ajp v8 main bearing shells help.
Discussion
Have had to regrind the main and big end journals on my crank to -10 thou.
I cannot seem to locate a set of heavy duty bearings for the main bearings that are 10 thou oversize.
I have located some +10 thou standard bearings (aluminum/tim) but would like heavy duty copper/lead/tin type bearings.
Anyone help?
I cannot seem to locate a set of heavy duty bearings for the main bearings that are 10 thou oversize.
I have located some +10 thou standard bearings (aluminum/tim) but would like heavy duty copper/lead/tin type bearings.
Anyone help?
If you find any, please let me know!
Myself and Jason Clegg are currently hunting for some standard lead/copper for my 4.7 race engine but they're out of production and seemingly like hen's teeth to find. John Reid seems to think some may be located in the States but no one around here seems to have any...
Myself and Jason Clegg are currently hunting for some standard lead/copper for my 4.7 race engine but they're out of production and seemingly like hen's teeth to find. John Reid seems to think some may be located in the States but no one around here seems to have any...
Edited by 450Nick on Tuesday 9th November 10:25
itiejim said:
Can't be too hard for what are basically RV8 shells surely? I used my local engineering shop who got Vandervells iirc. But most places should be able to help. Try JE or V8 Developments if you're really stuck.
Is it the small or large journal crank?
My crank is the later 4.5inch unit that was fitted to the later AJP's but also the later 4.0ltr and 4.6ltr range rover engines.Is it the small or large journal crank?
The earlier engines have a 4.3inch journel and were used extensively on the 3.5 to 3.9ltr Rover engines. I think these are easily available as a heavy duty bearing, its the larger 4.5inch HD bearings that are impossible to find.
Even Landrover main dealers only list a standard size bearing for the larger journel.
I may be way off here but have you tried realsteel they seem to have quite a few links with the U.S.
Http://www.realsteel.co.uk
Http://www.realsteel.co.uk
I dont think john at JE has any as he's been asking the same questions as us. The only hope we may have although not in the short term is Vandervell Racing bearings in Kilmarnock. Look on the web. They would be willing to supply these under there racing department if they felt there was a small market for them. I have given them all the details of the companies that would be intreseted in a heavy duty set and Vandervell are going to access the viability.
Another alternative is looking at the Clevite catalogue. you can look at the catalogue which has bearing and housing dimensions and maybe find a suitable bearing. 2.5inch is a common main bearing size, its then a matter of matching up the housing and bearing width. notch location is not critical as this can be machined into the correct position.
The only problem is its a very large catalogue (6.0Mb)
Steve at V8 developments uses the aluminum tin bearings in their rover V8 race engines that rev to 8500rpm and he says he has had no failures or problems with them at all...so maybe we are being paranoid.
Another alternative is looking at the Clevite catalogue. you can look at the catalogue which has bearing and housing dimensions and maybe find a suitable bearing. 2.5inch is a common main bearing size, its then a matter of matching up the housing and bearing width. notch location is not critical as this can be machined into the correct position.
The only problem is its a very large catalogue (6.0Mb)
Steve at V8 developments uses the aluminum tin bearings in their rover V8 race engines that rev to 8500rpm and he says he has had no failures or problems with them at all...so maybe we are being paranoid.
Spoke to Jason about Clevite (JR recommended them) and he said they don't do the correct size any more (used to). I'm not sure about the others but if you reckon you can get a short run done, I know several companies who would be interested.
Apparently the tri-alloy ones used by the RV8 race engine guys are fine for RV8's but in an AJP due to the harsh forces the flat plane crank puts on the bearings, it will eat through them quite fast. Jason is very keen to put in the lead-copper ones as a result of this and has told me that it would mean the difference between replacing them every 1 or 2 seasons of racing. I'm sure they last much longer in a road car but still... It seems that lead-copper is by far the preferable option from someone who knows their AJPs!
Apparently the tri-alloy ones used by the RV8 race engine guys are fine for RV8's but in an AJP due to the harsh forces the flat plane crank puts on the bearings, it will eat through them quite fast. Jason is very keen to put in the lead-copper ones as a result of this and has told me that it would mean the difference between replacing them every 1 or 2 seasons of racing. I'm sure they last much longer in a road car but still... It seems that lead-copper is by far the preferable option from someone who knows their AJPs!
