Timing question first start sr20

[slakker]

Thank you Nistech. I am going to give that a try on wednesday. Being the bearing caps are what we are referring to, Is this the rod bearings or the crank bearings (the ones that hold the crank to the block). Is the only thing that I am checking for is a tear in the metal. Because Ive never seen them before I am assuming that the bearings are enclosed or atleast partially enclosed. If there is no tear on any of them then what else should I check for. Should I clean them? With What? Can they be cleaned? Hoping that they are all clean and untorn, What will my next step be? Thanks again

[NISTECH]

they are not enclosed I have a set in my garage out of my camaro. I will snap a shot of them one good and one bad to show you the difference. I will post it a little later tonight

[slakker]

Thanks

[NISTECH]

here are the group of internal components



here is the main bearing cap with a bearing in it.



here is the main bearings removed from the caps. notice how the one bearing has sides to it. That is the thrust bearing.

[slakker]

Awesome. So they arent really bearings, but like metal slats. Or do the actual bearings sit in the groove. Are any of those bad (torn) Thanks again for your time and photoshop

[NISTECH]

here are the rod bearings note the one on the left has scrapes or tears in it and the other one looks smooth. Well as smooth as they get after being in the engine for over 22 years.



here is another veiw of the bearings



and a final of the same 2 bearings

[slakker]

AAAH I gotcha. Curiously, since thay are just peices of metal. Are they expensive. Are there actually any "bearings" like ball bearings in the engine.

[NISTECH]

no there are no ball bearings in the internal engine components. Ball bearings would not stand up to the higher rpms.

The bearings are not just slats of metal. they are made of a special material and are precision machined for your car and specific set up. If you ever have any machine work done to your engine[ line bore, crank journal surfaces] you have to measure the areas the bearings go in to get the right thickness bearings. That is easily done useing an old beairng and plasti-gauge[ a tool compressed between the bearings and their mounting surfaces] After you tighten the end caps to torque specs you remove the cap again and measure the thickness of your plasti-gauge and add that to your current bearing thickness this gives you the thickness of the new bearing needed.