all you guys that rebuilt....bearing help?

[ca18det240hatch]

ok....im really getting sick of this read the number off the crank, read the number off the journals crap....does it really mean that much. All it means to me is that i HAVE to get my bearings from nissan. Well here the hitch, i need a motor SOON, and nissan tells me 4-6 weeks, too long....

i dont mind getting aftermarket bearings...but i need to know, when you guys got "standard" bearings...was there any machining to get done, or were youre clearances correct out of the box and you had no problems using them?

[themadscientist]

Ignore the numbers. Those numbers are really only intended for the first time the motor is built for the assemblyline workers to grab the right shells IMO. Japanese half-assed guys use them on rebuilds but I highly doubt that the crank is still in the same condition as 1988. Invest in a quality outside micrometer and measure each journal, use that and the reccomended clearance to select your bearings.

[ca18det240hatch]

i dont really have money to get expensive tools, as ill never use them again...well maybe. What ive been using is plastiguage.

[themadscientist]

The problem with plastiguage is you have to have the bearing in place to test the clearance. With mics you can establish the journal size and just buy the bearing you need. Have your machinist mic the journals for you.