What bearings is everyone using..

Well after spending a couple of hours at the machine shop talkign with them about bearings etc I am curious what you all are doing. As I am finally nearing the home stretch with my engine build for the turd. Just curious what everyone is running for bearings part numbers might be useful for some out there as well. 1/2 groove, 3/4 groove or full groove mains, coating or no coating, what material. Anything new out there etc? I am using a 440(2.750") main size and 2.200"(bbc)rod.

usually the 119M or ms1277HG. sometimes coated, depends.
same on the rods, either cb743H or 7200ch

Al,
I think you know better than me! But FWIW, this is what I put in my new engine, 2.750, 2.200:

MS1277HG (G=full groove)
CB743HK (or HXK for more clearance) K=Clevite "TriArmor" coated

I am curious to see who has chosen what and what thier results have been. I always here the debate between full or 3/4 groove mains, just curious. Mine have already been bought and coated(to make up for a tolerance issue). My machinist yesterday had a different opinion than I do, and he made some valid points. Although I believe him to be wrong when it comes to Mopars. He is actually not a fan of me converting this block to 440 mains either but understands why I want to do it. Think he is just real busy and it is more work So I thought coming here would help aid my debate with him.

Oh BTW those part numbers look real familiar

I'm running the same bearings as Jim, without the coating, I've allways been a believer in the full groove bearings, seems to make good sense to me, I like the idea of having a continuous oil supply to the rods, but I guess some people get by without that. The only negative I can see to the full grooves are that there is less surface area foe support, but the grooved have been around long enough to prove that the is plenty of surface area with the groove in.

1/2 groove, 3/4, full... same arguments as always. I am sticking to what I have been using until I have problems.

440 (2.750") mains in a 400 block... I did this with my "new" (1978) block too. I think this helps the crank, and the block still has tons more metal than a 440 block around the mains, and better bearing selection too. What we really need is a true 4-bolt bolt cap/block not the side bolted hemi thing.

I use the Clevite full groove main bearings in all of the motors I build that Clevite has the bearings available for. If Clevite doesn't make them then I will use the federal Mogul full groove truck bearings, it has a thinner groove than the Hemi bearings have .

imho i think bearings are one of those things where proper installation is more important than what they are. i mean by design they should never touch anything right. i've been using king bearings which are full groove.

I'll still stand by half groove bearings. Since I've switched, the main bearings come out of the engine looking MUCH nicer than the full groove bearings. Rod bearings look fine as well. (B-1 engines).

FM 119M 3/4's for me.

BTW i don't use Kings because they're full groove, i just like them. actually i wish they weren't full groove but that's all they offer.

Many good points were made already IMO. My one experience with the King brand is that they measure .0003" smaller than the Clevites of the same listed size. Also, the full-groove trench in the King bearing was wider than the comparable Clevite "p" bearing which, I didn't care for because IMO it compromises loading area on the bearing. If I remember correctly the King also had better concentricity (maintained its clearence further past the 12 & 6 o'clock positions). but hopefully someone else can verify this. Incidently, these are the only 2 options for a low-deck bearing AFAIK (another reason to oversize the mains) Lastly, I would size for the larger thrust bearing as well.

C&A 3/4 groove "V" series bearings on the mains and C&A rod bearings.

One reason for my switching my 400 block to a 440 main was for bearing choices. Also the overlap is better with the bigger stroke.

Anyone else here used coated bearings? My only experience with them was to make up for a little extra clearance from one of those Chinese cranks. Although I will say after a teardown for freshening they did look better than I expected.

what about a low deck ? few choices , full or half groove and only P ,M and vanderville ???



plus theres 2 cle 77, an 876 and 877 , whats the difference ???

Al, The new small block is going together now and I have been convinced to change to a 3/4 main. All the points seem valid. It will keep more oil down there. BTW: Were you ever able to get some pictures of your steering setup? Inside and Out. thx matt

In this 470, I have .010 under 440 size mains ,half groove,no coating. The rod journals are .010 under BBC size and ARE coated. Both are Clevite,and I had the rod bearings coated by my machinist.

I also agree that being extra careful during assembly is more important than the style,or manufacturer of the bearing.

I run a full groove main because it help's oil the rod bearing all the time not just certain point's in the crank's rotation, in therory the loss of bearing surface is minor compared to added oiling to the rod's, and the bearing surfaces of the crank should never touch the bearing any way in a perfect world.

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I run a full groove main because it help's oil the rod bearing all the time not just certain point's in the crank's rotation, in therory the loss of bearing surface is minor compared to added oiling to the rod's, and the bearing surfaces of the crank should never touch the bearing any way in a perfect world.

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