Clevite Bearings

[Captainfab]

I've been looking at the Clevite "H" series bearings for a 406 that my son and I are building. This engine will be run hard on and off the track, and with a 150 shot of N2O. Are the "H" series bearings worth the money , and will they hold up better to the added pressure of a N2O shot?

[Ont67shortbox]

They work great,they are chamfered,so make sure your crank is chamfered too.

[swb85]

I run Clevite H bearings in my camaro's nitrous motor. I'd definitely run a coated bearing with your plans.

[Marv D]

My machinist ( drag boat and offshore motor builder) talked me into switching to King engine bearings a couple of years ago. I swear by them now. After 2 seasons of hard racing (about 160 passes per season) the crank and bearings still look great in my Nova. ( 790HP small block) Leakdown is starting to come up little now. But when bearings outlast a set of plasma-moly rings,,, they are a GOOD race bearing.

just my 2cents

[Captainfab]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Originally Posted by Ont67shortbox

They work great,they are chamfered,so make sure your crank is chamfered too.

Do you mean they are intended to be used with aftermarket cranks that have a radius fillet at the edges of the journals?

Originally Posted by swb85

I run Clevite H bearings in my camaro's nitrous motor. I'd definitely run a coated bearing with your plans.

This is the type of input I was looking for

Originally Posted by Marv D

My machinist ( drag boat and offshore motor builder) talked me into switching to King engine bearings a couple of years ago. I swear by them now. After 2 seasons of hard racing (about 160 passes per season) the crank and bearings still look great in my Nova. ( 790HP small block) Leakdown is starting to come up little now. But when bearings outlast a set of plasma-moly rings,,, they are a GOOD race bearing.

just my 2cents

I guess I should have mentioned King bearings as well since I'm trying to decide between the Clevite's and Kings. Thanks for your input Marv


Another related question......would it be advisable to run a high pressure oil pump on this engine, or would a standard pressure pump provide sufficient oiling. I imagine it would depend on the bearing clearance. I'm not sure what clearance the machinist ground the crank for......I'll have to call him tomorrow. And yes I will be checking the clearance once I get some bearings.

[Ont67shortbox]

If/When you get the crank journals turned,the machinist can grind in the radius.

[matchstick]

I have had the King's and the H-series Clevites start flaking under heavy loads. 14-1 sbc dirt track engines turning 82-8500rpm's. We had the Kings in a blown BBC with 32lbs of boost, and they were showing signs of flaking after 10 passes. I've been running the ACL race bearings, and they seem to be the best I've used. i've also used the Tri-Armor Clevites. They seem to be a good bearing as well.
As far as all this goes I ran a 355 with solid lift cam and Dart heads for 2 years on the street with a 200 shot. Plain Jane old p bearings in it, and it was fine. After all that abuse they showed a little wear but weren't bad.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by Ont67shortbox

If/When you get the crank journals turned,the machinist can grind in the radius.

Crank is already turned.......

[Captainfab]

So you guys that are using King bearings, which ones are you using.
the AM, CP, or HP bearings? And who has the best prices on them?
Thanks

[Marv D]

It depends on the application. I've been using the HP's in my Nova motor, but it's a dedicated track only machine not ANY street time. And make SURE you have to have the right radius on the journal for bearing you choose. No guessing.

machstick,, have you seen similar problems with a drag motor where the high rpm's are only sustained for 9 or 10 seconds? Just curious. A dirt track motor definately is the ultimate for rotating assembly abuse. I shift my 434 sbc at 7400 (13.5:1 n/a) and have not seen any hint of a problem with the bearings.... 'yet' . Been running the King bearings for 2 seasons now and will definately keep a eye on them.

[matchstick]

Originally Posted by Marv D

It depends on the application. I've been using the HP's in my Nova motor, but it's a dedicated track only machine not ANY street time. And make SURE you have to have the right radius on the journal for bearing you choose. No guessing.

machstick,, have you seen similar problems with a drag motor where the high rpm's are only sustained for 9 or 10 seconds? Just curious. A dirt track motor definately is the ultimate for rotating assembly abuse. I shift my 434 sbc at 7400 (13.5:1 n/a) and have not seen any hint of a problem with the bearings.... 'yet' . Been running the King bearings for 2 seasons now and will definately keep a eye on them.

I think that you've been very lucky. I have a friend who has raced for 30 years, and he hates them. I used them a long time ago in a motor that didn't make much hp, and they were fine. I also used the H series Clevites for a couple years and they were great. Then all of a sudden 2 different engines I done showed signs of the bearings flaking apart. Now the ACL's are doing great. Joe Mondello has a tech school here in my town, and they use the ACL's with great results as well.