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On 25 Jul 2001, at 9:45, Miller, Gary (G.) wrote: > I was browsing an old (1965) VW service manual. I came across a note > regarding a limited run of engines that were fitted with steel backed > bearings rather than aluminium. My experience tells me that auto > manufacturers don't change anything unless it's really necessary. Does > anyone have knowledge regarding this change? What was the point of > this? Some sort of thermal expansion/ saddle degradation thing? I recall some VW literature mentioning steel backed bearings used in cars exported to "temperate" climates. My impression is that this meant places where it might be expected to get cold. So yes, this appears to be a thermal expansion thing. I never knew what this referred to until I had a case line bored to an extreme oversize by RIMCO many years ago. When I got the case back I was surprised to find that the bearings that came with it were noticably different in that the #2 main halves were very light. At that point I went after one of the original bearings with a magnet and discovered that it had steel in it. RIMCO told me that they could not get steel backed bearings in that oversize (which was either +1.5 or +2mm) but all the other #2 mains I have ever seen have the steel in them. Once you are attuned to this you will notice their weight, which is distinctly different from all the others in the sets. So that's all I know about steel in our main bearings. I'd be interested in hearing from someone in a tropical setting. Did the VWs there actually come with the plain alum bearings? - Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711-3054 USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe? mailto:type3-request@vwtype3.org, Subject: unsubscribe