King bearings 8ba rebuild

[Dirtslinger]

New to the forum and looking for some help with my 8ba rebuild. I managed to get a NOS French 4" crank and will be using it in my motor. There's a seller on Bay selling new STD King main bearings, should I use these or go for Clevite?

[Shoebox]

Do a search on KING bearings, many positive comments. I've used them in my current 276 engine build.

[Ken/Alabama]

King Bearings from what I’ve experienced are quality bearings.

[Ronnie]

They are a player in the bearing business.


Ronnie

[Ol' Ron]

King bearings are very good and quite expensive. Considering the application soare stock bearings, All bearings must be fit to the crank, have good oil pressure. You pay your money and make your choice. Never used them.
Gramps

[flatjack9]

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Never had a problem with them.

[cadillac512]

Good bearings. I put them in my 260" Merc 22,000 miles ago. They were in spec and of high quality, no complaints at all.



Terry

[Dirtslinger]

Great. The Clevite option is actually more expensive than King currently. There is a seller on Ebay selling the Kings for $110, are there lots of counterfeits going around today?

[tubman]

King Bearings are (were?) made in Isreal for use in the flathead-powered French military trucks favored by the Isreali army. Thus, they are "mil-spec" and of the highest quality.

[Dirtslinger]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

King bearings are very good and quite expensive. Considering the application soare stock bearings, All bearings must be fit to the crank, have good oil pressure. You pay your money and make your choice. Never used them.
Gramps

When you say fit to the crank, do you mean turning the journals? This crank is standard, what would you suggest I do? The crank is currently at the machine shop getting cleaned and polished.

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by Dirtslinger

When you say fit to the crank, do you mean turning the journals? This crank is standard, what would you suggest I do? The crank is currently at the machine shop getting cleaned and polished.

The main and rod bearings for an 8BA type engine are precision fit and if the crank is standard or a normal undersize no custom fitting will be necessary. Checking with Plasigage is always a good idea, but you should have no problems at all.


Terry

[Tim Ayers]

I also used King's. No issues.

[3twinridges]

Originally Posted by Dirtslinger

Great. The Clevite option is actually more expensive than King currently. There is a seller on Ebay selling the Kings for $110, are there lots of counterfeits going around today?

I think Reds sells the kings.

JB

[Ol' Ron]

I do agree the King bearings are very good, however, I didn't feel it was ncessary to spend the extra money for them in a street engine. True if everything is machined correctly, there is no fitting the bearings, However, When bulding a preformance engine for street or track, our clearances become more important. Putting a set of rod bearings into a rod and torking them to specs and checking the bore dia. will give you the information for the crank grinder to gove you the clearance you want. Same for the mains. I like .0025, It's worked for me for many years
Now Florters are another story!!!
Gramps

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I do agree the King bearings are very good, however, I didn't feel it was ncessary to spend the extra money for them in a street engine. True if everything is machined correctly, there is no fitting the bearings, However, When bulding a preformance engine for street or track, our clearances become more important. Putting a set of rod bearings into a rod and torking them to specs and checking the bore dia. will give you the information for the crank grinder to gove you the clearance you want. Same for the mains. I like .0025, It's worked for me for many years
Now Florters are another story!!!
Gramps

That's one reason I'm an "8BA Guy".

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by tubman

That's one reason I'm an "8BA Guy".

Ditto.