Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

I have a chipped up rear main bearing, do any suppliers have these on the shelf exchange?

Thanks Kevin

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

You can have the bearing cap re-babbitted, but if the bearing in the block is damaged, it would also need to be re-poured.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Here's a pic.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Check with Bill Barlow. He's listed in the Babbitt section of the ford website page. You'll have to call him, no webpage.
Hugh

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Hugh, I don't think Bill is doing this any more. if so, a huge loss.
You got very lucky.....

too bad Steve B can't assume this role......

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

What a loss, bummer!! Bill is a super nice and helpful guy. Artwork for $50 a cap exchange.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Bill is not doing caps any more, but is still doing full babbitt jobs with the assistance of his grandson. At least, that was the last I heard in Sept.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Ray, do you know if the cap-only skill was passed on to anyone, or if it is known by anyone else? I actually learned about Bill from you, and passed that info to Hugh, who has a sweet running motor now
dave

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

That too bad about Bill. I saved a Model B motor that only had a bad rear main cap by
having him pour new babbitt and we align bored it.
He said at the time he would only pour and not finish it. So you might be able to go that
route.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

Dave, I don't know of anyone who has taken up that work. His grandson may know how, but I don't know if he's doing it. Bill indicated once in passing that there were a lot of problems associated with trying to keep customers happy with that product.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

I had done few of these for friends. The important part is that the original thrust is still on the cap so that can be duplicated. Just knowing the dimension from the crank is insufficient. It is difficult to determine the bore size without crankshaft dimensions. I have test bars that I made in standard, .010 etc. That will get you fairly close. I would leave each thrust face a little longer and hand fit. It would help if you knew the crank end play.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

The problem of just replacing a single cap or a set without machining in place is that the tolerance in the centering of the bearings. You don't know exactly where the last guy set the center line of the bearing in relation to the centerline of the block. Ford used the main bearing bolt holes as datum points for locating the bearings, but fast forward 85+ years and how many rebuilds by unknown builders leaves the interchangeability of caps in doubt. I advise either to get an undersized cap and hand fit it by scraping ( a long slow process), pour and bore all 3 bearings to insure that they are in line with each other. Also, a smooth, round journal is a MUST for any kind of bearing life.

Re: Can I buy an oversized rebabbited rear main of shelf anywhere?
 

So theres it sounds like there is noone out there I can just purchase one from< even if I do some work to make it fit? Why do so many places sell these rear mains for model t's?