Re: More on Insert engines!!!!

Posted by Bob Carabbio on December 05, 1997 at 16:43:22

In Reply to: More on Insert engines!!!!
posted by MRR on December 05, 1997 at 11:49:35

Seems like there's little agreement, but using Pete's Auto Machine in Albequerque (the shop of choice for the Dallas area) as a point of reference,Inserting an engine is only marginally more expensive than pouring and line boring Babbitt (about $100 more).Counterweighting, regrinding, and balancing add much more to the bill than inserts.
Pressure oil is strictly optional.Pete's normally stays with the original lube system and NEVER drills an "A" crank for rod oiling (although he'll do "B"s).The original dippers do a fine job.He also doesn't modify the rear seal since serious oil leaks there tend to be bad bearing or bad mechanic related.
The best arguement I have locally for inserts is simply that in Dallas you can't get Babbitt - period.If I have to send my motor across the country every time it needs bearing service, I just added quite a bit to the service bill, and months to the repair.
One really simple oiling scheme for the mains is just to shove 1/4" copper tubing down the feed pipes to the mains without sealing them to the feed pipes, Manifold them together, and feed them from the pipe that discharges oil from the pump into the front of the valve chamber.The leakage eliminates the need for pressure regulation, and the flow of oil to the mains is enhanced.I'm going to try that on mine I believe since it's simple enough to do yourself.Some of the heavy tourers in the club here are running unpressurized inserts without problems.
The only thing I have against Pintos is that the engine takes a long time to slow down with the throttle closed when using the "A" flywheel / driveline.Makes shifting smoothly a bother.They're flat off the line, but they do run along just fine at speed.
Bob Carabbio

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