Has anybody else had trouble getting hold of heavy duty lead-copper (lead indium) big end bearings for an XE engine?

My local engine specialists (the very helpful Midland Engine Services) tell me you cannot get such things for this engine, which matches what I was also told by QED (who use std OE bearings in their engines)

Apparently there is a lead-copper bearing available but it is of a narrower width, 1mm narrower than the journals on my XE crank (think they are for the 8v engine)

I ended up getting the most expensive bearing available, which was apparently called a "sputter material" and was £56 for the set, vs £27 for the slightly narrower lead copper bearings.

I got mine from my local engine shop no problems, .25 oversize mains and .5 big end as well for the reground crank..

Ned.

were they lead copper ones? If so then they are the narrow ones, I have now checked and had confirmed by several people on the westy forum that you CANNOT get lead copper bearings in the correct width, only the 8valve width.

I used the sputter bearings of the correct width, which apparently is what SBD recommend. The alternatives are std OE bearings (very expensive, £25 per pair of shells!!), aftermarket std material bearings (the "weakest" option, but cheap at less than £20 for the set), aftermarket heavy duty lead indium bearings (but these are narrower, 1mm too narrow for the XE crank but are what most people use apparently) or the sputter bearings, which are expensive, but not as bad as the OE ones, and are apparently the toughest of the lot!

They are def lead copper as that's what i specifically asked for. They are what we've been using in a 240bhp race engine for the last few years with no problems.

Ned.

Nat - Did you get your sputter big end bearings from Midland Engine Services?

What's the recommendation for mains?

edit - just seen later thread where you said your sputter big end shells are narrow...

So what's recommended for big ends these days too? Sounds like the narrow lead copper is a good option if the sputtered one are narrow too.

Ned - where did your's come from? Any idea of the make/part number?


Cheers,
Chris

[Edited on 13/11/07 by chriscook]

[Edited on 13/11/07 by chriscook]

[Edited on 13/11/07 by chriscook]

Think mine are AE parts and I sourced them from Guildford Auto's who prep'd my block, just an engineering firm.

Ned.

Yes, got the sputter ones from MES which if i remember rightly were the full journal width but it was soooo long ago now that I have forgotten!!

AE list AEB4673 as sputter bearings and they are 1mm narrower.

Their only other listing, specifically for this engine, are AEB4684 which are lead copper and are the correct width. I don't know if they are still available but will ask tomorrow. Beware engine parts suppliers that use "alternatives that will do the job".

I use KS and have never really had a problem, if oil pressures and general component condition is OK.

Ahh, might be getting me widths and materials all mixed up!!! Doh!!

Think I have the 1mm narrower sputter ones in then at the mo. Have raced with full width and narrower ones and not had any mishaps yet.