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Main bearing replacement in car? #3112044
01/15/23 07:09 AM
01/15/23 07:09 AM
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Detroit, MI
CokeBottleKid Offline OP
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Just curious, has anyone successfully spun in new main bearings in a block before?

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: CokeBottleKid] #3112047
01/15/23 07:21 AM
01/15/23 07:21 AM
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Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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I have done it on the stand, same principle applies because I took nothing else apart. Roll them out and roll them in. In the car it will be the same but just add oil dripping on you haha.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: Bad340fish] #3112058
01/15/23 09:35 AM
01/15/23 09:35 AM
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MI, usa
dvw Offline
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I've done it. Its' easiest to loosen all 5 main caps. The thrust is the toughest. I used a nylon trim stick and tapped on it with a hammer to get it started. The rest is easy.
Doug

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: dvw] #3112065
01/15/23 09:57 AM
01/15/23 09:57 AM
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North Dakota
6PakBee Offline
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The make a tool for that but it's kind of spendy. I've seen people do the same thing with a big cotter key but I have personally used neither.

Bearing Removal Tool


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Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: dvw] #3112070
01/15/23 10:19 AM
01/15/23 10:19 AM
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USA
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hudsonhornet7x Offline
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Originally Posted by dvw
I've done it. Its' easiest to loosen all 5 main caps. The thrust is the toughest. I used a nylon trim stick and tapped on it with a hammer to get it started. The rest is easy.
Doug


I did two of them the same way, one a big block Chrysler, and one straight six Jeep. DVW has the right idea here.

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: hudsonhornet7x] #3112078
01/15/23 10:47 AM
01/15/23 10:47 AM
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Abilene, Texas
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fastmark Offline
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As an experienced engine builder that believes every bearing clearance is critical to the oil pressure and life of the engine. And the only way you can accurately check the clearance is to the measure the crank and bearing journals separately to find the proper clearance. I have to ask this question? Why would you ever need to change the main bearings without removing the crank? Just curious.

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: fastmark] #3112111
01/15/23 12:19 PM
01/15/23 12:19 PM
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda Offline
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A very long time ago I saw something like this use successfully.

Not sure why the engine and crank were not removed.

https://tescotools.com/products/t68660-upper-main-bearing-shell-remover

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: 340Cuda] #3112116
01/15/23 12:32 PM
01/15/23 12:32 PM
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central il.
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second 70 Offline
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I remember back in auto shop in the 70's they had a bit that would go in the oil journal of the crank and had a flat tee on the top of it and you would turn the crank and the T would catch the bearing and just roll it out. Install rotate opposite direction. Looks like the tool listed above.

I've installed them just like Doug said too.

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: CokeBottleKid] #3112120
01/15/23 12:46 PM
01/15/23 12:46 PM
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W. Kentucky
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Many years ago a friend and I changed the main bearings on a Ford engine in a one ton truck, wasn't any trouble at all.

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: CokeBottleKid] #3112173
01/15/23 04:18 PM
01/15/23 04:18 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Replacing number five main bearing is the bear due to the main seal. shruggy
I use a small flat narrow bladed screwdriver to start the push the main bearing out of the retainer from the other side of the retaining tang,
As already mentioned, that is with all main caps being loose and drop down a little bit from the block, remove the bolts for each one at a time and then put them back in when your done installing the new main bearings to help keep the crank a little loose so it doesn't press hard up against any of the upper main bearings until you're ready to torque all of them, make sure to check and have enough thrust clearances also scope wrench. twocents

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 01/15/23 04:19 PM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: Cab_Burge] #3112822
01/17/23 10:13 AM
01/17/23 10:13 AM
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Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
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Yep. I used a small screwdriver to tap it and just took my time. Changed out a severely worn thrust bearing in a 440. Long story, but it was a bandaid fix that worked for a while.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3112881
01/17/23 02:32 PM
01/17/23 02:32 PM
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Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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I've done it. Wouldn't do it on something good.

Small screw driver or flat scraper shaped tool. Tap on the edge of the bearing opposite the lock to get it moving around. It will only go so far with the tool.

I've used the small screwdriver type tool with the edge sharpened, and narrow enough to fit the lock tang slot, to use the slot and walk the thing around until it will come free.

Also used cotter pins with the head flattened, stuck in an oil hole and rotate the crank around to push it out.

Have to be careful not to ding the crank.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3113012
01/17/23 09:23 PM
01/17/23 09:23 PM
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aZLiViN
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J_BODY Offline
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MoparBilly is smiling down on this post smile I’m sure if it needed to be done…. he did it. I’ve only done that with rods when we got silly with a nitrous tune (we couldn’t tune laugh2 ). At least I see I was in good company

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: J_BODY] #3114175
01/18/23 01:19 PM
01/18/23 01:19 PM
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Shelby Twp. Mi
HardcoreB Offline
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As you see a lot of ways to skin a cat..do it!

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: HardcoreB] #3114745
01/20/23 08:42 AM
01/20/23 08:42 AM
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Northern VA
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bulletpruf Offline
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Curious as to why you're thinking about going this route. Doesn't take long to yank an engine.


Please Check Out My YouTube Channel for Vintage Musclecar and Truck Rescues and Builds -- https://www.youtube.com/@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE/videos
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: bulletpruf] #3114770
01/20/23 10:04 AM
01/20/23 10:04 AM
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Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Originally Posted by bulletpruf
Curious as to why you're thinking about going this route. Doesn't take long to yank an engine.


My lower back and neck were telling me the same thing!


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: bulletpruf] #3114791
01/20/23 10:38 AM
01/20/23 10:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
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North Dakota
6PakBee Offline
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Originally Posted by bulletpruf
Curious as to why you're thinking about going this route. Doesn't take long to yank an engine.

Pull Motor.jpg

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Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: 6PakBee] #3115004
01/20/23 10:15 PM
01/20/23 10:15 PM
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NJ
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cb1289 Offline
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Done it many times on rb mopar engines . Flatten the top of a cotter pin and use it to rotate the bearing out and the new one in. Works very well,


62 Dodge Dart Wagon 65 Plymouth Satellite
Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: 6PakBee] #3115108
01/21/23 12:31 PM
01/21/23 12:31 PM
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Florida
BDW Online content
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Originally Posted by 6PakBee
Originally Posted by bulletpruf
Curious as to why you're thinking about going this route. Doesn't take long to yank an engine.




Great meme, after pulling my Gen3 swap 3 times, I understand it’s not as easy as thought

Re: Main bearing replacement in car? [Re: CokeBottleKid] #3115132
01/21/23 01:59 PM
01/21/23 01:59 PM
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Oregon
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Originally Posted by CokeBottleKid
Just curious, has anyone successfully spun in new main bearings in a block before?


Sure, people do it all the time. Not really a long term solution but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Falls into the category of quick and dirty.

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