Ron, I saw one of your posts here regarding full floating bearings & I can't find it now. I believe you stated that the old FORD full floating bearing were prone to flaking; having read that I had trouble sleeping last night! I've got a Merc crank with early rods & full floating bearings; when I took them out of the original FORD boxes (boxes were falling apart) & noticed that they didn't look like what I thought new bearings would look like. They were discolored almost "rusty" looking but at the time didn't think it was serious & went ahead & installed them. I haven't fired the engine up yet, am wondering if I should go back to the later rods & bearings. Is there anyway of doing a visual inspection of the bearing that would confirm if I'm going to have a problem? The reason for the full floating bearings was that the guy I bought the crank from had a package deal on the crank, rods, main & rod bearings. Thanks, Bob
Question for OL'Ron
- Thread starter BobM
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Ol' Ron
Well-known member
If the bearings have been installed correctly, you probably won't. Stock car racing places a load on the bearings that a street engine doesn't. BUT, to be on the dafe side, I'd run a 30 wt. oil for break in, after a few hundred miles I'd drain the oil through a cheese cloth and check for flakes. I normal use a scuff pad on the bearings before I install them and wash them in soapy water.
Ron, what's the reason for using a scuff pad on the inserts? Thanks!
Ol' Ron
Well-known member
Many years ago I was at an engine assy area of a noted engine builder. He took a bearing out of a box and proceeded to remove the beautiful shine that was on the bearing. I asked him why he did this, the bearing Manufacture calls this a "Micro finish". He said this is a flash plating and that's why it shines, but doesn't hold oil the minute scraches in the bearing surface hold oil untill start up. After a few minutes the shine is gone too. I've been doing this for 50 years. NOw that doesn't make it right, it just means I'm old.