Australia Chevrolet 216 babbitt Connecting Rods

[Lynn Eades]

Lionel, for $1800.00 I'd be talking to a motor reconditioner about having the rods machined for lock in shells. it might not be too much of an issue, and you might save a fortune?
I hear that these days shell bearings in modern engines are made without tangs and tang cutouts in the rods, relying on the fact that the correct sizing locks them in place. You might be lucky that size and width match something else and all that is needed is a normal rod alignment and bore sizing (plus a set of shells and a crank grind) Another angle is to consider using a set of later rods from a similar engine (one that uses lock in bearings)
A good place to start would be to talk to a reputable engine reco man.

[T Creighton]

Hi Lionel,
To give you an idea of costs.
I have just had my Morris bearings white metaled (I think that is the same as babbitt)
Mains cost $800nz total, metaled, fitted and line bored.
Rods cost $130nz each metaled and machined and fitted to crankshaft.
This was plus our GST of 15% which you would not have to pay.
Regards, Terry

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by T Creighton

Hi Lionel,
To give you an idea of costs.
I have just had my Morris bearings white metaled (I think that is the same as babbitt)
Mains cost $800nz total, metaled, fitted and line bored.
Rods cost $130nz each metaled and machined and fitted to crankshaft.
This was plus our GST of 15% which you would not have to pay.
Regards, Terry

Hello Terry,

Unfortunately GST is alive and well here Terry

Thanks for the list of the prices. Pardon my ignorance of Morris vehicles - are you referring to a four cylinder engine? As in the Chevy being a six cylinder motor ....

I am hoping that the engine will simply be pristine and needs no work done on it at all - just a good clean teehee!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by T Creighton

Hi Lionel,

Rods cost $130nz each metaled and machined and fitted to crankshaft.

That's very cheap ! Whats the name of your engine man

[cletrac (RIP)]

Unless the babbit is quite bad, you can remove shims until you have the right clearance and get good results.

[T Creighton]

Lionel - I should have said it's a 4cyl engine.
6 main bearing shells and 4 rods on a freshly ground shaft. Total $1,320.00
The crankshaft was done by another company so not included in price.
They have to have the block for the line boring so not very practical for someone in Australia I suppose.

Mike- Will PM with address.
Regards, Terry

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by cletrac

Unless the babbit is quite bad, you can remove shims until you have the right clearance and get good results.

That's what I did with the C8 engine, had no problems with it since. You polish the journals with fine emery .

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I joined the local Early Holden car club. When I went along to the last meeting I asked a couple of more senior members about babbitting. It turns out that one of the blokes I used to work with at TAFE - ex-fitter machinist teacher does babbitting locally. I am ex-horticulture TAFE teacher. We both used to sit at the same smoko table each day. We just haven't been in contact with each other for years.

Is this where they play the sound track "it's a small world after all"?

No freight charges either - woohoo!


Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello All,

I joined the local Early Holden car club. When I went along to the last meeting I asked a couple of more senior members about babbitting. It turns out that one of the blokes I used to work with at TAFE - ex-fitter machinist teacher does babbitting locally. I am ex-horticulture TAFE teacher. We both used to sit at the same smoko table each day. We just haven't been in contact with each other for years.

Is this where they play the sound track "it's a small world after all"?

No freight charges either - woohoo!


Kind Regards
Lionel

He does your big ends and in return you can renovate his garden