Rod Bearing Availability

[jayro]

Jermey, the factory assembled SHO motors have rod to jounral clearances much closer to the low end of the spec, thus the initial bearings last awhile. My issue is with the Clevite bearings that are typically Plastigauging out to 0.002 which is at the extreme high end of the spec. You need DOUBLE the volume of oil to keep this high end of the spec floated hydrodynamically, as compared to the low end of the spec. Then think about the higher volume oil pump Ford switched to for the 3.2. Wonder why they did that?

I see what you mean about needing more oil to fill the void. I cant remember what my clearances turned out to be when rebuilt my 3.2. I think they were about middle of the road. I had all my rods checked and refurbed. Not sure if that effected clearances at all.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Well, thats great news! Now im stuck with a set of rod bearings. Ill use them one day

By the time RCM ships them to you, you'll probably need them.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Long live the damn V6 SHOs then. I heard they were done for. Glad you found a customer service # and got answers to the issue. I can deal with obsolete door panels and other misc. crap; but something that relates to keeping the heart of the car alive.....yeah that worries me. What a relief to hear this. I wanna buy 10 sets just for the **** of it now. I don't plan on selling my 95 or 89; I'm content with both.

Now I can sleep tonight.

 

[zach44102]

By the time RCM ships them to you, you'll probably need them.

I guess RCM is out of stock as well cause they "denied" my payment. It never took it out of my bank acct.

 

[rubydist]

If you need tighter or looser clearances you may mix and match standard, oversize and under size bearings as needed. An oversize bearing and a standard bearing should reduce clearance from .002 to .001. however you need to check it.

This is completely wrong - do not attempt!!!

the first undersize rod bearing available is .25mm undersize. that is .010" - NOT .001" !!!!!

If you put a .25mm undersize bearing on with a standard size bearing you will have all sorts of nastiness happen. First of all, you will tighten the clearance .010" on the horizontal axis and .005" on the vertical axis. Second of all, you will create a step in the bearing surface of approx .005" where the 2 different size bearings come together, which will disrupt the oil film in a disastrous way. You should be getting the picture by now.....

 

[Racer X]

This is completely wrong - do not attempt!!!

the first undersize rod bearing available is .25mm undersize. that is .010" - NOT .001" !!!!!

If you put a .25mm undersize bearing on with a standard size bearing you will have all sorts of nastiness happen. First of all, you will tighten the clearance .010" on the horizontal axis and .005" on the vertical axis. Second of all, you will create a step in the bearing surface of approx .005" where the 2 different size bearings come together, which will disrupt the oil film in a disastrous way. You should be getting the picture by now.....

Now that I'm reading that closer...

What the **** Lorenr? lol

 

[Lorenr]

Sorry

Sorry, I thought the under size and over size bearings were available in plus or minus .001. I had no idea that it was .010 only.

On many of the Japanese manufactured engines .001 bearings are available. I just assumed it was the same for this motor.

Next time I guess I better check and won't assume again.

:angelnot:

 

[SHOtimer]

So, if Clevite is willing to continue to produce rod bearings in new batches, why do they refuse to make new main/thrust bearings?

Doug

 

[SeanMc]

BRB, gonna start panicking for next time.

 

[itwonder]

So, if Clevite is willing to continue to produce rod bearings in new batches, why do they refuse to make new main/thrust bearings?

Doug

My guess is they watch the rate of sales and have found the rod bearings sell well enough to justify producing a new batch, while the demand for main bearings is just not there - too low to justify production.

 

[SHOtimer]

My guess is they watch the rate of sales and have found the rod bearings sell well enough to justify producing a new batch, while the demand for main bearings is just not there - too low to justify production.

I'm sure they would easily sell a new batch of 300.

Doug

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

I'd buy a new set of mains and thrust just for the **** of it to keep on shelf.

 

[SHOtimer]

I'd buy a new set of mains and thrust just for the **** of it to keep on shelf.

I would too, that's my point.

Doug

 

[rbruso]

I'm sure they would easily sell a new batch of 300.

Doug

Think Clevite would do a group buy?

 

[JRA2000TL]

Uh, I got a response from my e-mail to them today and it wasn't so favorable. Below is the e-mail I sent them and the response I received.

Hi,

I see where the Clevite connecting rod bearings for the 89-95 Taurus SHO are on "temporary backorder". Are you still planning to manufacture these parts? There are still a vast number of SHO enthusiasts out there that want to keep our cars running. I know you have discontinued the main bearing sets. What kind of quantities of demand do you need to keep manufacturing these? The connecting rod bearings are in demand for these older/ higher mileage cars as they are a wear item that more frequently need to be replaced than the main bearings. Could you please provide some additional information? I hope that you will continue to manufacture the connecting rod bearings and consider manufacturing the main bearings again. There are also many vendors that would stock up on these items from you; notably Northeast SHO, SHOSource, RCM Automotive, SHONUT Performance, Ford Performance Specialists Automotive, etc.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks,

Jeremy

And the response I got was:

"do to high product quantities needed to manufacture these bearings, it is unlikely we'll offer them."

So now I'm not sure either way what the deal is. We have 1 yes from the guy that called and 1 no from the guy that responded to my e-mail on the site. Guess I will call tomorrow and see if I also get a "yes we have a batch of 300 due for manufacturing". No consistent answers.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Who cares, ***** gonna be available, or not. We drive $500 cars... Theyre worth more in scrap than if we sell them whole. Just sayin....

 

[kevinspann]

Who cares, ***** gonna be available, or not. We drive $500 cars... Theyre worth more in scrap than if we sell them whole. Just sayin....

Jeremy only paid $300 for his.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I'm ****** that I can't get RCA to make a batch of brand new vacuum tubes for my 1962 Zenith console TV. I know that there are more of those TV's in existence today than SHO's were ever produced, so they should make them!

Who's with me to start a letter-writing campaign?

 

[LJRuddy]

Its Bush's fault.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Who cares, ***** gonna be available, or not. We drive $500 cars... Theyre worth more in scrap than if we sell them whole. Just sayin....

Jeremy only paid $300 for his.

I'm ******!
I paid $900 for mine...
I got fukked.