Main Bearings In A 350sbc - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RED71CHEVY · 03-04-2005, 04:39 PM

CAN YOU CHG OUT THE MAIN BEARINGS IN A SBC WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE OUT OF THE TRUCKS ENGINE COM PARTMENT.......CAN YOU JUST DROP THE PAN BREAK THE MAINS LOOSE AND ROLL THEM OUT AND ROLL NEW ONES IN?

**StingRay** · 03-04-2005, 04:51 PM

Yup. But if it actually needs bearings it likely going to need the crank ground as well. It's only gonna be a band aid. You can buy a tool called a sneaky Pete to change out the rear seal the same way. What shape are the rod bearings in? You will probably have to lift the engine to get the pan off. Personally I'd yank it out and work on it on an engine stand.

Drogster · 03-04-2005, 05:06 PM

If any of the bearings are completely shot, all that metal is gonna be all over the inside of that engine. When you pull the pan, check the oil/sludge in it. You'll probably find bearing material - the leftovers - in there.

cableguy0 · 03-04-2005, 05:19 PM

on a 2wd truck it would be easier to pull the engine the crossmember is definately in the way and it would be a huge fight the whole way. the pan wont come off without at least lifting the engine up a few inches anyways. and as stated throwing new bearing in is just a bandaid if the old ones are trashed the new one will quickly follow suit if the crank is ate up

RED71CHEVY · 03-04-2005, 05:32 PM

THE COMPLTET STORY

IS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS BLEW OUT(I USED THE WRONG GASKETS FOR VORTEC HEADS) AND I PUMPED

ABOUT 2 OR THREE GALLONS OF WATER IN TO THE ENGINE,

CAUSING A NICE STICKY WHIPPED CREAM TYPE OF MESS,

SO I CLEANED IT ALL UP AND NOW I THINK I HEAR IT A-KNOCK'N, KINDA LIKE OIL STARVATION NOISE.......THIS ENGINE IS/WAS A NEW GM ROLLER REPLACEMENT #12513151 (WITH 12K MILES ) THAT I PUT VORTEC HEADS ON,.

-- I HAVE NOT CHECKED THE ROD BEARINGS AS OF YET, I AM GATHERING INFO TO SEE HOW AND WHAT THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE SO I CAN SET UP AN AREA.

--THE ENGINE IS ON THE '6CYL' TOWERS IN THE '6CYL' POSITION, I CAN TAKE THE PAN OUT /OFF WITHOUT LIFTING THE ENGINE

--WILL THE SNEAKY PETE WORK WITH A ONE PIECE REAR SEAL, IT IS A '93 ROLLER ENGINE.

cableguy0 · 03-04-2005, 05:51 PM

with the one piece seal you need to pull either the engine or the transmission theres a plate bolted on behind the flexplate that holds the one piece seal

RED71CHEVY · 03-07-2005, 06:01 PM

thanks for all the in-put..............i now have to make that big decision.

71Chevy4-speed · 03-07-2005, 11:26 PM

Pull it... lots of frustration and time saved IMO.

68C15 · 03-08-2005, 12:03 AM

if the rear main seal isnt leaking then leave that alone. just use a roofing nail bent at an angle to spin the old brgs out & new ones in. just remove the old ones before ordering new ones. a lot of times GM uses odd sizes to take up manufacturing tolerances. I have done this a few times due to another shop where I used to live over-torqued the lower intake on some 4.3s. I bought the special tool form Snap-On.

Cat Fuzz · 03-08-2005, 01:26 AM

Personally, I'd much rather pull the engine than spend all that time upside down on my back.

68C15 · 03-08-2005, 07:38 AM

plan a whole afternoon for the job. get a real comfy creeper & maybe even a pillow. set the cooler next to truck out of the wifes view. set up a stereo witha 5 disc CD player loaded with 2 Waylon CDs & the rest The Doors.
heck, plan a whole day. squeeze in a nap or 2.

03-04-2005, 04:51 PM	#2
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	Yup. But if it actually needs bearings it likely going to need the crank ground as well. It's only gonna be a band aid. You can buy a tool called a sneaky Pete to change out the rear seal the same way. What shape are the rod bearings in? You will probably have to lift the engine to get the pan off. Personally I'd yank it out and work on it on an engine stand. __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

03-04-2005, 05:06 PM	#3
Drogster Stroke it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Juneau, Alaska Posts: 214	If any of the bearings are completely shot, all that metal is gonna be all over the inside of that engine. When you pull the pan, check the oil/sludge in it. You'll probably find bearing material - the leftovers - in there. __________________ Drog Nitrous is for those who don't know how to build.

