Picked up a set of main bearings NOS..well sort of. They kind of look good?. I think the previous owner placed them in the block to test fit a crank. Some show SLIGHT scuffing.( that bay have happened from moving around in the box). I don't know weather to worry about this. I'm sure if I had test fit bearing they might show points were the crank rested on the bearings. What do you think ? got the set tri metal for $25.00 to the door.

How are we supposed to know without a picture?

If it's just scuffed in the coating, we've lightly polished of with a worn piece of scotchbrite. Comes off real quick. Don't push hard. Then clean thoroughly in a parts washer & wipe dry. Just how we've done it.

I would think mocking them up with a crank would show a wider contact area than bumping around in storage would. Plus bumping may raise a burr (if so polish it flat carefully being extremely conservative) whereas the crank would just make some shiny areas from where it polished the coating off & no sweat there. Check the backsides also since as you know the shells must fit flush

Unless they were just tossed loose into a big box then give a shake for a couple hours, I can't see how they'd be damaged beyond use.

Basically here's what a bearing does:
- it is a dissimilar metal - so the crank won't fuse to it
- it provides the correct clearance to maintain oil pressure
- its replaceable in the event of failure
- it is hard enough not to distort under the force exerted on it
- it is soft enough to absorb debris that would otherwise damage the crank

You could take a centerpunch and dimple the whole bearing surface. As long as you knock down the high spots afterwards, the bearing would still be useable.

So unless these are going in a $50,000. S/S Hemi, they can most likely be cleaned up and used.

!!!!!
For once, I agree with Stanton!

Mark this on your calendars, folks.

Well, except for using the dimpled but smoothed off bearings, not enough surface area close to journal.

R.