Bob;
        OK. I measured the bearing = ID( in the case) and the crank's OD. Subtraction should give me the clearance. = What is tolerance here? How about differences in orthaganol ID measuments i.e. out-of-round?
        Anybody know of some good = WEB sites with this info?
TIA
Ken Lewis
86 Crewcab,60 356
http://Neksiwel.20m.com/
 
On Tue, 9 Oct 2001 07:51:43 -0400 Robert Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET> writes:
        Ken
that's what I do but you need a good = bore gauge. I use a sunnen bore gauge it reads out in .0005ths increments. It takes = allot of rechecking and practice to get it right . measuring the bearings in = the case gives you a size of the bearing with the crush factor. the bearing = ID. does shrink when the case is torqued. I also look to makes sure= the case half's still touch with a flash light when I install the = bearings to check the crank to bearing clearance. As I said in the first post preparation is key to getting a good reading of the actual dimensions. I = use a wire brush from the paint store to get the sealing surfaces clean. the = brush lasts just long enough to get the job done then I trash it. I also file = the case at the sealing surface to debure it. 
we are talking about WBX engines = here But I think I should say that the above procedure is also mandatory on all= type 2-4 blocks. most type 2-4 blocks wont pass this flash light test   
Harold wrote
Bob,
You told us the difference in= size, blue vs. red bearing, and that
the differences are miniscule.
Question:
Are the red and blue dot larger or are they= smaller than the
standard (no dot) main bearing?
And which is = larger of the 2 color coded, the blue or red dot?
Thanks for any info.
Harald
 
Harold
I spent some time this AM with my bore= gauge and a few sets of 2.1 main bearings. I was quickly reminded that the = tri metal thin walled 2.1 main bearings are not round until they are installed and torque into a case (sorry I don't have time for that = Today but soon).  So with that in mind I found that the bearings where = all over the place. next I looked at the boxes and as you pointed out some = read .001 RED and some say .004 BLue This is hundreds of a millimeter.  Some of the boxes I opened had color = codes some did not. I think that the difference is so small that most folks = could not measure the difference. So it sounds like you want to what I would = call noodle around (I define noodling as spending way to much time fine = tuning something that might not matter)  sounds like you want find out if the crank main bearing needs to have a tighter fit = for longer life or increased oil pressure? And is it important to = custom fit the larger bearings to a warn crank? The 2.1 cranks for the = most part don't show allot of wear even at 150 K. As long as the = clearance are within the spec the then you are good to go. I have even used = a set of USED mains in my 84 Camper 2.1 big valve engine because = the measurements where within spec.  NO PROBLEM   I = would say there are more important factors that would determine the oil= pressure or life of an engine. Some of those things would be setting = the fuel injection up correctly to prevent fuel dilution or creating a lean= condition, making sure that the big = end of the con rods are round, rod bearing clearance, oil changes, load = and the performance of the cooling system over the life of the engine.
  
Bob Donalds MN.
Master Noodler
as always all rights reserved <= /DIV>
http://www.bostonengine.com