Main bearings

[justcruisin]

I pulled these off my 440, engine has done around 5000 miles. These are pulled down with the factory bolts and measure up with plastigage at .002".(picture shown) I didn't pull the crank so I imagine the oil on the top bearing will effect the reading, just cleaned the lower bearing and journal. The engine was upside down. When I first put the engine together the clearance was .0025" with a mic. I have just changed out the bolts for studs @ 110lbs and remeasured in the same way, came in at around .00025 tighter or there abouts - around half way between .0015 and .002. I know this isn't totally accurate but any one care to make a comment if it should be OK. Also - check out the mating surface - seems to be some slight transfer?

[metallicareload99]

Hey man, I am no expert, but my understanding is that after fitting the block for main studs the mains should be line honed/bored afterwards

[chapel40]

No machine shops can line bore around here

[justcruisin]

Ideally line hone would be best, if it is done right. I don't want to strip the engine down, the bearings are P series which I understand are a little more forgiving and based on the plastigage results they appear to be all even - so apart from being a little tighter with the studs (which again were even with the plastigage) is a line hone even required. The issue as I see it - is it too tight.