Date:         Tue, 9 Jan 2001 19:15:54 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <busdepot@EMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <busdepot@EMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Crank Bearings - Non-Availability
Comments: To: John Rodgers <jhrodgers@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <3A5BA072.621CC246@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> Recently there was a thread on lack of availability of main bearings and
> maybe even rod end bearings (Crank-throw end). Is this really the case?
> I want to build a special engine and the bearings thread and the heads
> discussion going on with Ron Salmon and Robert Lilley has raised visions
> of my engine with all the parts ready to go but no bearings available.
> Can anyone re-assure me with good news??


Not yet, I'm afraid.  Main bearing production has indeed been suspended, at
least until April from what I've heard, and perhaps longer. 2.1L main
bearings are in particularly short supply. Personally, I would be
_extremely_ surprised if they went obsolete forever, though.  Even if
Kolbenschmidt didn't resume production, it's likely that someone else would.
My guess is that it's a matter of when, not if, availability will resume.
Meanwhile I've put feelers out in Europe to see if I can round up a
temporary (albeit pricier) supply, but no word yet.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus DepotŪ, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW