders skip the procedure of measuring the rod housing bore diameters, but this is the first place where something can go wrong. Measuring the housing bores and writing them down is useful later when clearance issues crop up and you are trying to determine which bearings can be swapped to a different housing bore to achieve the proper clearance. Measuring and recording the housing bores is the mark of an experienced quality engine builder. Those figures may also be useful later if a bearing issue arises and you are trying to determine what caused it.

Many builders like to set their dial bore gauge to the rod journal size and read the clearance on the dial indicator. This is fine if the rod journals are consistent. Others prefer to set the dial bore gauge to a common journal diameter and calculate the clearances. This allows them to measure all the rod bearing inside diameters based on one setting.

With racing engines you can never take too much time or care so it’s best to work slowly and measure each journal and bearing independently. Write the journal number and the clearance on the back of the bearing shell to avoid mixing them up. If the bearing shells are identical, also mark which one is the top half and which is the bottom half. It is not uncommon for a tight housing bore diameter and a slightly oversized rod journal to stack the tolerance beyond the target rod bearing clearance.

The common cure for clearance issues is most often the use of undersize or oversize bearings that are offered in +.001 or -.001 with an X-suffix on the part number. An example would be the Clevite series available in -9, -10, and -11 (or 10X) and -10, -20, and -21, which allow you to set precision clearances even on cranks that have been ground .010- and .020-inch undersize. These sizes can even be mixed with standard-size shells to home in on exact clearances. For example, you can combine one standard-size half-shell with a plus-one or minus-one half-shell to reach a specific clearance.

In theory, and most often in practice, mixing half-shells increases or decreases the clearance by .0005 inch. When you do this it is best to use the thicker bearing on the upper half of the rod where it can supply additional load-carrying capacity. Note also that bearings are purposely made thinner at the parting line to accommodate the pinch effect of the housing bore when the rod stretches as the piston reverses direction at TDC.

Never measure bearing clearances near the parting line. They are always off. Always measure them 90 degrees from the parting line and in line with the beam of the rod.



Bearing Failures

Bearing issues are a clear sign that something is dimensionally incorrect, overstressed, or exposed to excessive heat and/or dirty oil. Most bearing problems can be traced to improper machining, incorrect clearances, or sloppy assembly techniques. Evaluating bearings upon disassembly is an important step that many engine builders ignore completely, yet it can often tell them many things about the engine’s performance even if the bearings look perfect.

You can pretty much divide bearing failures into two primary categories: assembly problems and operational problems. Dirt and foreign material can contaminate the bearing environment in either category, so it is critical to determine the source and to always practice squeaky-clean assembly techniques and engine maintenance practices.



Assembly Problems

The following are the primary causes of bearing problems initiated at the engine assembly stage.

  • Incorrect clearances
  • Improper bearing crush
  • Inadequate lubrication
  • Improper fillet radius chamfer
  • Improper tang fitment
  • Dirt behind the bearing insert
During assembly, small particles of dirt can inadvertently be captured between the bearing back and the housing bore. This debris (which is often hard to detect) resides behind the bearing, deforming it outward toward the crank journal where loss of clearance can initiate localized overheating and bearing flaking. In severe cases it causes contact distress that typically leads to early failure.

The cure is to closely inspect each housing bore and both sides of the bearing insert prior to installing it. Close examination of the bearing inserts and housing bores using a magnifying glass is a sign of a quality engine builder. Appropriate de-burring with detailed inspection of the bearing tangs and their fitment is essential.

Even within the cleanest environment it is possible for dirt particles to contaminate the bearings during assembly. When small particles of dirt find their way between the bearing insert and the housing bore they initiate a local stress source and often deform the bearing with “high spots” that may contact the crank journal. Similar high spots also occur when dirt embeds itself on the bearing surface. This displaces insert material around the particle causing a buildup of material that may be greater than the available clearance. The results may scratch the journal or foster a condition where more and more material becomes displaced causing the bearing to begin flaking or coming apart.

