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Bearing condition/inspection
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:45 am
by matt
Hi there
I'd like to get an opinon of the condition of these bearings, the marks i'm unsure about are the small ones, any ideas what causes these or are these marks normal? I can't feel anything if i run my fingernail across these marks, but that prob' doesn't mean sh*t
Thanks Matt
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:48 am
by Seb
Hard to tell from a photo. But my tip, if You have them out, replace them! They´re not that expensive.
Good luck!
Seb
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:59 am
by Mats
Definetly replace them, you should measure the crank to make sure it is alright as well (take it to a engine shop that has the experience).
As Seb said, the bearing shells are cheap and since you have the engine apart why not.
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:05 am
by Barry
Matt,My opinion??
I reckon the journals are not parrallel,ie they have been ground with a bow if you know what I mean..See the high spots in the middle of the shell??Journal could be bigger here than on the edges......What size journals,undersize I mean?
Also dirty oil or dirt in the oil maybe..
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:16 pm
by junglejustice
For sure some "biting" here.... Don't know what liners or power/compression/piston-combo you are running, but after mic'ing the crank considder running a greater tolerance....
Also, check the line-bore on the block.
Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:13 am
by matt
Thanks for all the advice guys. So i'll replace the bearings with new ones.
I'm a bit out my depth from here......haven't done these before
i don't know what size the crank journals are Barry, i guess you need to know this when getting new bearings or can the old ones be used to get the right size? The reason i ask is (and i cringe when i say this) is i'm doing all this with the block still in the car

The crank journals are unmarked but to do this properly i should have them measured/checked at a alfa machine shop right
the motor is a 2.0 completely stock, i've only had it for 18 months so i don't really know how many klms its actually done and if its been reconditioned at some stage but it ran very smooth and i got 160psi on all cylinders +-2psi (if that means anything).
Thanks again and i'll update with the progress
Matt
Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:37 am
by Mats
Got any pics of the mains or didn't you actually remove the crank?

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:48 am
by matt
No pics atm i'll take some tomorrow.......ok i'm gunna cop some sh*t now
i removed head and sump, block still in car. I thought the bearings would have been ok but now i've got them out and need to be replaced, i really need to pull the crank too and send to the machine shop.......
Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:02 am
by Mats
Wow, here I was thinking it's a pretty difficult job to fit everything right without damaging anything when it's completely stripped and out of the car upside down on a stand.
I guess you weren't actually thinking about replacing the mains with the engine in the car? Lifting the ~25Kg crank in there and putting the caps in place, sounds lika a possible Darwin Award situation.

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:14 am
by matt
Yep i wasn't really planning to touch the crank etc
I lifted the head off myself without too much hassel, the worst part was getting at one of the sump nuts between the crossmember and steering rack

other wise its been going well until these bearings......