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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 53
Shade Tree Mechanic
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OP
Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 53 |
Hello does anyone have a set of connecting rods with the newer insert bearings they would be willing to sell? I am having my 1929 engine rebuilt and the re-builder went looking for a replacement set of rods with the inserts. Only to find that there is non on the market at this time. CA Wood a company in Nampa Idaho that will re-pour the babbit ones I have. There are a lot of companies that do babbiting. How good they are I do not know?
reply here or email me at ewv715@comcast.net
Please and thank you for any and all reply everett w.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9
Grease Monkey
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Grease Monkey
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9 |
We can convert your existing rods to inserts, $100 a rod, so $600 total.
For more information, please call us at (206) 243-8284.
Melissa
Earl's Machine Shop
Seattle, WA.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,255 Likes: 10
ChatMaster - 1,000
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ChatMaster - 1,000
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,255 Likes: 10 |
Hey Everett I am having the same thing done by a machine shop up here in Vancouver. Find a worn out set of 32 rods and I will talk with you on the Albany tour. He is ready to go but the thing I have been waiting on is the other guy who was adding counter weights to the crank. It has been a long time.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 118
Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 118 |
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,008 Likes: 1
ChatMaster - 3,000
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ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,008 Likes: 1 |
Why convert to inserts. I have been driving our 31 for 50 years with the original type rod bearings. This winter I checked all the rod bearings and did not need to remove any shims. For the first 30 or so years I did not have a trailer so I drove it all over the Eastern half of the US. The first time out after restoration I drove it 1500 miles on a trip and several as well.
One trip I drove from Ohio to Gatlinburg, TN. Drove all week on the Glidden Tour in the Smoky Mountains and drove back home.I have driven it to Gatlinburg two more times.
These are good engines just the way Chevrolet built them.
See you Touring the Back Roads
Joined VCCA June 1, 1961
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,294
ChatMaster - 1,000
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ChatMaster - 1,000
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,294 |
Why convert to inserts. I have been driving our 31 for 50 years with the original type rod bearings. This winter I checked all the rod bearings and did not need to remove any shims. For the first 30 or so years I did not have a trailer so I drove it all over the Eastern half of the US. The first time out after restoration I drove it 1500 miles on a trip and several as well.
One trip I drove from Ohio to Gatlinburg, TN. Drove all week on the Glidden Tour in the Smoky Mountains and drove back home.I have driven it to Gatlinburg two more times.
These are good engines just the way Chevrolet built them. I agree!!
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,774 Likes: 4
ChatMaster - 1,500
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ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,774 Likes: 4 |
I have had good luck with both stock babitt and inserts. I think back in the 50s and 60s when converting was popular, part of the idea was that inserts were easily replaceable when worn. I have one car with them and I wonder now if I could find new inserts to fit the rods if I needed them. I don't know if all rods were machined the same to accept them or if each company may have done it different.
Ed
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,008 Likes: 1
ChatMaster - 3,000
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ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,008 Likes: 1 |
Ed, I think the chances of finding inserts to fit your rods would be slim to none unless you know what engine the inserts were for.
See you Touring the Back Roads
Joined VCCA June 1, 1961
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 53
Shade Tree Mechanic
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OP
Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 53 |
Thank you everyone for the reply's they are most interesting that the early years engine runs so long on a mixture of lead, tin and copper antimony. My engine rebuilder said that my engine was running a rock crusher at one time or lived in a very dusty environment and has equal to a million miles on it. It was so worn out that at some time the crank shaft had a insert bushing put in it. The piston sleeves were standard at the bottom and 40,000 over at the top. I am thinking after it is all reworking I that is being done I will have maybe 3 more horse power.
I was thinking that insert rods would be a quick fix. But It will never get the run time it had when it was newer. and I be lucky to see half of its new life time to come when its up and running. So babbit bearing is what it will get.
P.S. Melissa, Earl's Machine Shop Seattle, WA. Please answer your AOL shop email I sent you.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,255 Likes: 10
ChatMaster - 1,000
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ChatMaster - 1,000
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,255 Likes: 10 |
Inserts are readily available in 10, 20, & 30 thousands undersize for those who would like to go down that path. The reason is stated in the quote from the machine shop $100 per conn rod. That is what EGGE quoted me also when I asked two years ago. Good luck with your project I am sure it will turn out nice.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64
ChatMaster - 15,000
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ChatMaster - 15,000
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64 |
There are two schools of thought on rods for insert bearings in early six cylinder Chevys. One is use '32 rods as they have the crankshaft thrust surface part of the forging. The earlier '29-'31 rods used babbitt thrust surface. In those the babbitt was spun into the forging and both the ID and width of the rod machined. In the '32 rods the width was machined on the forging. The other is that you can use either '29-'31 rods or '32 rods for the inserts as the thrust is sufficiently controlled by the wrist pin. I am not a qualified machinist and still use babbitted rods in all my engines so don't have experience either way.
How Sweet the roar of a Chevy four!
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