The best cure is a cleaning regimen that includes thorough washing in hot water and detergents incorporating a strong degreasing agent.



Operational Problems

Checking bearings after a race or after a season of racing is a basic necessity. Under the best conditions with properly machined and lubricated parts, the bearings and the crank journals should experience little to no contact under all operating conditions except in circumstances such as severe overheating, pump failure, or debris in the oiling system. Frequent checks help identify problem areas and suggest the correct fix, which may not necessarily be the most convenient or the least expensive, but is probably absolutely necessary.

An out-of-round bore and/or excessive crush display similar characteristics. When the housing bore is out-of-round, bearings are excessively worn near the parting faces. According to Clevite this problem is often seen in rod bearings exposed to high RPM and high inertial loads where the rod bore becomes oblong, or because of misaligned rod and piston combinations, or rods that are slightly bent.

In the case of main bearings, thermal distortion caused by over-torquing cylinder head and intake manifold bolts when the engine is hot often promotes an out-of-round bore. When the bearing housing bore deflects it forces the parting ends of the bearing closer to the crank reducing necessary oil clearance due to the pinching effect on the crank. With intermittent oiling, metal-to-metal contact occurs and, over time, the bearing fails.

Excessive bearing crush promotes a similar effect if the bearing housing bore is carelessly machined or the bearing cap is over-torqued. According to Clevite, excessive crush condition results in a wear pattern across more than three-quarters of the bearing surface with the worst damage near the parting line. In this case the ends of the bearing inserts at the parting line exhibit excessive wear caused by excessive crushing force that distorts the bearing shell insert.

913.jpg

Close-up shows the fillet radius on the crankshaft journal and the bearing chamfer that prevents the bearing from riding against the radius.



1014.jpg

Coated rod bearings are particularly desir¬able because of their ability to withstand severe conditions such as detonation, which often pound out and destroy conventional uncoated bearings.

The opposite of this is too little crush where radial pressure from the housing is insufficient to hold the bearing stationary. This allows the bearing to shift in its seat and may even lead to a spun bearing in some cases.

Insufficient crush is generally caused by improperly machined bearing seats, insufficient bolt torque, or poor fitment due to dirt or burrs contaminating the housing bore contact surfaces. Properly machined housing bores are also important for proper heat transfer from the bearing back to the housing bore material. This helps prevent overheating the bearing, which leads to flaking and early failure.

Another common failure mode is fillet ride, a condition seen with many racing crankshafts where the fillet radius is increased to improve strength. If the bearings do not incorporate enough clearance for the fiillet in the form of a suitable chamfer, fillet ride occurs and damage ensues. Manufacturers of high-performance bearings now incorporate a generous chamfer on their racing bearings to eliminate this problem. Nonetheless, every bearing must still be checked and verified.

Indications of wiping are also a signal that oiling problems are lurking. This condition often displays a highly polished or worn bearing surface. It is typically caused by insufficient oil pressure and/or oil viscosity or excessive oil temperature. The polishing is generally even across the bearing, but uneven patterns or spots may indicate localized heating due to dirt contamination, bearing misalignment, or possibly an undetected bent rod.

Wiping may not always be severe, but it does indicate the onset of other problems that require attention. Advanced stages of wiping generally indicate oil starvation with the bearing often exhibiting discoloration and very excessive wear. Often this condition is cause by basic problems ranging from insufficient oil clearance to incorrect oil viscosity, blocked oil passages, plugged oil filter, poor sump design, or a partial pump failure.

Clevite advises obtaining oil pressure via cranking prior to ignition switch-on to help extend bearing life because it prevents engine startup until full oil pressure has reached the bearings. This is a good solution, and the use of a racing accumulator to store oil that pressurizes the engines oiling system prior to startup is also advised. The accumulator functions as a pre-oiler.

Many builders also advise preheating the oil supply with a surface heater either on the oil pan itself or on the dry sump storage tank. Heated oil flows to the bearings more quickly to provide immediate startup protection.



