Gerry Marsden

Thanks Guys, nice to have the benefit of your experience. Have begun reassembly, removed some thin shims, "blued" each journal and have a good touching area with a little bit of resistance on each journal. It should sweetly.

Thanks again for sparing the time researching this. Yesterday I spoke to a guy in southern England who has driven a Model A as daily transport since 1968 and 250,000 miles! He is of the opinion that many of these cars are driving around with more than recommended end thrust clearance and whilst not ideal, its a crude engine and quite forgiving. I'm minded to leave it; I will certainly not be replicating his mileage in the few years I have left! Cheers and best wishes.

I'm coming to the view that whilst the engine is out and stripped down, I should repair this bearing. I checked the backlash by inserting feeler gauges between the crank web and the bearing white metal. It is also possible to feel the axial movement on the shaft, so I concur with your opinion. "Do it once and do it right" always wins in the end. Thanks for your input.

Thanks for that. Model A Mechanics handbook by Les Andrews states 0.00.3" as the MAXIMUM clearance. Is his book incorrect? Rgds Gerry

Thanks for your response. All 3 bearings are good diametrically. It is the end to end movement on the rear bearing that is worrying. I'll see if anyone in those clubs has experience of running an engine in this condition before going down the remetalling route.

I bought my 1929 Tudor some time back. The engine was rebuilt by a previous owner, but having taken out the engine to deal with a leaking gearbox, decided to strip the engine and check it out. All bottom end parts are fine, crank ground etc. Have had crank, rods, pistons & flywheel balanced. On reassembly, I find the thrust clearance on rear main is 0.008". It should be 0.003" max. Any thoughts/ideas or do I start again? (its Babbit metal not shells) Gerry Marsden, Lancashire, England