We purchased a Hudson 8 engine a few years back that had been rebuilt by a very knowledgeable club member. Now, four years and 7500 miles later, there was an engine noise that with investigation showed the Babbitt bearings appear to have "melted" ( how Steve described them). The fellow who rebuilt the engine has since passed away, so we don't know where he got those bearings. We really want to keep the Hudson 8 engine in the car, so we're asking if anyone has found a source they're pleased with for replacement Babbitt bearings.
You are sure that it is a main bearing that has failed? If so, the engine will have to come out to replace this, as the bearings shells are screwed into the block. If it is a connecting rod bearing this can be removed from underneath.
The rod bearings are well within specs. I think the guy who rebuilt the engine got ripped off. The main babbitt bearings have essentially melted, they're mush. Nothing else appears to be damaged
Oh dear, that is a major then I'm sorry. The bearings will have to re-metalled and line bored, unless you can find a set of NOS shells. Even so, the crank has to come out.
I thought even NOS ones need to be line bored...no?
Depends on whether they are finished or semi-finished, and the undersize, if any, that the crank has been ground.
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