Babbitt vs Inserts

[PC/SR]

"If babbitt is superior to insert bearings, than we would still have babbitt bearings today."

Inserts are quicker, cheaper and easier to mass produce and replace. Babbitt bearings are still common in industrial applications.

[gwhite]

Originally Posted by PC/SR

Inserts are quicker, cheaper and easier to mass produce and replace. Babbitt bearings are still common in industrial applications.

Bingo! Our cars were produced in an age where technology was expensive and labor was cheap; that dynamic hasn't existed in the auto industry in 50-60 years...today, quite the opposite is true.

Personally, I'm amazed that the myth of 'babbit sensitivity' is so pervasive. Diesels used babbitt for decades under much higher cylinder pressures than we would ever see with a 5, 6, or 7:1 head.

For my build, I chose a counterweighted crank, lightened flywheel (36#), and stock oiling on babbitt bearings. I believe babbit is far more forgiving of unfiltered oil and feel confident that even a 'moderate' performance engine is really not capable of spinng RPMs that would exceed the ability of the rod dippers to do their job(s)...valve float is our friend here.

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

Originally Posted by PC/SR

"If babbitt is superior to insert bearings, than we would still have babbitt bearings today."

Inserts are quicker, cheaper and easier to mass produce and replace. Babbitt bearings are still common in industrial applications.

The one thing that is bad with inserts, are, the inserts you used today, may not be made tomorrow, and or in the size you need. It happens all the time.

Herm.

[1929]

Originally Posted by Kohnke Rebabbitting

The one thing that is bad with inserts, are, the inserts you used today, may not be made tomorrow, and or in the size you need. It happens all the time.

Herm.

I heard the same that the inserts made today, may not be here tomorrow and that has me concerned, but why? aren't all modern cars inserts, or are the inserts for the model a a whole different product?

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

Originally Posted by 1929

I heard the same that the inserts made today, may not be here tomorrow and that has me concerned, but why? aren't all modern cars inserts, or are the inserts for the model a a whole different product?

Many bearings go obsolete every year.

Sometimes the one's that are used are for 1950 on up.

If the bearing companies don't sell as many as they need to make money, they just up and quit.

Happens all the time.

Herm.