The Ford Barn

OldCoach · 04-09-2021, 07:42 PM

I have a 1950 Ford Custom sedan with 239cu in flathead V8. For over two years I've been hearing a rattle sound from the engine. One mechanic tells me it's bad Babbitt bearing(s). Another mechanic says the rattle is due to a poor valve job sometime in the past. The car runs very well; no oil leak or loss of power. The rattle is not overly loud but noticeable. Wouldn't the car have "blown up" by now if I had bad Babbitt bearing(s)?

petehoovie · 04-09-2021, 08:41 PM

No 'Babbitt' bearings in that engine of yours. Ford discontinued Babbitt bearings back in 1936. It could be that you are hearing piston slap....

tubman · 04-09-2021, 08:58 PM

The first thing you need is a new mechanic.

fordwife · 04-09-2021, 10:18 PM

Obviously, neither mechanic knows much about early ford v8s.

Rodrelic · 04-10-2021, 09:02 AM

If the oil pressure is good, I would pull the intake and start checking valve gap, easiest thing to check. If wide, will have to pull heads and grind valves, &/or install adjustable. If pulling the valves to change lifters, may as well touch up or just lap them too.
I had a rattley 8RT that ran good, and disassembly showed a depression in the lifter where the stem rode, some quite deep. Could not gauge divot, but about .020. Don’t know why, but replaced with adjustables and lapped valves, run quiet

OldCoach · 04-10-2021, 03:20 PM

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Oil pressure is good. What you're saying sounds much better than having engine pulled, disassembled and being sent off for machining.

tubman · 04-10-2021, 03:35 PM

That sounds much better. Do you have some more specific readings? Cold/hot idle and cold/hot at speed?

As an example of what can happen, my '51 had good oil pressure but an intermittent rattle when revved up with the clutch in. I finally got tired of it and pulled the engine to install a Merc I had built. To do the swap, I had to switch oil pans (put the Ford pan on the Merc.) When I was cleaning out the Ford pan, I found an inch long piece of the main bearing thurst surface in the bottom of the pan.

Lawrie · 04-10-2021, 03:48 PM

Dont take good oil pressure as no bearing problem. my 99a eng ran 50 hot and 25 hot idle for years ,yet still had a pair of rod bearings that had failed and a rear main , only a slight noise from the engine.
Lawrie

04-09-2021, 07:42 PM	#1
OldCoach Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 2	bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job I have a 1950 Ford Custom sedan with 239cu in flathead V8. For over two years I've been hearing a rattle sound from the engine. One mechanic tells me it's bad Babbitt bearing(s). Another mechanic says the rattle is due to a poor valve job sometime in the past. The car runs very well; no oil leak or loss of power. The rattle is not overly loud but noticeable. Wouldn't the car have "blown up" by now if I had bad Babbitt bearing(s)?

04-09-2021, 08:41 PM	#2
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 10,148	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job No 'Babbitt' bearings in that engine of yours. Ford discontinued Babbitt bearings back in 1936. It could be that you are hearing piston slap....

04-09-2021, 08:58 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,633	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job The first thing you need is a new mechanic.

04-09-2021, 10:18 PM	#4
fordwife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 287	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job Obviously, neither mechanic knows much about early ford v8s.

04-10-2021, 09:02 AM	#5
Rodrelic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Florida panhandle Posts: 219	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job If the oil pressure is good, I would pull the intake and start checking valve gap, easiest thing to check. If wide, will have to pull heads and grind valves, &/or install adjustable. If pulling the valves to change lifters, may as well touch up or just lap them too. I had a rattley 8RT that ran good, and disassembly showed a depression in the lifter where the stem rode, some quite deep. Could not gauge divot, but about .020. Don’t know why, but replaced with adjustables and lapped valves, run quiet

04-10-2021, 03:20 PM	#6
OldCoach Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 2	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Oil pressure is good. What you're saying sounds much better than having engine pulled, disassembled and being sent off for machining.

04-10-2021, 03:35 PM	#7
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,633	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job That sounds much better. Do you have some more specific readings? Cold/hot idle and cold/hot at speed? As an example of what can happen, my '51 had good oil pressure but an intermittent rattle when revved up with the clutch in. I finally got tired of it and pulled the engine to install a Merc I had built. To do the swap, I had to switch oil pans (put the Ford pan on the Merc.) When I was cleaning out the Ford pan, I found an inch long piece of the main bearing thurst surface in the bottom of the pan.

04-10-2021, 03:48 PM	#8
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,529	Re: bad Babbitt Bearing or Valve Poor Quality Valve Job Dont take good oil pressure as no bearing problem. my 99a eng ran 50 hot and 25 hot idle for years ,yet still had a pair of rod bearings that had failed and a rear main , only a slight noise from the engine. Lawrie