Big end bearings....URGENT

Just in the middle of rebuilding my engine and i have cocked up, i never looked at the position of the tabs on the big end bearings when i stripped it. If at put the tabs at opposite ends of each other it locks when i tighten it but its ok if the tabs are adjacent to each other. I know the main bearing shells are like this but didn't think the big ends were…..
Help!!!!!

littlekev
           All big end caps and main bearing caps are machined matched . What this means is that you must after fitting your new shells fit only back to the one it came from and the right way . You hopefully ? Kept each one together and marked its position this includes the relative connecting rod to the relevant piston . If not the engine will be tight or siezed when you turn it over ,[and cause massive problems when fully built up] if you have mixed and matched all is not lost but i personnaly would seek proper help in matching them back up . The other danger is that your new shells having fitted them incorrectly may now be scored or bent and would have to be renewed .
        Sorry its not good news , i have cocked up big style like this my self so you are not alone on this one !!


Chudd….

Thanks for reply chudd, i have the genuine vw workshop manuals for the mk1 and it says in there that the main bearing shells have adjacent tabs but there is no mention of the big ends. In my past experience the tabs have been at opposite ends so this is the first time i have come across this…
It is all built up now and torqued with the tabs at the same ends and it is turning over fine.
The shells were kept with each piston so they haven't been mixed up. I haven't put in new shells as they looked fine with no wear/scoring. It was only in bits so i could paint the block and put in new rings….
Time will tell!!!!!

All is welllll  
I have just noticed the faint mark left behind by the tab on the shell and the tabs were facing each other!!
Thank F@#% for that

kev any idea on the cost of a new set of shells from vw?

Not cheap
Big end bearings 034105701007 ?6.75 & vat per shell
Main bearings are about ?21 & vat per pair
I just got a full set of rings from GSF for ?30 whereas VW wanted ?30 per piston

I need to buy new big end bearings and main bearings. I checked online at GSF and they don't have it and I checked at the local stealership, and they dont have em either. I guess it's cos I'm here in S.E Asia where it's near enough impossible to find these replacements.

Does anyone know where I can get near big end and main bearings? These are the only things I need for my engine rebuild.

please help!

What car is it? Better yet, what engine are you working on? That and are undersized bearings needed?

GrimyFingers said

What car is it? Better yet, what engine are you working on? That and are undersized bearings needed?

It's an '82 GTI. DX engine. Sorry to sound like such a noob but what do you mean by undersized bearings?

rabid_rabbit said

 Sorry to sound like such a noob but what do you mean by undersized bearings?

If machine work is required to get the crankshaft journals round and/or groove free, then most likely bearings that are made to make up the difference are needed. They come in only about two or three different under/over sizes (depends on if you talk the crank or the bearing thickness as either way is really correct). So if the crankshaft was "turned" to correct any damage or wear then the machine shop needs to inform you just how much if you can't measure them yourself.

I don't know how much International shipping would cost but companies like Techtonics Tuning, Bildon Motorsport or Autotech both sell the bearings at OK prices.

use a micrometer to measure everything then contact tsr and they can get you what you require! thats wheir i'm getting mine from!

GrimyFingers said

rabid_rabbit said

 Sorry to sound like such a noob but what do you mean by undersized bearings?

If machine work is required to get the crankshaft journals round and/or groove free, then most likely bearings that are made to make up the difference are needed. They come in only about two or three different under/over sizes (depends on if you talk the crank or the bearing thickness as either way is really correct). So if the crankshaft was "turned" to correct any damage or wear then the machine shop needs to inform you just how much if you can't measure them yourself.

I don't know how much International shipping would cost but companies like Techtonics Tuning, Bildon Motorsport or Autotech both sell the bearings at OK prices.

There's no damage to so I don't think there's machine work to be done. i'm just looking for the OEM spec bearings.

The problem is we don't know which bearing matches with which piston, due to disorganisation and forgetting to "keep things labelled". I just don't wanna play the guessing game and have problems later on. So, solution is new bearings.

Thanks for the response and pointing me in the right direction mate. Much appreciated. Will check those places now…

rov716y said

use a micrometer to measure everything then contact tsr and they can get you what you require! thats wheir i'm getting mine from!

Did they quote you a price when you contacted them? I've been reading up a lot about TSR and really curious to try out their products. Let me know how it goes for you… :mrgreen:

rabid_rabbit said

rov716y said

use a micrometer to measure everything then contact tsr and they can get you what you require! thats wheir i'm getting mine from!

Did they quote you a price when you contacted them? I've been reading up a lot about TSR and really curious to try out their products. Let me know how it goes for you… :mrgreen:

↲↲↲↲ yes they emailed me a price for the size i need but not 100% sure if i'm using the gti crank yet so have not ordered anything yet!

Ok, so I had a look through some websites for my new big end bearings. Turns out, Techtonics Tuning sells em for USD$55. Not bad me thinks. What do you guys think? Thanks for sending me in the right directions guys.

I'll get the rest of the stuff I need like the main bearings, piston rings, con rod nuts and bolts from GSF…Should work out to be easier on me wallet, and GSF sends stuff over here in less than a week.

Don't think i'll be going with the TSR option just yet (as much as i'd like), I'd really like to bring my car back to it's original glory before I "upgrade" it.

AAaaaargh!

I just found out there's no way to contact techtonics tuning via e-mail. Isn't that ridiculous that they don't have an e-mail address? This probably means they might not ship outside of the US.

Damn…so, i'm back to square one. No big end bearings. They're there, but i just can't get em.

Looks like i might have to go with the TSR option after all.

Anyone else have any suggestions? Any locals companies, other than TSR, that provide new 8v big end bearings?

Please help!



 :dontknow:

rabid_rabbit said

AAaaaargh!

I just found out there's no way to contact techtonics tuning via e-mail. Isn't that ridiculous that they don't have an e-mail address? This probably means they might not ship outside of the US.

They do ship outside the US. Some years back they also posted their email address but due to the amount of stupid questions and repeat stupid questions filling up their time, they stopped using email. Simple case of a good thing gone bad you might say as they do know their stuff. They do have a telephone number listed and they are very friendly folks to work with. If yo know someone in the US military, army, airforce, etc., they can ship to them even cheaper.

Thanks GrimyFingers

I tried calling them to enquire and they really are nice people. Very helpful.

I've now placed my order with them and hoping to receive my new con rod bearings soon.

I'm excited! One step closer to getting my baby back on the road…

Woohoo!