I am in the process of gathering parts for my next build. I know this isn't in the right place but I feel more eyes will see this here. I am looking for a set of "H" series main bearings that are .020 over. Clevite, Vandervell or King would be great, but at this point I'm open to any. I really don't want to spend the money to weld the crank back to standard, but if I have to, that's what I'll do. So if anybody's got any laying around I'd sure appreciate it.
Caps No such product exists in the three names you mentioned. Closest thing your going to get for a hard surface Buick main bearing in .020 is the 4664M series Speed Pro. I should mention I have made over 1000 HP with the standard P series Clevite 77 bearings. I am not a fan of hard main/rod bearings, and I have yet to see a Buick main or rod bearing "melted out" from load. JW
Thanks for the reply Jim. I kind of expected that would be the answer I would get. The only thing that troubles me with the "P" bearing is it's propensity to redistribute the soft material under extreme load. I got an 88 lb. arm in this thing. Even though I keep telling myself its just a bracket car, I know what I will end up doing!!!ou:
Chris, The MS908P is a tri-metal bearing like the H bearing. It does how ever have a coating to make it look nicer which the H bearing does not. The make up of these two bearings are very very close as I discovered years ago dealing with Clevite trying to get them to make us a H bearing for the 455. The eccentricity on a P bearing is considered to be high which the H bearing is considered medium. H bearing have additional clearance for oversize fillets which your fillets should be fine with the P bearing. The P bearing is not a soft bearing like your explaining it to be. If you were installing an aluminum bearing that would be different but the P bearing is a not that. You say your crankshaft is 88 lbs. When I was running the iron block in the wagon, the crankshaft in it was 92 lbs and that engine still has P bearings in it today. You will be fine.
Thanks for the reply Mike. I'm probably overthinking the whole thing. This will be my most expensive bullet so far and I just want to make sure things are done correctly. I understand that most race bearings are hard backed, except for blown alky and nitro, but the soft layers is what I have been reading will redistribute under pressure. Again I'm probably overthinking it. I've never had a bearing fail in 20 years that wasn't the result of an oiling problem.
