Good morning.
I am looking for assistance in locating where I can have the Babbitt bearings redone in my piston rods.
Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Harold

Harold, A good machine shop would have a source for rebuilding babbitt bearings. They would probably send them out for this. Kanter redoes them for around $400. Chevs of the 40's also provides the service. Normally, you give them your rods for exchange or rebuild. Both Kanter and Chevs of the 40's have catalogs and web sites to use for ordering this service..

I got new Bearings with my re-built rods for my 216...and they don't appear to be Babbitt...!

It's common to have the rods machined to accept insert bearings. It makes it easier to repair the next time around, but for many of us it won't be of much value except for resale. If your 60+ years old and drive 2000 miles per year you should not have to worry about replacing the bearings.

Kevin, a good machine shop will grind down your babbitted rods so the inserts will fit. I am having my babbitted rods changed over to rods with inserts for about $250.00, far less than what Kanter or other part suppliers are charging. Good luck, Mike

P.S. It seems that rebuild kits now come with insert rod bearings.

I have two 216s with babbit bearings. One is a 1937 all standard that I re-shimmed and I would drive it anywhere.

Rods with insert bearings are known to be better than babbitted ones and in generall they will allow a little higher rpm with cruising.

Jianis

...There are pro's and con's for both...I have a problem with time for Babbitt's...I'm running out of it...! lol

First off all cars including todays modern cars have babbitt for the bearing material. I have no problem with babbited rods. The advantage of the babbited inserts is the babbitt material is much thinner.. Usually less than .002". The thin babbitt dosen't compress and the bearings stay tight longer.
The 1937-1947 rods had .005" to .010" babbitt the 1948-53 had only .003" to .oo7" babbitt.
The old cars had thicker babbitt for better dirt particle embedability - for unfilterd oil.

I like that word embedability , Gene . Does it really mean the ability to "Hold more dirt" or are you just yanking my chain...?

There is a shop in Ft. Edward NY that specializes in babbitt work. Check out the Babbitt Pot, 1693 St. Rt. 4, Ft. Edward, NY. 12828, 518-747-4277. Most shops in Upstate NY and N. New England use this guy. Also, Hemmings lists babbitting shops under their "Services" section to find one nearer to you.

Most old timers I talk to tell me a babbitt motor is just as reliable as one with roller bearings--given proper maintenance.

Good luck

The disadvantage of a babbited bearing is if the crankshaft is turned down to an under size they use thicker babbitt to make the rod undersized. The thicker babbitt compresses and pounds out qicker. On an insert the insert (steel) is made thicker and the babbitt thickness is the same as a standard bearing.

It is also important to understand that there are many different types and grades of babbitt. Many modern babbitts are tougher and more resistant to "pounding out". Just make sure that the babbitt used is the correct one not just something that is picked off the shelf.

As was pointed out in a previous post, the thick babbitt was used to be a place for dirt particles to be "buried" before they can damage the crank bearing surface. Particularly because of hard surfaced roads the particles that can contaminate crankcase oil are dramatically decreased in today's environment so the thick, softer babbitt is no longer the best. A harder babbitt is much better.

I feel that I should explain why a softer babbitt material is used for the outer bearing surface. It will "wipe off" or smear before the bearing and shaft parts weld together providing a level of protection. A "spun" bearing results when the babbitt surface does not do that and the shaft and bearing weld together. The fact that the bearing spins in the rod or main does provide another level of protection to keep major engine parts from total destruction. As many of us are aware it sometimes is not enough!

...Yes , as a machinist we refer to "spun" as "picked up" or "gauled"...Babbitt is still considered the "the world's most popular bearing material"...And I believe to be done properly though , it involves the time consuming method/combination of "hand scraping" and "bluing" to get the most desirable fit...!

Last week I spoke with the folks at Pauls Rod Service, near K.C. MO. I was told $55.00 each for 216 rods, sized to your specs and $75.00 each for 207 and earlier. They do the 216 rods in large batches to make it more cost effective. His work is very nice. He also does your main bearing shells in semi-finish for $85.00 each.
I did not inquire about having rods modified for insert bearings.

Mike

My machinist is one of the largest in the nation for babbit bearings:

Todd Cory
Cory Engine and Parts
Delavan, MN
507-995-4764