Re: Flanged Rod Bearings

Posted by Anonymous On 2009/4/6 15:05:10

Of course Owen is correct - most, if not all con. rod "inserts" are multi-layer, with the actual bearing surface that "rides" on the crank-pin being a very thin often PLATED layer of soft metal for "embedability" reasons.

Owen - be assured I read that fellow's article with a great deal of admiration and enthusiasm. And I read it CAREFULLY.

Again, the Federal Mogul "inserts" that were introduced for 1935 WERE NOT BRONZE. The guy was just plain wrong not only about WHEN they were introduced, but WHAT they were made of. Also, if my "hunch" is correct, he also mis-diagnosed a partial bearing failure of an insert that he showed in a photo. Looked to me like typical acid-etching failure, typical of the low grade motor oils (compared to todays) that werent changed often enough.

What concerns me about bronze is that it is considerably "harder" than the relatively soft "copper lead" concept that Federam Mogul finally decided on, and that is still the "gold standard" for extreme service use today!

I get a little nervous when, no matter how well meaning, guys try to "out-guess" or "out-do" the professional engineers. Maybe it dosnt matter that the material under that thin plated layer of soft metal is much MUCH HARDER than the copper Federal Mogul decided on. I just dont know.

I am just glad to see a guy in the restoration business who cares enough to try and come up with an answer to an otherwise difficult problem to solve ( i.e. no rod bearings for "big" / Senior Packards .

SIDE NOTE TO TURBO:
How about helping us guys out with technical info. that benefits fellow Packard owners, and stow the hostility.