rod bearing reading? with pic

hi guys,
just pulled the bearings after 5 low 7 sec runs.not hammered or squished but they have shiney edges as seen in pic.does'nt look good to me but i'm still new to blown alcohol so i have no real idea.is this normal?running the clevite 1512 m bearings.just noticed that the lowers are the dreaded 8/00's but the uppers are 7/04's.526 hemi,14/71 HH.was running the old kendall green nitro 70 oil.any advise or tips appreciated......thanks Miles........

 

What is your oil pressure through the run

 

The lower bearing looks like it rubbing, since it is not likely the oil, it could be the start of the breakdown of the bearing material. Since the 8/00 bearings have already been targeted as a problem, I would get them out of there, and return or throw away any others that you have, even new ones. I already went through this years ago (A4's, I think), and you can't predict when they'll fail; the first run they'll look fine, and the second run you'll chuck the rods out.

I would also suggest going to the V style bearing instead of the M.

 

The upper rod bearing sure looks squished to me. I'd start looking at the rod to make sure the big end is still round. If the babbit is squished, that's one thing. If it's the steel backing, I'd be pulling out that rod. The next run will be a boomer.

 

I measure the width of the bearing at the tang and at the middle with a dial caliper. Different guys use different tolerances as to when to replace the bearing. I usually go with anything over .003" wider at the middle from the tang end. Another thing to look at is your timing and how lean those holes are. That is the reason we pull the top rod bearings every run for an inspection. I pull them out and replace them with an already measured and insected set. Dave Germain

 

Sorry guys, I meant the upper as well. I'm upside down most days anyway.

 

bearings

How much alcohol is in the oil? I have seen this shine the bearings, be careful it might just grab one.

 

thanks for all the ideas.i've been too busylearning to drive to have time to look at the pressure through the traps.it a steady 80 lbs pre staging.i will try harder this weekend in tucson.none were squished at all once i learned to scrape the babbit off the sides before measuring.yes i think there is a fair amount of alcohol in the oil so that could be an issue.i'm running very rich at the moment.i took out all the 8/00's and put a good set of 1512m's in with fresh brad penn 70 oil.where can i get some 1512 v's from?...thanks.....

 

are you sure that is enough oil pressure for a hemi i have 125 when i stage and i run the green kendall 70 are the brad penn 70 when i first got a hemi they really stressed the amount of oil pressure i should have and for me 80 isnt enough for me to leave with any way years ago i was told if i left with less than 125lbs "qote" it will kick the rods out i dont know if this is true are not but i leave with 125lbs of oil preasure

if your trimming the side of the bearing its starting to squish a little bit are you wouldnt be triming sides but it is not enough to hurt any thing detination is a big problem watch out for that to much timing thats a rod bender and piston sinker

 

Who's oil pump are you running? 80 psi at the line isn't enough IMHO, should be 125 or better, are all the rod bearings doing this or is it the ones closest to the rear of the block?

 

i'm running a faria pump,it came with the complete engine i got and the guy before had been running it for 5 years as is.he even said not to adjust the pressure valve on it.i have around 10 passes on it.yes all bearings are the same.after i scothbrited them up they looked new again so not actual bearing damage.i only had 28* in the mag and rich.

 

You can get the V bearings from BAE, and I think Robert Reehl has them too. His number is on the ad on the ITA page.

 

Tucson

Miles,

Come see me this weekend in Tucson, we have bearings on the trailer, with my car we run a 511 motor with a 14-71 and it takes 12 quarts plus one stabilizer, it use to be 14 quarts however we modified the back of the pan for the lencodrive, when we turn it over we generally have around 150-160 psi, through the lights it doesnt go below 120

 

thanks for all the help,,i had time to look at the gauge this weekend and found a problem.pre stage i have 100psi but through the traps i have 0 psi...i thought it was maybe the chute deploying uncovering the pick up but i tried a shutdown with no chute and still 0 psi and i burned up the brakes.i have 14 qts in the pan so i can only think of putting more in if i'm using it all up by the traps...