Written by John Baechtel and Posted with Permission of CarTechBooks
btw, if you buy an engine you did not assemble and you have the oil pan off,
before you re-install the oil pan, on any reasonably newly rebuilt engine,
get out your torque wrench and verify the rod bolt torque is consistent,
its not all that rare for someone to forget to go back over the rod bolts torqueing them to a consistent value,
or for a bolt to loosen a bit if it was not properly torqued,
this may prevent future issues you could easily prevent in doing so.
just start tightening a couple and see if they are consistently torqued.
don,t get crazy just verify
many guys prefer to use a torque beam deflection torque wrench to check that.
you may want to look up the correct torque value for the rods used if you know.
but its likely close to 55 ft lbs, as you check, they should all be consistently torqued to a similar value

beam_torque_wrench.jpg

ctrp_0901_19_z+limited_late_model+race_engine_build.jpg




never use a torque wrench as a breaker bar,
BUY A CHEAP BREAKER BAR AND USE IT

related threads
(with sub links you also need)
you should read through:D

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-rod-bolt-stretch-preload.11050/#post-99038

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bearing-clearances.2726/page-2#post-81749

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...market-4340-connecting-rods.13321/#post-72047

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/sbc-spacer-bearings.3058/#post-68193

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolts-rpm-vs-stress.341/#post-30778

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolt-mics-stretch-gauges.989/#post-4731

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...igage-and-checking-clearances.1027/#post-2393

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tion-of-crank-durring-short-blk-assembly.852/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/flex-hone.9538/#post-96145

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...block-cylinder-wall-thickness.976/#post-95567

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...on-ring-info-youll-need.509/page-2#post-80028
 
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the second in the series of informative videos worth watching

Aftermarket Connecting Rod Manufacturers
Rod Manufacturer Tech Support # Website
Argo
+61 (02) 4934 7099 (Australia) argorace.com.au
Arrow Precision +44 (0) 1455 234200 arrowprecision.com
Bill Miller +1 (775) 887-1299 bmeltd.com
Brian Crower +1 (619) 749-9018 briancrower.com
CAT +1 (626) 330-1999 catpep.com
Callies +1 (419) 435-2711 callies.com
Crower +1 (619) 661-6477 crower.com
Dyers +1 (815) 657-9970 dyersrods.com
Eagle +1 (662) 796-7373 eaglerod.com
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I picked up my pistons installed on the new SCAT rods. Journal bores were checked/sized by the shop. A quick check of basic rod/chamfer orientation and piston direction proved correct. I'll also check journal diameters and weights. I've got the crank journal measurements so I should be able to determine initial bearing clearances based on catalog info of bearing thickness. Yes I will also check with plastigage later too but for now I wanted to get in the ballpark to order my bearings.
I'm on the fence about P vs H clevite bearings, I think either will work for me.
Shop honed for iron rings and told me my initial consideration of rings would work fine. Mahle info:
  • Material: UCR: Cast Iron; LCR: Cast Iron; OCR: Stainless Steel
  • Facing: UCR: Plasma-Moly; LCR: N/A; OCR: Chrome

  • UCR = Upper Compression Ring (Top Ring)
  • LCR = Lower Compression Ring (Second Ring)
  • OCR = Oil Control Ring (Bottom Ring)
I'll also verify ring dimensions.

So for now, it's check check check before going further. I'll also continue to get my fuel system installed.

We'll be heading out in a few day for a Thanksgiving week RV trip so it will be a break from hands-on car stuff. Gives me time to read more on steps related to eventually getting the pistons back into the block.
 
its been my experience that there's more mistakes made ,
during the short block assembly, that could be very easily avoided with ,
some careful research ,by the engine assembler, careful research ,
that could go far to eliminate mistakes made in this critical area.
more mistakes are made ,
during the short block assembly,
than in any other area except the valve train components













 
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