Babbet question

[iverson]

A month or so ago I had the pan off to clean it out and found 2 and 3 rods a little loose not knocking but looser than 1 and 4. I had some time today and planed to take out a few shims but after taking off 2 and 3 rod caps found no shims but what's worse the babbet is partly missing crank looks good. I am sure the right thing to do is rebabbet what would you do? Is it safe to run it like this?

[DJ S]

I would purchase a set of rebabbited rods... they haven't completely failed yet but they're getting there. As the saying goes, if you don't have time to do it right the first time, how do you have time to do it right the second time.

[Kevin in NJ]

It is more complex then one rod.

You need to have a weight balanced set of rods. Not the total weight, they need to be matched weight at each end. Ford allowed a certain weight +-1 gram.

My brothers engine had a rod loose its babbitt and he slipped in a odd rod he had. He gained vibration and lost top end.

Do you know how close your flywheel is to the center line? Is your flywheel and crank balanced? This may be a good time to visit these items and see where you stand if you do not know.

[CWPASADENA]

I agree with replacing all the rods

Chris W

[denniskliesen]

You should check your center main bearing also. Nothing worse than doing the rods and finding out the mains are about to go. As Kevin said check your end play on the crankshaft also. Mine was over .025" and leaking more than I wanted. I sent it off to get fixed.

[PC/SR]

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Your instincts are right, get it rebabbited. As said, also check the mains. No point in doing the rods when for a few dollars more (Clint Eastwood western) you can do the whole thing and get it right.
Whether to purchase just some rebabbited rods is a gamble of whether they fit on the crank. IMHO, rebabitting should be done as a full job, not piecemeal.
Whether you want to go to inserts all around is a value and money judgement.
Herm is the expert. Hope he chimes in.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by PC/SR

Whether to purchase just some rebabbited rods is a gamble of whether they fit on the crank.

You can buy them standard, 10,20,30, 40 undersize.

[Jim Brierley]

Looks like your problem is caused by acidic oil, not changed often enough. This means the mains could be the same way, not good!

[denniskliesen]

Looking at that first picture of your crankshaft, doesn't look good. I'd pull it out if it were mine. I'm sure there are worse running down the road, but why take the chance of doing serious damage.

[iverson]

For the short term I rubbed the two rod caps that were a little loose without shims on sandpaper on glass just a touch now all four feel the same car runs fine but I know it should be fixed right but my uncle wanted to go to lunch! He is 99 and this may be his last summer

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by iverson

For the short term I rubbed the two rod caps that were a little loose without shims on sandpaper on glass just a touch now all four feel the same car runs fine but I know it should be fixed right but my uncle wanted to go to lunch! He is 99 and this may be his last summer

You just did a "period correct" repair! That's the way your uncle would have been taught to do it when he was 19 or so! And, driven with some respect, would have lasted for a long time.

[700rpm]

"Feels good?" You didn't use plastigage to measure it?

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

"Feels good?" You didn't use plastigage to measure it?

Plastigage wasn't around in the day. They did it by "feel" learned by experience or, as in the case of an old school mechanic I know, by using oil soaked newspaper to measure the clearance.