CHEVGENE WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE INSERTS WOULD STAY MORE CONSTANT OR WEAR BETTER THEN POURED BEARINGS AND ALSO WHY WOULD YOU WANT A GREATER CLEARANCE ON THE INSERTS THEN THE POURED BEARINGS?

THANKS JOHNNY F. YOUR INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE IS SO OUTSTANDING THAT NOT ONLY ME BUT I HOPE OTHERS PICKUP ON WHAT YOU KNOW AND SAY. THANKS AGAIN.

Donald, If we keep asking questions do you reckon we can squeeze a couple more pages out of this rod thang?........

What was the name of a good book to read about oil film and rod bearing clearances?

I do have a library card now, I got it at the Senior Citizens Center!

YEP MR MACK, I CANT STOP NOW, I HAVE TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING I CAN BECAUSE THE JUNKYARD DOG WANTS ALL HIS PUPPIES TO BE MECHANICS SOME DAY. THIS MAY LEAVE ME OUT BUT I WILL KEEP LEARNING AND TRYING. THERE IS ALOT OF GOOD INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THESE QUESTIONS AND IM NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THEM, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST? THE LAST THING IS, I DO NOT WANT RAYMONDO TO THINK IM SLEEPING WHILE CLASS IS IN SESSION.

In all respect to liljohnny what he says is correct but years ago no mechanics went thru all of these steps.Most were lucky to have the wrenches.Due to the thinner babbit on your inserts they should live OK with the clearence you have.You are in kind of an expermental mode and if or when they do make noise all you can do is add a shim under the insert.

I've also followed this thread along from the beginning, and it's been a great learning experience to understand not only what clearances to achieve, but why they are supposed to be that way.

I've had knocking problems on the number six cylinder on my '32 over the summer, and the first pass at removing shims made minor improvements. I've always been deathly afraid of making my bearings too tight, but I've built up courage from the discussion (plus some past direction by the Junkyard Dog) to finally take the day off today, pull the oil pan off, and reset the offending rod to a half a thousandth. It was some tense moments getting the engine started, but eventually she coughed into life and steadily putt-putted. I can't sense the knock any longer.

Getting the background story behind these tolerances in this thread was a nice boost to me.

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION CHEVGENE. FROM WHAT YOU GUYS SAY PUTTING SHIMS BEHIND THE INSERTS IS A NO NO, BUT I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE UNLESS I REALLY TEAR INTO THE ENGINE. IM NO MECHANIC AS YOU KNOW, BUT I DO NOT SEE WHY I SHOULD HAVE A PROBLEM DOING IT SINCE IM NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO REDUE THINGS. WHAT HARM WILL I DO BY SHIMMING BEHIND THE INSERTS. THANKS

Don,In my opinion it will do no harm as all you may need is .001' or so.This is not a modern highspeed engine that you are going to put another 100,000 miles on. Thats the nice thing about being my age.....I know that I won't be driving my old cars for another 20 years

THANKS CHEVGENE. IF I PUT 500 MILES A YEAR ON THE CAR AND DRIVE IT TILL IM 100 YEARS OLD, THEN I WILL HAVE ONLY 18000 MILES ON THE CAR??HOPEFULLY IT WILL HOLD UP THAT LONG AND ALSO I DO NOT PLAN ON DRAG RACEING IT TO OFTEN. THANKS

Yeah, but Donald when you go to that big Bowtie parking garage in the sky, you don't want to leave a knocking banging engined car to your heirs,..... Now,......... Do you?

HEY MACKIE WACKIE, YOU MEAN I CANT TAKE IT WITH ME??? THE DOG PLANS ON TAKING ELVIRA WITH HIM??? OFF WE GO IN THE WILD BLUE YONDER.

Yes,Yes, It finally happened. Today Jim Farris came over to my house and we fired up the 32, After having the pan off for a couple of months and shimming the rod inserts to a clearance of .001. this Is a closer tollerance then what was before. I have to say that the engine purred like a cat eating tuna. The engine sounded, oh so good and there was no knocking noise at all. We run the engine for quite a while, Two or three times and hopefully I will have no more problems. Also I got the cork end gaskets on better this time when I bolted the oil pan back on the engine. No oil dripping at all. For being a real crude, greenhorn backyard mechanic, This day was a happy one for me. I have my fingers crossed, hoping I have fixed my engine problem. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE.

Don,Congratulations on your sucess....I have been wondering as to what the outcome was but was afraid to ask.

Ain't Chevy life good Donald, three months ago you couldn't even spell shade-tree and now you is one!

Should Don check the bolts after driving a while and re-tighten them????????

Don,..I'm sure Gator means the pan bolts and not the rod bolts

Good going Donald! Isn't it amazing how the knocking noise goes away when the rods have the right tolerance? By the way, taking that Budwesier beer can out of the oil pan probably helped a great deal too!

Who is Jim Farris? Is he one of those Model T dudes?? ha ha!

You are right, the pan bolts.

Thanks to all of you guys who responded about my engine. also thanks Johnny F for the good information, Now if I can find some oil to put into the engine?????