Re-Using main or cam bearings? good idea/bad idea


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By bloodyknucklehill - 16 Years Ago
Do you guys think it's a good idea to re-use main bearings? I have this C2AE block that was stuck when i got it and had a quarter sized hole blown out of the top of one of the heads so i figured the bearings were toast. Well yesterday for some reason i decided to take a look at them and they looked brand new, Same with the cam bearings, almost no wear on them at all, seems to me this engine was rebuilt then the head blowout occured within miles of the rebuild.. Here's a picture of them..

I have another set that i know for sure have only approximately 1200 miles on them and they show more wear than this.. So what's your Y's guys' take on this?

By crenwelge - 16 Years Ago
A lot of it depends what your expectations. Are you a perfectionist or are you going to worry about reusing old parts. I come from a generation when labor was cheap and parts were expensive. If they mike good with a tube mike and don't have any scratches, there is nothing wrong with reusing them. None of my old vehicles are going to be driven as hard as I drove them 50 years ago. I would just as soon reuse old bearings that were made in USA instead of buying stuff that may be made off shore. About the worse thing that happen with cam bushing is loss of oil pressure. I use a good .001 caliper to measure the cam and compare it to to the bushing. I run a caliper around the cam and around the bushing and mainly eyeball and feel things. This is not the way machinists do it, but it works for me for every day drivers.
By 56 big window - 16 Years Ago
I worked for a caterpillar dealer for several years and we would routinely dissassemble engines for inspection and reseal and always would reuse bearings if there was minimal or no wear. never had a failure due to reusing a good part !
By 46yblock - 16 Years Ago
In the absence of measureing tools, clean everything very well, reinsert bearings as taken out and use plastigauge to check clearance between bearings and crank.  Use the .001 to .003 range.  I believe the max. clearance is .0028.
By bloodyknucklehill - 16 Years Ago
thanks guys.. i didn't really think there would be anything wrong with it but i wanted to check with more experienced builders first.. and the bearings are 10 under Clevites.. as far as tolerances go i don't have any precise measuring tools so what i did today was put the bearings around the on their corresponding main journals on the crank they came off of and they fit perfectly and had no noticable play so i think i'm gonna keep em'..

(mike the bearings that came with the block you gave me are the 1200 mile one's i was talking about, i'd never thought to pay more attention to the wear on the bearings till you came by so thank you)

By Y block Billy - 16 Years Ago
Plastigage you can normally get at any parts store, just ask at the counter. I don't think I have ever been charged for it, when I am there shopping I ask for some and they normally just throw a few strips in for me.