Finally buying Rod Bearings and ARP bolts! Please Help!!!

[GSTE34]

So we're are we at on this guys? I have a guy who races s54 and uses wpc treated and has never heard of the B.E bearings.

1 wpc treated

2 B.E w/ b.e arp

3 "vac" bearings which we know are not vac but malek @ MRF engineering uses them in all his race builds.

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by GSTE34

So we're are we at on this guys? I have a guy who races s54 and uses wpc treated and has never heard of the B.E bearings.

1 wpc treated

2 B.E w/ b.e arp

3 "vac" bearings which we know are not vac but malek @ MRF engineering uses them in all his race builds.

Not only does MRF use them but thousands of other VAC clients use them without any issue. Initial batches of VAC bearings were no good, but the latest ones they have been pushing out are the best.
BE is also great, but make sure you didn't get the fake ARP bolts that they were bundled with reported by a forum member here in a rare incidence.

[jcolley]

Originally Posted by gordon@

Not only does MRF use them but thousands of other VAC clients use them without any issue. Initial batches of VAC bearings were no good, but the latest ones they have been pushing out are the best.
BE is also great, but make sure you didn't get the fake ARP bolts that they were bundled with reported by a forum member here in a rare incidence.

"Fake" ARP bolts? From BE?

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by jcolley

"Fake" ARP bolts? From BE?

I got a few BE ARP bolts that didn't pass QC, but calling them "fake" insinuates foul play which I don't think is the case, and to me sounds more like an opposing brand loyalist trying to start something.

[jcolley]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I got a few BE ARP bolts that didn't pass QC, but calling them "fake" insinuates foul play which I don't think is the case, and to me sounds more like an opposing brand loyalist trying to start something.

Hence my use of quotes.

I also received a set that had a bad start on the threads. Of the 20, about 6 needed some help. It looked as if the final step of the process on the screw machine had been skipped and insufficient QC inspections on them. Once the threads are cut, an angle is ground on the tip of the fastener to allow the start of thread engagement to happen smoothly. This wasn't done consistently on them so I chucked each one in the lathe and turned a very mild taper on about .5mm of the tip. No problem at all after that.

Fact of the matter is, this had nothing to do with BE and was 100% in ARP's court to have delivered that product out the door to the client. Someone needs to conduct an internal ISO9001 audit.

[SaltyNC]

Does anyone here know if the ARP bolts that BE sells for the S54 (2003+) are any different than the standard ARP-2000 M10 bolts, or did BE only spec a set of bolts for the S65 and S85 that reduce bore distortion when torqued to the recommended value? From their website, it seems the S54 bolts are just standard ARP spec. I think these S54 M10 bolts have gotten confused with the specially designed bolts for the S65 and S85.

I sent an email to BE asking for clarification, but I have not received a response. I am definitely going with the BE bearings for the S54, but I'm on the fence on using the ARP bolts. It sounds like the OEM bolts may be the better solution for doing a bearing swap with the engine in place, even if it requires the torque procedure x 3, *if* it results in less out-of-round distortion and better clamping force, and that seems to be the case (see link below). I'm no engineer; I'm just trying to determine the best solution, and these discussions always seem to devolve into pissing matches and are hell to wade through.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...postcount=2550

Salty

[SaltyNC]

I received a response and confirmed that the ARP bolts BE sells for the S54 are not in any way custom spec like they are for the S65 and S85. The S54 bolts are the standard ARP-2000 bolts. I also pointed this out to a vendor that had mistakenly listed the S54 bolts as being special, and they are going to change the wording on their website. Darn.

Salty

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

I received a response and confirmed that the ARP bolts BE sells for the S54 are not in any way custom spec like they are for the S65 and S85. The S54 bolts are the standard ARP-2000 bolts. I also pointed this out to a vendor that had mistakenly listed the S54 bolts as being special, and they are going to change the wording on their website. Darn.

Salty

Make sure we don't buy from a vendor that doesn't know what they at selling.

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

Well, after reading that 5+ year, 148+ page odyssey of a thread about bearings/oil/vitriol, now I don't know what to do. I will await my most recent Blackstone UOA, and go from there, I guess. LOL.

I'm biting the bullet and doing them next week on me 09. BE with BE/ARP Bolts.. my daily fear and lack of redlines will be worth it for me.

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

wfdeacon88
I hear that, but as a wise old person once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". So that is why I hesitate a bit now. There is the real possibility that a preventive maintenance thing like swapping bearings could end up creating a problem, due to inappropriate clearances, improper installation, etc. Best to follow the Hippocratic oath, "First, do no harm" as often as possible, at least in my opinion. That said, if my Blackstone results are not good, I'll need to do something. Right now, she needs a clutch.

If I had oil tests going back to purchase, I'd be fine waiting, however, I don't have any information on the oil prior to my purchase. And if you don't have the historical oil tests, the Blackstone tests are kind of worthless because they could already be worn down.
I'm at 98K miles now, plus my last oil test was very odd.. so much lead that they said "well, it's not the bearings bc they would have already spun with this much, must have been leaded additives added or something". so I'm going to do it, because I want to do some good mods and redline without fear.

[Helmsman]

Never hear about alternatives from BE, believe there is one set of S65 shells which are increased clearance.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

wfdeacon88
I hear that, but as a wise old person once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". So that is why I hesitate a bit now. There is the real possibility that a preventive maintenance thing like swapping bearings could end up creating a problem, due to inappropriate clearances, improper installation, etc. Best to follow the Hippocratic oath, "First, do no harm" as often as possible, at least in my opinion. That said, if my Blackstone results are not good, I'll need to do something. Right now, she needs a clutch.

Please visit the post that shows that almost every set of S65 bearings removed are worn abnormally. Many terrible condition bearings have UOA reports that are just fine.

Typically, the S65 is "broken" and needs to be fixed before it is ruined.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

wfdeacon88
I hear that, but as a wise old person once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". So that is why I hesitate a bit now. There is the real possibility that a preventive maintenance thing like swapping bearings could end up creating a problem, due to inappropriate clearances, improper installation, etc. Best to follow the Hippocratic oath, "First, do no harm" as often as possible, at least in my opinion. That said, if my Blackstone results are not good, I'll need to do something. Right now, she needs a clutch.

This is where people's opinions differ. Most original S65 bearings out there are 'broke' and need replacement. There just are no symptoms until it's too late and your motor's gone. It's like living with undiagnosed heart issues. You feel "just fine" until you have that heart attack. You really need a history of Blackstone reports to determine accelerating wear, not just one.

There's no risk of creating problems by replacing rod bearings with BE bearings, unless the job is rushed by someone who shouldn't be doing it in the first place.