Engine bearings " brand"

[Katz427]

Well I have to ask this again in 2021, but what brand of any is the preferred? I have Clevite CB743hn on the shelf for rods and 125 M and Calico CLCMS 1010hX  for main bearings. I can get ACL , the warehouse does have them, not sure but the race versions for the rods, at least. This is a 482 FE in a BBM block. Any preferences? Or if the clearance looks good run what I have in stock ?

[My427stang]

I like the narrow Clevite or narrow ACL, for the rods, of the two I regularly use both, but like the ACL better for no good reason maybe looks LOL

For mains, Brent turned me on to coated Kings, which I like a lot, but if I don't use them, I use Clevite full groove.  Not because I want full groove, but I can't seem to get any Sealed Power/FM bearing to hit clearances, and .001s aren't ever .001, especially with rods  If the 125Ms would come in, they'd be my main bearing of choice. 

No negative with a full groove bearing but I like the idea of a wider oil contact patch.  Unfortunately clearances are more important, so it's been a while since the 125Ms worked for me

All this time I haven't tried an ACL main bearing in an FE, but the Chevy rods are nice

[blykins]

Your Clevite CB743HN's are a good rod bearing.  I would consider having them coated. 

On the BBM blocks, I prefer the Cleveland bearings because there's more choices, so I would stick with your coated MS1010HX, especially since they're coated.  You will have to just see if you need an X bearing or a standard or a mix of the two depending on how your crank was ground. 

I really like the coated bearings and for the past couple years, I've tried to include them in every engine that gets assembled. 

[Katz427]

Thanks, Ross, .. Brent. I appreciate the response, just getting parts ordered, is a chore, as I'm sure you are aware, "backorder," seems to be the common refrain.

[blykins]

I'm sure you are aware, "backorder," seems to be the common refrain.

It's really got me down lately.  I've waited months to get pistons only to get them in with the wrong specs.  Lifters come in spurts.  Heads come in spurts.  Everything is hard to get.  Trying to get engines out the door has been a real chore.

If you need a particular bearing and can't find it on the shelf, yell at me, as I might have it.  I carry a lot of coated bearings and if I don't have it, I may have the regular bearing and can send it to Calico to have it coated.  I have a dealer account with them.