Source for main bearings

[andrewp]

I have a good spare block and a good spare crankshaft . . . but, sadly, no main bearings.

Other than SJ Sportscars, is anyone familiar with a source for Elan M100 main bearings in the standard size? Is there a suitable cross reference alternative from a 1.8 liter DOHC GEO Storm or Isuzu Impulse?

Andrew in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

[FunElan]

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/isu ... aring,5220

.020 and .030 undersize

[Tuga2112]

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/isuzu,1991,impulse,1.6l+l4+turbocharged,1176173,engine,crankshaft+main+bearing,5220

.020 and .030 undersize

that is exactly the reason i didnt say a word. "standard size"

I Had the exact same question a year ago when my oil pipes decided to divorce from the radiator.. luckyly i didnt need any bearings. but since i was already checking that area i considered replacing. and nothing came up in my search.

[dapinky]

It is hard to establish exactly what size you need, without knowing the exact measurements of each crank journal.

Whilst many of us are used to 'standard' bearings, '020-oversize'. 040-oversize' etc, the Elan used hand-selected shells which were picked to match each crank perfectly - and all would qualify as "standard".

The Workshop Manual gives the size range(s) and allocates a colo(u)r code to each size - so you may need 'Black', 'Blue' or different shells for your own crank.

Many years ago I bought a set of +20thou shells intending to do a rebuild, and then measured my crank and found it to be perfect..... quite fortunately, really, as research led me to the information that the crank is heat-treated and toughened after machining, and any further machining, without such treatment, would soon turn it into scrap! (well, it wouldn't last as long as intended, anyway).

I have NEVER heard of an Elan crank which is so badly worn that it needs to be machined (bear in mind that the Turbo Elan uses a forged crank, whilst the NA & Impulse use a cast one), and only rarely do they actually need new bearings.

[Tuga2112]

I have NEVER heard of an Elan crank which is so badly worn that it needs to be machined (bear in mind that the Turbo Elan uses a forged crank, whilst the NA & Impulse use a cast one), and only rarely do they actually need new bearings.

in my case both bearings and crank werent damaged even after half a mile of driving without oil.

but Dave's comment includes that.. because he was the first person to know about my misfortune

[RonR]

Last year I had to replace my bearings, the block & crank were well within tolerance so I needed STD sizes.
Big ends and Thrust washers were relatively easy to get hold of, I used King Big End Bearings CR4004AM STD and ITM 1T4405 Thrust Washers.
After looking for ages for Mains I called CTL and they had Blue and Black sizes on the shelf.

[Simon_P]

Exactly as dapinky says. Original bearings are graded aftermarket and NA bearings only have one hole so you will need to drill in the oil spray hole for the turbo. Aftermarket bearings are one size fits all and now aluminium rather than lead, indium etc