(EDIT) Power Enterprise Bearings are Discontinued

[float_6969]

So, I measured all of the main and rod journals and housings and figured out what grade bearings I need. (I couldn't use the marks on the crank and block because somebody ground the rod journals in one of my rebuilds, I think it's been the problem with my low oil pressure, so probably the first rebuild). So I found all of the part numbers, went to Nissan, and ordered them. I got a call a week later, and they said they were in. Great! I thought, so I went and picked them up. And then the trouble started. All of the main bearings come in sets, top and bottom. The rod bearings come EACH, so you need 8 rod bearings for 4 rods. Ok, annoying, but whatever. So I ordered 4 more (I ordered 4 in the first order) and waited for them to come in. Another week passes, they call, I pick them up. Then I wait for the machine shop to finish re-boring the cylinders so I can pick up the motor. While I'm waiting, I happen to be doing something in the garage and I pick up the bag with the rod bearings in it, and notice they look a little funny. The bag is opaque, so I open it up and I realize the bearings are beat to s***! They weren't shrink wrapped in the bag, they just threw 4 loose bearings in a bag and shipped them, so they banged together in shipping and they're ruined. I open up the other bag, and they're the same way. Blech. So I take them back to Nissan, and tell them what's up. They say they'll take them back and order me 8 more. But I ask if I'm going to get 8 loose bearings in a bag again and THEY'LL be ruined. The guy says yes, that's probably what will happen (The main bearings are in boxes and then shrink wrapped inside the box, so this isn't possible with them). So I ask if there is a way to order 8, but to get them wrapped individually, so they won't be damaged. He says the only way he can do that is if he orders 1 per week for 8 weeks. W T F. I tell him to order one, and we'll see what kind of shape it's in, and then go from there.

So understandably, I'm super annoyed. 8 weeks for friggin rod bearings because Nissan can't package them correctly.

So after a couple of days I'm poking around on the internet trying to find somebody else who makes graded bearings for the CA. I finally come across Power Enterprise. They make an AWESOME bearing, and they're graded, just like stock (actually, they have more sizes than stock). The downside is they're STUPID expensive. I mill it over for a few days and decide to bite the bullet. I just ordered a full set of main and rod Power Enterprise F1 bearings. WAY too much money, but supposedly they're supposed to still be available and I should be getting them in 7-10 business days.

So, once they come in, I assume the block work will be done and I can FINALLY start assembly!

[float_6969]

Well nevermind. Power Enterprise CA18 engine bearings are Discontinued. Back to the drawing board...

[Izento]

Wow, I am surprised the shipping department doesn't understand the fragility of some of the parts they are handling. You think Nissan would have addressed this issue.

[float_6969]

You should have seen the blank look on the parts guy's face when I showed him the bearings. He had NO idea what they're supposed to look like. I assume the guys in the warehouse don't know either. I'm sure they're setting loose in a box on a shelf and a dude walked up and grabbed 4, put them in a bag, stapled it shut, and off it went.

[Izento]

You should have seen the blank look on the parts guy's face when I showed him the bearings. He had NO idea what they're supposed to look like. I assume the guys in the warehouse don't know either. I'm sure they're setting loose in a box on a shelf and a dude walked up and grabbed 4, put them in a bag, stapled it shut, and off it went.

Lol! I bet he listened to you and was just like "damn, I have no idea what this guy is saying but he seems to know his s***. He probably knows more about these parts than anyone in Nissan".

[float_6969]

LOL, he basically said that after I showed him the bearings.

[TheMAN]

you can't order clevite 77s? they're basically the same I think

[mdb4879]

What he's trying to get are bearings that have multiple clearance options within a specific size/undersize. Kind of like the color coded Honda bearings the Honda guys use (Nissan uses a similar system).

Has your crank already been cut, Float? If it were me I'd order the undersize needed first (probably from King bearings since Clevite doesn't sell the undersizes). Then install the bearings and measure the bore, do the math, and have the crank cut to EXACTLY what you need.

[float_6969]

Yea, I'm after "graded" bearings. Nissan has 3 different rod bearings in standard thicknesses and 5 standard thicknesses on the main bearings. Only Nissan and Power Enterprise are the ones that do this, well, DID. Now it's just Nissan, and they're getting hard to get apparently.