8ba connecting rod oil hole

[3twinridges]

Hit a snag on the #5 connecting rod. The bearing oil hole and the rod oil hole do not line up. It's an 8ba rod but is an oddball. I think my options are to drill the bearing or use a spare #5 rod with the oil hole in the right place. Downside with the spare is that it was not balanced with the rotating assembly but the oddball was. Thoughts?

[rotorwrench]

It may just need a slot or a shallow trough cut into the back shell to get the spitter to flow. It could even be carefully cut into the con rod big end. It doesn't need a lot of flow there.

[19Fordy]

Why could you not drill and chamfer a new oil hole in the bearing and
fill in "wrong" hole with solder?

[tubman]

How about getting a proper scale and getting your spare rod to the same weights as the goofy one?

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by tubman

How about getting a proper scale and getting your spare rod to the same weights as the goofy one?

That isn't how it is done -- you have to have a precision setup that weighs both ends of the rods - with the other end on a pivot.

[Bored&Stroked]

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Like Rotorwrench said, take a dremel and cut a little groove/notch in the rod (behind the bearing - or in the backside of the bearing . . . to get the oil to the hole. I'd probably just do it in the rod - that way if you ever change the bearings in the future - it is ready to go.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

That isn't how it is done -- you have to have a precision setup that weighs both ends of the rods - with the other end on a pivot.

Sorry, I thought I was referring to this when I mentioned a "proper scale".

[Scotty's 52 F3]

Can your machinist balance the other rod or get you a bearing with the hole in the other location?

You have been very careful with this build so do whatever is going to let you sleep at night.

[Ol' Ron]

Why bother, the hole isn't necessary. Enough oil gets squatted out from the bearing side. Plus I think this was just some engineer justifying his pay check. They only used this for a few years and didn't include it in any other rods.

[Ronnie]

Yup correct as always from the master.^^^^

R

[3twinridges]

I didn't spend a lot of time on it after seeing the responses. I cut a very shallow spot to reach the oil hole on the back of the bearing. About as brave as I am going to get on #5. Thanks as always.

JB

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

Why bother, the hole isn't necessary. Enough oil gets squatted out from the bearing side. Plus I think this was just some engineer justifying his pay check. They only used this for a few years and didn't include it in any other rods.

The rod "squirt" holes were introduced early in 8BA production and stayed through the end. (I've never seen late rods that didn't have them) Ford then continued rod squirters on Y-blocks, FEs, Mels, Clevelands, Windsors etc, and they may still be in use, but late shop manuals are not quite as informative as the '50s-'70s. Their purpose was to help cool/lubricate the lower cylinders, according to diagrams and text.

[rotorwrench]

Piston squirts are used in some aircraft engines. They help cool the pistons a good bit and are very important for that application (large bore air cooled engine).

[Ol' Ron]

Yes, I know the modern engines use them. However, I feel the rings in our 80 plus HP engines have enough problems with out sending more oil up there. The rod side clearance throws enough oil up there. How come the "H" beam rods didn't have them on my last two builds. This is why these engines get so expensive, now some of the newcomers will think this is an important need, when it isn't, in this application.

[51 MERC-CT]

Yep!, gotta' whole box of left over flathead N.O.S. 'squirter holes' somewhere in my stuff.

[Bored&Stroked]

Just as a side note - some of the bearing manufacturers put TWO oil holes in their bearings - to deal with this situation:

Here is a Michigan 77 P bearing:

2-6-2017 6-41-17 PM.jpg

[3twinridges]

I wish I had seen this before I notched my rod! Plus I would hate to have a mismatch of bearings.

I should be good, I notched the bearing backside and the rod to get a small channel. Shot cleaning fluid in it and got a nice steam. Cleaned it up and bolted it up.

[Ken/Alabama]

I've seen 8ba rods without squirt holes. Looks like you have a couple options here

[Jack E/NJ]

Scotty's>>>do whatever is going to let you sleep at night. >>>

3twin>>>I wish I had seen this before I notched my rod! >>>I should be good>>>

Ken>>>I've seen 8ba rods without squirt holes. Looks like you have a couple options here >>>


Yes Ken! I agree. And Sominex might be one of them. 8^) Jack E/NJ

[3twinridges]

LOL, you guys have made me paranoid now, going to call the machinist and see if he can balance my spare and swap it out along with a new bearing.