The Ford Barn - New Bearing Method Announcement

The Ford Barn (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/index.php)

- Model A (1928-31) (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3)

- - New Bearing Method Announcement (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67038)

New Bearing Method Announcement

Well the Patent had been issued and we will be licensing our new low cost Aluminum bearing process.

The cost and poring method of true babbitt is just not sustainable so we have been working in secret in a new low cost and super reliable bearing pour method. Using commonly available metals, all recycled, and some modern fabrics we can put bearings in that will last at least 102,000 miles with no wear.

The process for making the metal is simple. I will outline the process, but not tell you the secret ingredients. You have to start with about 300 Pepsi cans and 45 Aluminum food containers (it has to be a special brand for the specific metal contents). You need to melt it down and flux it and then cool it for 3 weeks to grow crystal structures properly.

The bearing saddles are prepped by tapping them for 10-32 screws. We will be selling a special mesh made of a modern polymer that will hold the aluminum to the saddles. You screw the mesh down and it acts like rebar in concrete and will hold the bearing in place. You only need 2 common 10-32 screws.

Pouring is easy. Just heat up the metal you made previously till it is nice and liquidy. Put your standard molds in place and pour. No pre-heating is needed. The mesh and surface tension will pull the aluminum down in for a perfect pour every time.

Then you use any line boring set up and finish like babbitt.

Using a modern polymer additive to the oil you are good to go. Without this additive the bearings will tear up the crank in about 50 miles. In our first testing we connected the engine up to a generator with about 75% loading and ran it for 6000 hours. The initial tear down could find no wear in the bearings. The engine was then placed in our modern car test bed. We put the engine in a 1983 Mercedes 300SD and had a friend drive the car on his daily local delivery route. Lots of stop and go driving. We only added oil as needed, no oil changes. After the 102,000 miles we pulled the engine and found only .001" wear and the crank was mirror smooth. That was with no oil filter.

The only thing preventing us from licensing our technology is the funding for the EPA certification. Under the rules we need to do a 3 year environmental impact study. We are currently seeking the approximately 3.2 Million dollars it will cost to fund the study.

Happy April 1st day!