Ok, but I did find an easy way to time the engine, raise the car up about two
feet, remove the oil pan, and the timing marks are now clearly visible.
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Paul Asgeirsson" <PAsgeirsson@worldnet.att.net>
But, but, but, but! How can you get the front main bearing cap off an "A"
series engine with the front pulley, timing chain cover, timing chain, and
sprocket still on the engine? That I'd really love to see! Please take photos
for me!
Paul A
----- Original Message -----
From: James Juhas
To: Paul Asgeirsson
Cc: john.dagostino@comcast.net ; spridgets@autox.team.net
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: bearings
I was just thinking last night about former car repair adventures with my
father, and we had at times replaced main bearings with no serious engine
disassembly. This is a lost art, I believe, because so few cars in later years
will allow pan removal without engine removal.
This is not the best fix, however, and will only forestall the eventual
rebuild, but for the adventurous, it's worth a try. And it's cheap.
You would want to know first whether the crank has ever been ground, in order
to know what bearing size to use. But if unknown, you must start with standard.
The technique uses a dowel in the oil hole of the crank surface, protruding up
just enough so as to catch the edge of the bearing. Going the appropriate
direction, it will rotate the bearing around and out. Probably want to loosen
the other two when doing this, and spark plugs out, etc.
New bearings install the reverse of disassembly.
Plastigage is then used to determine what you did for clearance. Of course, I
would begin with a plastigage check before doing anything before you condemn
the bearings.
Plastigage will tell you right away if the crank was ground undersize by some
PO.
Also, we used to put steel shims under stock and/or worn bearings to adjust for
the wear. Really cheap.
Paul Asgeirsson wrote:
Hi John,
In order to ease your pain of replacing the engine bearings, I have but 3
words. Pull the engine!
Paul A
----- Original Message -----
From: <john.dagostino@comcast.net>
To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 6:41 AM
Subject: bearings
Hi.
Spring will be here soon, so I figured I better look into the low oil
pressure problem on the Sprite. Yesterday I removed the pan to examine the
bearings. I found the oil pickup tube was loose where it screwed into the
block, probably not good. Lots of gook in the pan too, no big pieces
though...
The center main bearing wasn't too bad, just starting to wear through, the
journal looks fine too, no scoring.
So, can anyone offer any tips on replacing the bearings in-situ? Can the
thrust bearings be done also?
I guess they are standard bearings, since there are no markings other than
AEG 158 on them. It's a 1968(1275).
Thanks,
John
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