Mail Order Bearing Replacement

[reece146]

Just thinking out loud...

Are there any trusted vendors that offer a service where you can ship a partially knocked down engine to them for rod and main bearing replacement?

Shipping an engine with no heads or the front covers and chains should reduce the cost of shipping.

Or maybe vendors that sell blocks ready to go and save half the shipping?

[pbonsalb]

If you can pull the engine, pull the heads and reinstall and retime the vanos, you can change the rod and main bearings.

[roastbeef]

maybe he wants MRF's specific service...

[CSBM5]

If you're going to the trouble of pulling a motor to ship for repair, I'd probably just ship it with heads and all and get a fully rebuilt one from Carbahn/Steve Dinan for $14,999. This is actually a great price, especially for what you receive as junkyards price used ones in the $9-11k range.

https://carbahnautoworks.com/product/s65-4-2l-rebuild/


.

[deansbimmer]

Shops don't want to be shipped a half torn down engine that's been blasted with dirt and dust for days or weeks requiring a full tear down and clean up. At that point it might as well end up being a full rebuild anyway. Plus then you're paying $180 for EACH head gasket to put the heads back on... False economy.

As mentioned, if you can properly remove and disassemble an engine, you can probably do the bearings.

Also, the Carbahn rebuild is a good price BUT like all rebuilds it requires a GOOD core. An engine with any audible knock, shavings in the pan, scored cylinders, etc would not qualify for that price. If your engine is running without issues but just tired then it's a great program.

I suppose it is an interesting thought if you live somewhere where there are no experienced BMW shops up to the task. We ship engines for about $200, it would be economical at that price point... If you're not much of a wrench turner, it would probably make more sense to ship your car and let the shop do the whole job.

[Scharbag]

Or send SYT_Shadow a plane ticket

[reece146]

I just figured it would be "a thing" to do this. My buddy sends his bored/stroked F22 engine from his track S2000 all over the place (in pieces some times) without issues it seems.

I can pull an engine no problem - have cobbled together drivetrains and such but nothing that I want to take to the track for a day of 30 minute sessions, you know?

I'm not a super hard core track guy but if I can get to a half dozen events a season plus a full season of autocross I'm having a good year.

What special tools & procedures are required to do the job? What separates this from a normal engine bearing change?

I read something about matching the shell spacing to the crank and some injection thingy for sealant when re-installing the bed plate?

Thx

[pbonsalb]

There is a DIY for rod bearings you can read and there is also a video. There is no DIY yet for main bearings. Eventually, but most people here don’t work on their cars. I’d be interested in reading one since I plan to pull my motor and change the main and rod bearings in a year or two. I changed the rod bearings 4 years ago when there was not much in terms of a DIY.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Or send SYT_Shadow a plane ticket

Not sure if he saw this so I'm tagging him SYT_Shadow.

Edit: Mains, my bad.

[pbonsalb]

The OP wants to do main bearings. That is not a day job if you include all the pre and post change work.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Or send SYT_Shadow a plane ticket

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Not sure if he saw this so I'm tagging him SYT_Shadow.

Edit: Mains, my bad.

Hehe, that won't work for mains!

Maybe next year pbonsalb and I get together for the main bearing DIY!

[tdott]

Find a local engine builder. If you aren't doing any custom work, it's not rocket science.

Looks like you are in ON, depending on where you are you should be able to find several reputable shops.

Unless you were looking to build a stroker or custom build, you can go with a well known US builder, many will sell you one, you pay a core deposit and get it back when you send them a good core.

[MMachines]

Is a main bearing roll out / roll in discouraged / not work here?

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

The OP wants to do main bearings. That is not a day job if you include all the pre and post change work.

I saw rod and stopped reading... My bad

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by MMachines

Is a main bearing roll out / roll in discouraged / not work here?

I think I know what you are getting at here. I have done full bearing swaps with the engine in the car, heads on, on B16 and B18 Honda engines. Made easier with a simple cam setup and a timing belt that is easy slack off.

With the bed plate on the S65, I think mains is very major job and there is no real good way to do it without removing the engine.

Others with far more knowledge can fill you in on the details.

Cheers,

[MMachines]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

bed plate

Hmm, maybe at the same time as a clutch job and lower the crank out making a bracket to support the back of the engine.

Regardless, seems mains aren't as big of an issue, or an issue whatsoever.

I already have my plan if my motor goes... my car's seen 3 Canadian winters before taking it out west, has about 85k miles, it's an 08 (some haters out there) and it was hit in an airport parking lot, it'll get an LS swap.

[deansbimmer]

With the transmission out and the crank pulley/balancer removed (and obviously the subframe etc), it is possible to do in car but I would not attempt it without a lift. The issue is that you have to remove the bedplate. The rods will be hanging down and wanting to scar the journals at every turn. It's very difficult to get it all back together safely as your crank and bedplate assembly will be put back in as one heavy assembly. With the precision required for this job I would not want to attempt it again in car.

Seeing as you have to remove the top end and timing gears/chains to remove the crank, for me its "easier" to just drop the motor down and put it on a stand. I have more confidence in the completed job that way and gives me a chance to really "refresh" the engine with a wash and new gaskets and seals everywhere else.

[reece146]

Doing it in the car would be a huge pain in the ass. The engine can be pulled in a few/several hours even by a hack like me.

[MMachines]

deansbimmer, I totally get it. Just thinking about how to get it done if the car height is fixed. If a DIYer just MUST do it, find a place like SYT_Shadow did, or invest/buy a proper hoist setup.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If you can pull the engine, pull the heads and reinstall and retime the vanos, you can change the rod and main bearings.

Pretty much this.