03-04-2005, 05:19 PM	#4
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	on a 2wd truck it would be easier to pull the engine the crossmember is definately in the way and it would be a huge fight the whole way. the pan wont come off without at least lifting the engine up a few inches anyways. and as stated throwing new bearing in is just a bandaid if the old ones are trashed the new one will quickly follow suit if the crank is ate up __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

03-04-2005, 05:32 PM	#5
RED71CHEVY Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: LEXINGTON,SC,USA Posts: 208	THE COMPLTET STORY IS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS BLEW OUT(I USED THE WRONG GASKETS FOR VORTEC HEADS) AND I PUMPED ABOUT 2 OR THREE GALLONS OF WATER IN TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING A NICE STICKY WHIPPED CREAM TYPE OF MESS, SO I CLEANED IT ALL UP AND NOW I THINK I HEAR IT A-KNOCK'N, KINDA LIKE OIL STARVATION NOISE.......THIS ENGINE IS/WAS A NEW GM ROLLER REPLACEMENT #12513151 (WITH 12K MILES ) THAT I PUT VORTEC HEADS ON,. -- I HAVE NOT CHECKED THE ROD BEARINGS AS OF YET, I AM GATHERING INFO TO SEE HOW AND WHAT THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE SO I CAN SET UP AN AREA. --THE ENGINE IS ON THE '6CYL' TOWERS IN THE '6CYL' POSITION, I CAN TAKE THE PAN OUT /OFF WITHOUT LIFTING THE ENGINE --WILL THE SNEAKY PETE WORK WITH A ONE PIECE REAR SEAL, IT IS A '93 ROLLER ENGINE. __________________ TIM '71 CUSTOM C-10 torch red ,350 roller GM crate,3.73 GEARS, REAR 4"DROP SPRING, FRONT 2.5" DROP SPINDLE-1.5"lower spring, FRONT=17x8(4.5bs) W/265-60-17, BACK=17x9.5 (5bs)W/285-60-17, Vintage Air Sure Fit AC------NEVER ENDING PROJECT!! Last edited by RED71CHEVY; 03-04-2005 at 05:39 PM.

03-04-2005, 05:51 PM	#6
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	with the one piece seal you need to pull either the engine or the transmission theres a plate bolted on behind the flexplate that holds the one piece seal __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

03-04-2005, 04:39 PM	#1
RED71CHEVY Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: LEXINGTON,SC,USA Posts: 208	Main Bearings In A 350sbc CAN YOU CHG OUT THE MAIN BEARINGS IN A SBC WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE OUT OF THE TRUCKS ENGINE COM PARTMENT.......CAN YOU JUST DROP THE PAN BREAK THE MAINS LOOSE AND ROLL THEM OUT AND ROLL NEW ONES IN? __________________ TIM '71 CUSTOM C-10 torch red ,350 roller GM crate,3.73 GEARS, REAR 4"DROP SPRING, FRONT 2.5" DROP SPINDLE-1.5"lower spring, FRONT=17x8(4.5bs) W/265-60-17, BACK=17x9.5 (5bs)W/285-60-17, Vintage Air Sure Fit AC------NEVER ENDING PROJECT!!

03-07-2005, 06:01 PM	#7
RED71CHEVY Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: LEXINGTON,SC,USA Posts: 208	thanks for all the in-put..............i now have to make that big decision. __________________ TIM '71 CUSTOM C-10 torch red ,350 roller GM crate,3.73 GEARS, REAR 4"DROP SPRING, FRONT 2.5" DROP SPINDLE-1.5"lower spring, FRONT=17x8(4.5bs) W/265-60-17, BACK=17x9.5 (5bs)W/285-60-17, Vintage Air Sure Fit AC------NEVER ENDING PROJECT!!

03-07-2005, 11:26 PM	#8
71Chevy4-speed Speed Limit = Floorboard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kasilof, Alaska Posts: 803	Pull it... lots of frustration and time saved IMO. __________________ 1971 C20 350, 4-speed - Sold. 1985 K10 350, Built 700r4, Edel 1406, Performer intake, MSD Ign, Hooker Comps, Silverstars, Piaa drivers, LED tails, Toyo A/T 31's, Eaton Posi, the project. "Build for torque, horsepower will follow"

03-08-2005, 12:03 AM	#9
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	if the rear main seal isnt leaking then leave that alone. just use a roofing nail bent at an angle to spin the old brgs out & new ones in. just remove the old ones before ordering new ones. a lot of times GM uses odd sizes to take up manufacturing tolerances. I have done this a few times due to another shop where I used to live over-torqued the lower intake on some 4.3s. I bought the special tool form Snap-On. __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card

03-08-2005, 01:26 AM	#10
Cat Fuzz My son, my joy. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 463	Personally, I'd much rather pull the engine than spend all that time upside down on my back. __________________ '69 Chevy 3/4 ton, 327cid, Carter AFB, Edelbrock intake, HEI, TH400. Founding member of the No Money To Spend On My Truck Club. When your at Home Depot, you WISH you had gotten an 8 foot bed!

03-08-2005, 07:38 AM	#11
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	plan a whole afternoon for the job. get a real comfy creeper & maybe even a pillow. set the cooler next to truck out of the wifes view. set up a stereo witha 5 disc CD player loaded with 2 Waylon CDs & the rest The Doors. heck, plan a whole day. squeeze in a nap or 2. __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card



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