I keep reading about "spun" bearings and was wondering what the symptoms might be and what potential damage can occur from one? My 455 runs beautifully but once this summer when I started it cold there was a temporary deep rattle from the motor that lasted for just a second and I've never heard it again. This was not a lifter type of noise and I'm concerned that there might be something loose in there, yet I hate like hell to pull apart a perfectly running motor. I rarely take it over 4000 rpm as this is a cruiser but I did floor it a few times, just to clean out the carbon of course, and it ran well with no sounds and excellent oil pressure even at idle when hot. I'm using a 10-50 synthetic oil which works great but causes wonderful oil leaks. Should I be worried and have it looked at? Thanks Barry
Spun bearings don't "heal". They are permanent, until you rip the engine apart, grind the crank and align bore/hone the mains, or resize the rods. By the time a bearing spins, both the journal and the bearing housing (the connecting rod or the main saddles/cap) will be damaged. Listen for the knocking. If the bearing spins, you'll hear it anytime the engine is running.
Barry; If you had a spun bearing you would know fairly quickly. As the bearing shears off the tabs on the backs of the bearing shells the bearing will quietly spin for a while, but this shuts off lubrication, which causes rapid bearing deterioration, exterme wear on the crankshaft and ovaling of the conecting rod. The symptoms of a spun rod are: 1.) Deep solid rhythmic knock. 2.) Loss of oil pressure. 3.) Sick feeling in your stomach. 4.) Severe pain in right rear pocket.
My engine had badly worn, to the copper, bearings. I had been running it on the dragstrip and hearing a rattle on the fast end. It was quiet on start-up and didn't make noise until it warmed up. By the time I brought it to Jim W, he was afraid to drive it at all the rattle was so bad. I would guess that you just didn't have any oil pressure at start-up, probably no problem. If you start hearing noises when warmed up and running, worry. Mine became progressively louder under load, there was no denying that there was a serious problem. I spun #3 and another was close.
It sounds to me like you had a hyd. lifter pump down, and it takes a couple of seconds for oil pressure to pump the collapsed lifter back up again.o No:
No Barry, you shouldn't be worried - all that leaking oil is sprayed all over the underside of the car by aerodynamic loads. It will keep your Buick from rusting. :laugh: On the serious side, a spun bearing is a loud thump, you know something is wrong and its time to shut it off and tear down. Also no oil pressure. I've spun a rod bearing so bad that it was flowing out of the rod side clearance, and it looked like a main thrust bearing.
Thanks for all the comments. I'm hoping it was a collapsed hydraulic lifter and I'll pray I never hear that sound again. As usual this is a great forum and I really appreciate the assistance. I won't get a chance to drive it again for awhile as it is up on jacks while I crawl around tightening everything and oiling up all the suspension bushings to get rid of the squeeks. A friend of mine who is a Mercedes Service Manager gave me an incredible product that is harmless to rubber but penetrates any moving part and then evaporates leaving a high pressure, clear grease. Works like a damn and saved me replacing all the rubber bushings as the noise was driving me crazy. Once I fix my door latches our "Monster" will be finished and ready for next summer's cruising. I am still contemplating an X pipe to quiet my exhaust a little but I don't think I can find room under there to install it.
Barry.....I for one would LOVE to see ALOT of pictures of your car, including under hood shots !! Thats a heck of a sexy ride....and 455-motorvated too !!! WowowowZaaaa :TU:
Thanks for the compliments guys, it feels really good when fellow car nuts enjoy the results of your efforts. This summer the Roadmonster was a big hit at some of the car shows and had literally thousands of photos taken at the huge Langley car show here in the lower mainland of British Columbia, which is now rated as one of the largest shows in western North America. Over 2200 cars from the whole of Western Canada and all the way down to California, and huge crowds take over the whole town. It was an amazing experience and one I plan to repeat next year. As for some engine pictures I'll try to get some once I lower it back to floor level and get them posted. What's quite interesting about this site is that I was ready to sell the car as I was having big problems for over a year with the engine, and it was advice from here that steered me to Ignitionman Dave, who solved my problems and got me refocused to finishing her up. Now that she is reliable we really had a hoot driving around this summer, especially since we had magnificent weather for top down cruising. My extra thanks to everyone here at V8Buick! Love these Buicks.
Spun bearings bad make lots of anchors. (This was out of my boat) Note the heat discoloration in the crank and saddles. Machine shop said he was surprised it didn't toss the rods out!
No biggie MLTDWN Just another Chevy engine biting the dust.:grin: Just kidding, I couldn't resist since you slipped that block in here.
Yeah yeah yeah, but it's what you run if you want to run fast on the waterp Still have two GS's for the asphault
