>>>*There are still a lot of engine builders who prefer the old lead babbit technology. In it's day that did the job.
The problem is there is almost no source, the material is not legal for USA production. Someone can explain to me why it can be imported, I don't know.
The reason is simply, our hot tanks became hazardous waste from lead in the solution. It cost us $3000 every six months to have it picked up.
Now we test and what you flush down a typical john daily is more hazardous than our used hot tank solution. Treat it to 7ph and dump it.
King Bearings are Israeli made, and contain a small amount of lead. That is known as Alecular, lead is even being phased out of that, also. Clevite used to be Clevite 77, then it was Michigan 77, then Clevite brand again with the 77 logo. Now I believe Mahle has a piece of that action.
That company has used TM-1 material for ages now, no lead at all except in certain high performance bearings.
Federal Mogul used to supply primarily steel backed aluminum, I am not sure on that anymore, haven't used them for years. Last time was in my Dragster engine, they worked fine.
ACL is a good brand, but most of the sub labels supply King in their box, same as we do. It is now proven to be a good piece.
Now if you really are serious, try to find the SI bearings. I know that King is making that for the Mitsubishi engines to take 30# boost and more. That is a machined silicon alloy and will take around 1100 degrees, everything else is done around 660 degrees or so. They do look funny, though. Some folks send them back thinking they are defective because of the sideways cut on them.
Of course if you get the bearing heat to 660 degrees you usually don't care about the bearing anymore, it's crankshaft time.
I tried to contract with King to make the 22RE bearings in SI material, they wanted me to purchase 500 of each size to do the production run.
I don't have that kind of capital laying around.
I should have went for it...Like I told the wife, there is always her IRA... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />...
I have just one brand I refuse to use, that is ITM. Just personal choice there from some poor experiences, I suspect they are fine too most of the time.
I do know one thing, the racers that are serious are using King...The other brands are just stickers they put on their cars for comp money.
(I have done that myself....*shhhh....)
*See? Told ya I was prejudiced....*LOL**....*EB
