283/350 main brg?

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Dennis Paz

I called king today and they no longer have anything for large to small journal conversion. I dont think I like the idea of spacers either. My current engine has clevite mains and is currently fine but for the future maybe an aftermarket 3.0 stroke crank or go back to a 283 block.

The spacers will be fine if properly fitted. I have built motors with spacers for dirt track racers who have literally worn out the blocks with no problems. If those guys can't beak it, it's gotta be tough. Heck, I have even used an old set of bearings in the large journal block and align-honed it to fit with no problems. I always locked the spacers in place with Loctite stud and bearing mount and/or roll pins and never took them out after align-honing.

[Rich Biebel]

I agree with Dwight......I have used spacers that we made from std. bearings in a 400 block to install a 350 crank for a 377's. We line bored the bearings to size. I went thru the trouble of drilling thru the bearing spacer into the main saddle and tapping the hole for a machine screw. I used countersunk headed screws and ground them down to be sure they sat below the surface. Never had a problem using those for myself or my buddy and he really rpm'ed his stuff!! His motor generally saw 8200 on every run.....

No problems with spacer bearings here either. Been using them for about 15 years with a 327 crank in a 350 poured block. Engine turns between 9500-10,000 rpm thru the 1/4. I use the ones from Race Engineering made fron ACL bearings.

[Dennis Paz]

SCOTT
Do you install the spacers directly in the block as is?
Sounds like I should buy a set and not worry about it.

Pretty much as they come. I do check the slots where the bearing lock tang sits in the spacer. I sometime have to file the slot a little for the bearing to fit the way I like. I torque the main caps in place with the spacer bearings just to double check the bore to make sure there is not a problem. I then install the bearings and check my crank clearance. I've used several sets without any problems.

[RPinoski1]

Usually you have to have a line hone done to the spacers, then they stay with that block in order of placement, makes future freshening easier.

Patterson sells them too....usually in stock

I've never had to line hone any of my 350 4 bolt main blocks with the spacer bearings installed. Like I said, never an issue turning 9500-10,000 with a 327.