PTS Flowbench Forum

I've got a build coming up on a 1924 Buick inline 6, starting to organise the parts and lining up things I can't get here in Australia.

I'm going to need to renew the bearings, anyone here done it before?
For those who are thinking why I need advise, these early engines don't run slip in bearing shells, the bearing material is mixed, heated and poured into the conrod, then split and shaped.

Jim

Model T's ran a similar arrangement so I'll check up with those guys too.

Jim

RACEPUMPER wrote:Model T's ran a similar arrangement so I'll check up with those guys too.

Jim

They did that until the early 50's, a couple years ago I came across a a 51 chevy with poured bearings. I managed to find someone local that could pour and scrape the babbitt.

Thanks Ed, there's an 80 something year old guy here in my town I'm chasing today, he won't do it anymore but apparently will give me the run down and maybe a lesson in 'real' engine reconditioning

Jim

If that doesn't work, go to a local vintage car club event and ask around chances are there's probably someone else. In my case, I consulted with several older mechanics, known locally for working on old cars and one of them gave me my guy''s name and in a bit of coincidence, he was someone I already knew, he'd gone to school with my brother and lived less than 2 miles away from me.

This might help:

http://www.wikihow.com/Pour-Babbitt-Bearings

http://www.gasenginemagazine.com/gas-en ... rings.aspx

Thanks guys, I'll update the post when I get a bit further.

Jim

In the past I fabricated bearings to be adapted, a bimetallic composition, iron and babbitt.
The process is to reopen the original housing and make new bearings as is the current process. I think I have some lost here to find post pictures.

The original was poured process but there is a need for jigs side. (back side crankshaft).
But little work can be done with a gas torch, and enher gradually as is done in aluminum welding, adjust the clamping faces. and rectify with the necessary clearance. And not very difficult, but it takes time.

Hello Jim ..
Here are the photos of the bearings that make adaptation to the ford T ..


Connect Rod..


central bearings






Sorry low quality images ...

Jim,
There is a Forum called Smokstak where a bunch of crazy guys (like us) restore very old engines of all types.
You will find a wealth of knowledge on topics like this, and I can guarantee a search, or a question there would get some really expert answers.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/

There is a pretty strong contingent of Aussies on that Forum, we have a whole sub section to ourselves (Smokstak Downunder)

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=115

Here is a source of babbit bearing metal in Melbourne, I am sure their sales rep should have a pretty good idea of what might be most appropriate.

http://www.amacgroup.com.au/index.php?ID=75