5 main bearing model a engine

rafter

rafter

Member
I'm trying to track down the guy who is developing the 5 main bearing madel a engine. I would like to talk to him. Can anybody help me find him? Thanks, rafter
 
Here are pictures of the recent test casting. Bugs are still being worked out.
CrankandRods-1.jpg
IMG_0203.jpg
 
One thing that surprises me on this motor is that after all that work to make it a 5 bearing engine, the thrust bearing is still in the rear of the motor, where the rear surface of the thrust (which gets the most wear) is behind where it can get plenty of oil. Ford (and many others) later put the thrust bearing in the center of the engine so it could get plenty of oil, and any that leaked by the bearing surface would still be in the pan, not in the flywheel housing if the drain line failed.
 
Ford went to the center thrust with the Y-block OHV series. They were famous for leaking rear main seals. They had no slinger to deflect the oil from the rear seal. I would prefer the rear thrust as original, it could be enlarged and have the oil supply improved somehow. I wouldn't mind the three mains either, if the journal diameter was made a lot bigger. Also a rugged center main cap and block web.
I have an A that you can to use a yard stick to measure crank endplay, runs good though.
 
I have a good-running engine apart to "fix" the crankshaft endplay. I am using the brass thrust that can be purchased from most of the parts houses. It snicked right into the oil seal grooves and looks like it will work like a charm. I've got the journals gapped and torqued, but I have put the rest of the project on hold. It's been balmy in Illinois the last few weeks. I'm waiting for temperatures in the teens to make it more sporting in my garage'mahal. You know the old saying ... no pain no gain!
 
I read the link to the design of this engine. Does anyone know if there has been enough interest to get tooling set up for a production run? If this engine cost $3k that still isn't bad for what your getting. It cost $2k for a modern small block V8, Machine shop cost for my flathead V8 cost 2k and I still had to buy parts and assemble my engine.
 
Yeah, I have one of those brass guys also. I hope to have the same good luck as you but the engine is still in the car and I'm not making any progress on it yet. Although the engine runs good, I have a nagging fear of what the babbit might look like if I open it up. No shortage of cold weather here in Maine.
 
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