I'm lifting the motor in the frame to change the oil pan gasket this week. Had a co-worker suggest that it wouldn't be a bad idea to roll in some new main and rod bearing shells while I have it torn down that far. Looks like its about $80 in parts. The car has 142k on it.

Anybody done that before? I've heard of it being done on several other motors with no failure stories. Just looking for an opinion of the peanut gallery before I get too far in to turn back. There are no problems with the current bearings that I'm aware of - this is just a case of the might as wells.

 

Way easier just to pull the motor.

 

Unless you are going to take the time and do it right (like checking all the clearances), I would not bother.

 

Haha, just "roll in" some bearings. That would be fun trying to get your torque wrench in there or a plastiguage, but I doubt that's what he had in mind.

"Just snug them up, you want them a little loose anyways..."

 

Like shoebox said, do it the right way or don't bother.

 

Tried this a long time ago on a Buick Regal with a 307. Had one rod knocking. Long story short... it didn't work. Lots of time wasted. Listen to these guys. Don't bother unless you pull the whole engine and do it right.

B

 

Agree with the others. Leave ghetto repairs in the 'hood.

Rich

 

any wear you have on the crank will eat up the new brgs. quick......just retorque everything

 

So if you have the engine out of the car and are reusing the stock crank and such you wouldn't reccomend new main and cam bearings??

 

Not unless you had the crank polished up and spec'd everything out. The factory didn't use "standard" bearings on everything. The GM manual states that some bearings are over and undersized due to manuf. tolerances.

 

Either leave it alone or do it right: remove the crank, inspect it, polish/regirnd if needed. Install new bearings and check clearances. Ditto for the rods. Inspect everything carefully and correct any problems found or else leave it alone.

One other option is to pull the main caps (one at a time) and inspect the lower bearing halves. If any problems are seen, remove the motor and tear it down. You can do the same with the rod caps, but they are harder to get to. But don't try to replace the bearing from underneath with the motor still in the car. It takes as much time as pulling it and it's hard to do it right, keep everything clean, etc.

Rich

 

If I am going to do a cam swap would cam bearings be a good idea since a new part is going in???

 

If you can do the cam bearing w/o pulling the motor, my hats off to you

Rich

 

If he can do that, he could get a job as a mechanic anywhere, and sell to others the secret for doing it.

 

x2 LOL