A travel out in the sticks

[Lawrie]

Some more pics
Mail box
And caravans

[Terry Burtz, Calif]

Lawrie,
Any problems with the "New Model A Engine" and how many miles on it?

[Talkwrench]

Great pics and adventure Lawrie !

[Lawrie]

Terry , no problems with the new engine,It sure runs sweet, My ignition system helps I think, but it will hum along all day no drama,4500 kms, used maybe 200 cc engine oil ,oil still looks clean, but the oil filter helps that I think, no coolant and every day just fires up hot or cold with just a prod of the starter.
I think around 20K miles on it to date.
I am very happy with it,
At the Model A nationals there were 6 cars with our engines in them,
Good stuff
Lawrie

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Terry , no problems with the new engine,It sure runs sweet, My ignition system helps I think, but it will hum along all day no drama,4500 kms, used maybe 200 cc engine oil ,oil still looks clean, but the oil filter helps that I think, no coolant and every day just fires up hot or cold with just a prod of the starter.
I think around 20K miles on it to date.
I am very happy with it,
At the Model A nationals there were 6 cars with our engines in them,
Good stuff
Lawrie

I don't have as many miles on mine as you do, Lawrie and I have exactly the same result when I stab the starter button each morning. It starts on the first compression. Fantastic!
My only let down with the engine is the lose main bearings at number 4 and 5. Dean tells me that there is another engine (in New Zealand) that has the same issue. I don't like hearing it hammer away when the motor is cold or when I'm out on the road at say, 80-85 KPH. I'll be doing some towing over the next few days and I'll be listening for what happens then. Hope I don't have to take it apart and "plane" the caps! 0.035 clearance is a bit much IMO but I haven't heard of any more recent motors having a problem so may be it was rectified by the manufacturer.
PS I had a brief chat with Hayden (spelling?) at Maryborough.

[Lawrie]

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Syncro
I would not like to run that clearance, I would have either filed the cap or sourced some .0002 oversize bearings, they should be available.
what oil do you use.
I use 10/40.
Lawrie

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Syncro
I would not like to run that clearance, I would have either filed the cap or sourced some .0002 oversize bearings, they should be available.
what oil do you use.
I use 10/40.
Lawrie

I run 15/40. Close enough to the same. I know I should remove the engine, dismantle it, make the adjustment and reassemble but heck, what a pain. I've just put it all together. Should have trusted my instincts.

[oldspert]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Hope I don't have to take it apart and "plane" the caps! 0.035 clearance is a bit much .

Do you mean .0035? If the clearance is truly .035, the engine rods and crank would be swinging in the wind.

Ed

[nkaminar]

Maybe it's 0.035 mm, which would be 0.0014 inch.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by oldspert

Do you mean .0035? If the clearance is truly .035, the engine rods and crank would be swinging in the wind.

Ed

Just returned from a weekend away, hence the late response.
I mean 0.035 inches. I can hear things rattling as I drive. I've become resigned tot he fact that I will have to take the engine out and dismantle it to try to fix it. The first three bearings are on spec but number 4 is 0.025-.0275 and number 5, 0.035
Are those bearings available say, 0.002 under size? That would fix things nicely and easily.

[Lawrie]

Arnold, look up on the net, those are chevy rod bearings , surely they will be avail in an undersize of .002
Lawrie

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Arnold, look up on the net, those are chevy rod bearings , surely they will be avail in an undersize of .002
Lawrie

Looks like -0.001" is available, then nothing till 0.010 under size. 0.001 would be fine for the fourth main but still a bit sloppy for No 5.
Pls see your private messages.

[Lawrie]

Is the hole too bigg .or, the crank too small.
If its the crank, grind it to .010. if its the hole , have the local engine reconditioner metal spray it up and machine it to the right size,
Lawrie

[Synchro909]

What a PIA to have to go to that sort of trouble in a new engine!

[midgetracer]

Synchro, I cannot understand .035 clearence. I really think it must be .0035 inches.
Lawrie, I sure love the photos; I've always wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand.

[Lawrie]

It wasn't all plain sailing, here I had to change out a faulty fuze from the bat positive terminal, a real pain .
also a ww2 blitz on a truck outside the motel in Charters towers, This was a huge US air base in the war.
Lawrie

[Terry Burtz, Calif]

There is a lot of confusion in this thread regarding bearing clearance. If someone has 0.035 0r 0.0002 inch bearing clearance, there will be huge problems. Please try to have someone knowledgeable make measurements before posting on the forum.

In the online Clevite catalog #EB 20-18, on line 115 found on page 510, bearing clearance should be between 0.0010 and 0.0035 inches. This variation is needed to accommodate bore tolerances, insert thickness tolerances, and shaft tolerances.

If you want to measure the thickness of an insert with a micrometer, use a ball mic and measure the insert at the middle because it is thinner near the ends.

Arnold (synchro99), please don't "plane" the main bearing caps. Your bearing clearance is likely not 0.035 inches. If it were, you would need to grind the crankshaft and use 0.040 inch undersize inserts.

RockAuto.com has the CB745P tri-metal inserts that are 0.002 inch undersize for $8.72 with 2-day delivery in the USA.

Fresh soft PlastiGauge works very well to measure tolerance. Old dry and hard PlastiGauge doesn't work very well.