Crankshaft bearings- Silicon Aluminium

[Jabba]

Hi Folks,

I stripped the bottom end of my engine the other week and the crank has been reground is currently waiting to be tuftrided.

The mains are now +30 and the ends +20.

So armed with this info I went trawling for new shells, keeping in mind that Vandervells are the ones to get if possible. I got in touch with FW Thorntons and were advised that they had some old stock Vandervell mains at the correct size but only King for the ends. I ordered both mains and ends thinking that I'll carry on searching for Vandervell ends, whilst I'm waiting for my crank.

I received the bearings today, the mains are in a Vandervell box but the bearings are marked as Glacier. The Vandervell part number on the box is VPM 91354A.30 and the ones on the shells are G (in a box) S2254SA.

Searching the net has found that these are Glacier Silicon Alumium shells. As you can guess I'm a little disappointed as I assumed they would be VP lead copper shells.

Reading on a MG forum about these shells, they suggest silicon aluminium shells are the lowest of the low in bearings.

But, are these the only type available to us now ?


Many thanks

Craig

[Jabba]

Sorry, just one other question, the ends supplied are King bearings (County on the the bearings themselves). The boxes are marked up for Triumph TR7, are they the same as the Stag ones ?

[jbuckl]

Yes. Lower rod / big ends are the same.
good quality shell bearings are different to find.

[Jabba]

Many thanks for the confirmation, much appreciated

[MandM]

Yes. Lower rod / big ends are the same.
good quality shell bearings are different to find.

is that another project for SOCFTL?

[JOHNS]

is that another project for SOCFTL?

+1

[Jabba]

You never know, fingers crossed

[sunnystag]

interested in views on king boxed/county bearings.....as they are all we can easily get hold off?

[jbuckl]

Mahle or Daido are the best source for hydrodynamic shells.... probably wouldn’t be interested in supplying low volume classics at a price we’d be happy to pay.
Glacier vandervell were bought by federal mogul...probably also not interested in classics either.
be great if federal mogul would offer hepolite pistons (they also took over AE Hepolite) but I don’t see that happening either, sorry to say..... best chance is if the ceo of any of those companies owned a stag & fell foul of poor quality bearings or pistons!

[MandM]

Don't ask don't get!

[jbuckl]

Don't ask don't get!

Ok, you ask... I’ll bet, unless there’s a personal interest at those vendors they are a no quote.
Genuine challenge, based on getting quotes from oems for my day job, for engine parts up to 100k volume per annum, with detail drawings, 3D models
& specs to quote to.
no angst, just saying, very low vendor cooperation for even moderate volumes, never mind classics.
we can’t get vendors to quote for chroming the door handles directly. (1000 parts) 12 months chasing to get a decline to quote.
we often rely on 3rd party contacts / agents who have bigger orders.
Before approaching a supplier these days, the detail drawings & 3D models will cost a few thousand to get done at least.
A place I worked at in 2009 had to pay a 5000 euro bond before a supplier would answer any calls at all ( supplier was continental systems, supplying transmission controllers)

[MandM]

It was understanding that Gaydon, had all the drawings for the Stag, but need pushing to let copies out?

[jbuckl]

Update, I have enquired about supply of oem quality bearing shells.
Will update if I hear anything back.
Steel backed lead on copper may be prohibited from manufacture.

[MandM]

Update, I have enquired about supply of oem quality bearing shells.
Will update if I hear anything back.
Steel backed lead on copper may be prohibited from manufacture.

Thank you very much

[jbuckl]

Thank you very much

Have sent a PM regarding the enquiry / drawing situation.