General opinion on bearing wear

Steven · Dec 2, 2011

I considered posting this in 4v, but it seems relevant across all platforms. Teksid shortblock, unknown miles. Considering the guides, chains etc have almost no wear and the heads look like they have 150k miles on them. I'm beginning to think my car had a shortblock put in it by ford at one point. The cylinders are standard bore, cross hatching is still present, with not even a hint of ridge at the top. Motor didn't smoke, or burn oil. Very tiny bit of what appears to be silicon trash in the pickup tube screen, otherwise it was very clean, just oily and dirty obviously. Pulled 2 and 3 rod cap and this is what I have. No immediate edges to grab my finger nail, and the crank could easily be polished up and put back with a set of standard bearings without anyone ever knowing it was touched. I'm getting mixed results as to whether I should slap it back together and haul ass. Financially speaking it would make the build go much quicker, however I'm not going to just wing the shit out of it. Opinions? I've built motors before but I SUCK at these decisions. lol.

Teal94 · Dec 2, 2011

Unless you just want to change them since your there already I dont see anything wrong with it. If I pulled mine and they were that clean I would slap it back together and roll.

duff daddy · Dec 3, 2011

Depending on mileage thats ont really that bad. Id swap the crank out get a nice 8 bolt CAST crank and get some good bearings in there and go from there. If your going to do it do the whole thing and make it right. but as of now I dont see why you cant slap it back together and be done.

95opal · Dec 3, 2011

I think you already know the answer to this one.
Just weigh the statement that you made " Financially speaking it would make the build go much quicker, however I'm not going to just wing the shit out of it"

I dont know what your original plan was but your already this far in and I wouldnt let down time sway me from doing what i intended to do. I would go balls out on it. I wouldnt sleep right if I just threw it back together, not kidding. Something about doing all that work and then wind up having that "time saved" decision bite you in the ass. JFYI I dont care what the bearings look like at this point. haha Good luck with the decision

Steven · Dec 3, 2011

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I decided to go the extra mile and tear it down. It is pulled down and going to the machine shop monday. The block, crank and various parts are being sent out to get checked and clean. As long as it all receives a clean bill of health, it will be new bearings and rings time and slap it all back together.

MustangChris · Dec 4, 2011

it would all depend on what you want out of the car. if you want to avoid pulling that motor again for the next 20 years, put in new ones. but the one you pictured looks fine to me. We reused ones that looked roughly the same in a DD toyota Paseo without hesitation. If you want this as a DD that wont get the living daylights beat out of it every weekend at the track, I'd reuse them. If you want to try your best as never turning a wrench on the car again, replace them since you're there.