Let's have a discussion about type IV bearing Options

[rick 918-S]

I know there has been talk lately about the lack of availability of bearing.

This could be the end all of our cars. Can't get hard parts, can't fix the aging engines. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) This is not acceptable.

What is the problem? Don't these engines have the same crank shafts and blocks as VW busses? There is like a billion of those arond the world.

Is there only one maker of these?

Anyone ever thought about approching a manufacturer about producing these?

How about a group buy or forming a sourcing committee to pursue manufacturers other than the one that currently stopped making the bearings?

There bearings people not plutonium.

[Jake Raby]

This could be the end all of our cars. Can't get hard parts, can't fix the aging engines. This is not acceptable.

This isn't the first time this has happened.. It happened in the mid 90s and again in 2001. It may not be acceptable and it may suck for those not prepared for it, but nothing can be done about it.

Hard to find parts is part of owning a vintage vehicle.

What is the problem? Don't these engines have the same crank shafts and blocks as VW busses? There is like a billion of those arond the world.

The numbers aren't enough.. When new car manufacturers place orders for a couple hundred thousand bearings, the bearing manufacturers cre nothing about an engine designed over 40 years ago.

Is there only one maker of these?

Two, primarily.. A company in Mexico called silverline and the Mahle/ Kolbenschmidt company that merged back in 1999.

Anyone ever thought about approching a manufacturer about producing these?

Absolutely.. But knowing the EXTREME development thats REQUIRED in finding the absolute sizes and materials for the bearings I can see the costs extending well into the 6 figure range. This is not an area where "close is good enough" because improper materials, bearing crush and etc can and will lead to engine failure, then lots of fingers being pointed in a direction that doesn't sound favorable.

How about a group buy or forming a sourcing committee to pursue manufacturers other than the one that currently stopped making the bearings?

I already have a MFR sourced, they have made bearings for me in the past, but the following for these engines is great enough to demand the expense of the development and the risks associated with it.It would take months of experimentation to do this CORRECTLY and thousands of test miles, tear downs and used oil analysis to make an effective product.

There bearings people not plutonium

They may not be plutonium, but they are a very big part of the critical equations that comprise the engine.

The MFR also have told us a run of bearings will be made in January, I expect these bearings to be like the new Type 1 main main bearings and not have a steel backed center bearing, which would equate to pure junk, sacrifced for ease of manufacturing and cost.

Over time bearing quality has really went downhill. The best thing to do is find a bearing from a modern engine that is still great quality and easy to source and then create an adaptor to fit these to the TIV case. The development associated with this would be great, but at least the bearings would be a proven component and could be purchased with ease at a good cost.

If I was going to put this much time and money into something, I'd outfit the case with a modern bearing and do whats required to make it a proven arrangement. We already know which bearings to use, from which modern engines. I stand ready to attack the problem in January if the bearings are not available as promised, or if they are released and are pure junk. Our first priority are our engine purchasers, so considerations of selling these to the public would be critical. Within my engines I control everything, inside someone else's engine I control nothing and when things break I don't accept finger pointing. Playing the game of "risk" is part of the title "engine builder" for me or anyone else.

Expensive, hard to find bearings are nothing new.. Buy a set for a 356 engine, they have been over 400.00/set for at least a decade.

It doesn't get much more difficult than bearing development, even with the capabilies, tools and the network that we have at our fingertips.