The Ford Barn

elwood · 06-03-2019, 11:57 AM

hey guys, so this is the first engine ive ever built with the floating brgs in it..
I need a little help with a couple things.
first, the rods have L 1234 and R 1234 . but I don't see any difference in them, I was just wondering what makes them need to go on the left or right side ? and im thinking the right side, is the passenger side ? and 1 is gonna front most cylinder ?
so how in the heck do I plastic gauge these brgs, ? and which way do the rods face, I really cant see any difference in any of them ..
thanks guys ...

Kurt in NJ · 06-03-2019, 12:04 PM

The rods are the same, no offsets, they were marked after installation
You might be better off using shim stock to check clearance

flatjack9 · 06-03-2019, 01:48 PM

The numbers face the outside of the block where they can be easily seen. You need to measure the OD of the journal with the cap torqued in place and the thickness of the bearing. There is also a measurement of the spread of the bearing. Ol Ron's book "Nostalgia" does a good job of laying out the procedure.

JSeery · 06-03-2019, 02:00 PM

I was going to recommend Ron's book as well. Woops, wrong book, but a good one as well. Second try. There, that's better!

john in illinois · 06-03-2019, 04:00 PM

Vanpelts sells Ron’s book.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F.../Nostalgia.pdf

John

Ol' Ron · 06-03-2019, 05:17 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Fitting the floating bearings is a mathematical problem. First have the rods checked for roundness and size. They should be 2.200 dis. I have them opened up a thou ro two. Then measure the crank.It should be 1.998. Now subteact that from the rod and find a bearing that fits by checking the thickness of the shell a stock bearing shell is .109/.110 X2 + .220. now you have the clearance. Next you require a small hammer and a flat surface. A flywheel is a good one. Hold the two bearing halfs together and measure them for roundness. That's what the hammer is for tap them one way or anorher. Once you have them fit. agoing over with fine scotch bright and wash them in hot soapy water . Alot of oil on assemble. Cad/silver are the best ones but you can;t find them. Also finding the right thickness id hard, that's why I have ton of used bearings, so mix and match . You'll probably have a total of .004/005 " whrn your done. Also the width of the shel should have .010/012 side clearance for street and the same for the rods. This lets the trapped oil out of the bearing and keeps it cool.
Some might wonder why Ford went this way back then. Well is was caommon aircraft method in some v style engines. Now some bearings are lik the rear main with a thrust face. I don't use those early cranks. But I cut the lip off and use them in the 91 and 21 rods. Also you can buy bearings with a lrger ON by .004/.008. Done right and they last forever

VeryTangled · 06-03-2019, 05:33 PM

Just by chance I watched a video yesterday that educates a little on this topic. Mike Finnegan from Roadkill. The good stuff starts about 7:30 and goes to about 22 minutes. Be warned it's not a flathead, but measuring and fitting bearings is the topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Rc20Sc8kI

macdonge · 06-04-2019, 06:54 AM

Elwood: Check out this recent thread and the PDF I attached in post #64.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=255310&page=4

elwood · 06-10-2019, 08:24 AM

Thanks for the help guys,

Bored&Stroked · 06-10-2019, 07:39 PM

Here is a little video that I made - might help you a bit . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyVLsPdbhS8&t=17s

06-03-2019, 11:57 AM	#1
elwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,053	setting up the rods on a 221 hey guys, so this is the first engine ive ever built with the floating brgs in it.. I need a little help with a couple things. first, the rods have L 1234 and R 1234 . but I don't see any difference in them, I was just wondering what makes them need to go on the left or right side ? and im thinking the right side, is the passenger side ? and 1 is gonna front most cylinder ? so how in the heck do I plastic gauge these brgs, ? and which way do the rods face, I really cant see any difference in any of them .. thanks guys ...

06-03-2019, 12:04 PM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 The rods are the same, no offsets, they were marked after installation You might be better off using shim stock to check clearance

06-03-2019, 01:48 PM	#3
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 The numbers face the outside of the block where they can be easily seen. You need to measure the OD of the journal with the cap torqued in place and the thickness of the bearing. There is also a measurement of the spread of the bearing. Ol Ron's book "Nostalgia" does a good job of laying out the procedure.

06-03-2019, 04:00 PM	#5
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,183	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 Vanpelts sells Ron’s book. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F.../Nostalgia.pdf John __________________ Welcome each day

06-03-2019, 05:33 PM	#7
VeryTangled Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC Posts: 3,387	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 Just by chance I watched a video yesterday that educates a little on this topic. Mike Finnegan from Roadkill. The good stuff starts about 7:30 and goes to about 22 minutes. Be warned it's not a flathead, but measuring and fitting bearings is the topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Rc20Sc8kI __________________ -Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum?

06-03-2019, 05:17 PM	#6
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Fitting the floating bearings is a mathematical problem. First have the rods checked for roundness and size. They should be 2.200 dis. I have them opened up a thou ro two. Then measure the crank.It should be 1.998. Now subteact that from the rod and find a bearing that fits by checking the thickness of the shell a stock bearing shell is .109/.110 X2 + .220. now you have the clearance. Next you require a small hammer and a flat surface. A flywheel is a good one. Hold the two bearing halfs together and measure them for roundness. That's what the hammer is for tap them one way or anorher. Once you have them fit. agoing over with fine scotch bright and wash them in hot soapy water . Alot of oil on assemble. Cad/silver are the best ones but you can;t find them. Also finding the right thickness id hard, that's why I have ton of used bearings, so mix and match . You'll probably have a total of .004/005 " whrn your done. Also the width of the shel should have .010/012 side clearance for street and the same for the rods. This lets the trapped oil out of the bearing and keeps it cool. Some might wonder why Ford went this way back then. Well is was caommon aircraft method in some v style engines. Now some bearings are lik the rear main with a thrust face. I don't use those early cranks. But I cut the lip off and use them in the 91 and 21 rods. Also you can buy bearings with a lrger ON by .004/.008. Done right and they last forever

06-10-2019, 08:24 AM	#9
elwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,053	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 Thanks for the help guys,

06-10-2019, 07:39 PM	#10
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,062	Re: setting up the rods on a 221 Here is a little video that I made - might help you a bit . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyVLsPdbhS8&t=17s