Nick, what is the issue you have, have you had a crank regrind and can't find the baearings to match, if so I should have a good crank going spare early in the new year, I am hoping Jason will be working on my 4.7 then and I am going for a steel crank as well. Mine is a 98 4.5 no obvious problems with the crank, good oil pressure ect.
gruffalo said:
Nick, what is the issue you have, have you had a crank regrind and can't find the baearings to match, if so I should have a good crank going spare early in the new year, I am hoping Jason will be working on my 4.7 then and I am going for a steel crank as well. Mine is a 98 4.5 no obvious problems with the crank, good oil pressure ect.
No, mine is a brand new large joural 4.5 steel race crank with no grinds on it, new block, new heads, new 4.7 liners, new 4.7 CP pistons etc. Just need some bearings! 450Nick said:
gruffalo said:
Nick, what is the issue you have, have you had a crank regrind and can't find the baearings to match, if so I should have a good crank going spare early in the new year, I am hoping Jason will be working on my 4.7 then and I am going for a steel crank as well. Mine is a 98 4.5 no obvious problems with the crank, good oil pressure ect.
No, mine is a brand new large joural 4.5 steel race crank with no grinds on it, new block, new heads, new 4.7 liners, new 4.7 CP pistons etc. Just need some bearings! I won't be racing mine just half a dozen track days a year and some fast road type use but I believe in doing things properly first time so would look at getting the best bearings I can, or that Jason can.
I think Jason has already looked at doing a run of them and he said they wanted a min order of 10000 units 
At the moment its looking like he'll have to use the lesser ones and hope for the best but I'm all for doing a run of them if someone will do them for a reasonable figure.. They're the ideal bearings for all AJP engines in large main so really everyone needs them and all AJP engine builders. Not to mention RV8 race engine builders...
At the moment its looking like he'll have to use the lesser ones and hope for the best but I'm all for doing a run of them if someone will do them for a reasonable figure.. They're the ideal bearings for all AJP engines in large main so really everyone needs them and all AJP engine builders. Not to mention RV8 race engine builders...
So we need a prototype manufacturer like here for instance
http://www.esources.co.uk/supplier/18904/
Geared up for small production runs, do you have the spec of what is needed, I could see what I can find, I know there is a company in Plymouth as well that I used once for w wheel bearing for a Range Rover, main manufacturer had a 4 month lead time, got one from Plymouth in 2 weeks.
Just can't remember waht they are called at the moment.
http://www.esources.co.uk/supplier/18904/
Geared up for small production runs, do you have the spec of what is needed, I could see what I can find, I know there is a company in Plymouth as well that I used once for w wheel bearing for a Range Rover, main manufacturer had a 4 month lead time, got one from Plymouth in 2 weeks.
Just can't remember waht they are called at the moment.
I personally don't know the specs, the best person to speak to would be Jason, or one of the AJP engine builders (Austec/TVR Power/John Reid/APM etc) I know whatever they are, they're the same size as a 4.6 Rover bearing and are lead backed copper contruction. Other than that I'm in the dark!
I might see you there! Providing someone drops some bits up there for me tomorrow I'll be popping up there to grab some Tuscan bits and have a quick chat with Jason about the engine build and the bearing issue. What time were you going to aim to be there for? Might be good to have a discussion.
Edited by 450Nick on Wednesday 10th November 14:50
Yes when I spoke to him the other day he was digging up his garden. Well I'll give him a call and see if he's popping up. It would be good to get this issue sorted as I want my engine in the car by xmas (been waiting a year for parts!) so I can get it running and testing in the new year so the sooner we can get something ordered (if it's possible), the better.
450Nick said:
Yes when I spoke to him the other day he was digging up his garden. Well I'll give him a call and see if he's popping up. It would be good to get this issue sorted as I want my engine in the car by xmas (been waiting a year for parts!) so I can get it running and testing in the new year so the sooner we can get something ordered (if it's possible), the better.
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