Crankshaft & Big End Bearings

[harrynaerger]

Dear All
Looking for some advice on where best to source the above. I am buying an engine from Mike Smailes in Middlesborough to have as a spare for our racing Jupiter. To quote Mike :-

Engine:- I built up this engine for my own use on historic rallies. I stiffened up the engine with additional aluminium plates. Internally, the engine is a series 3 with oversized pistons and liners fitted with Wills rings and this gives a capacity of 3.1 inches which is approximately 1650cc. It looks like a standard Jowett engine externally.
I fitted as many new parts as I could find at the time but it needs a pair of cylinder heads doing which I could arrange for you if necessary. If you want me to get you a price for this I would be happy to do that.

At present the engine is stripped down because I had some internal stiffening plates welded in by a very reputable machine shop, AMAC Engineering in Northallerton, and it now needs assembling.

I'm hoping to collect the engine parts from Mike in January (Covid permitting) but he suggested new bearings which are apparently hard to come by?
Any thoughts?
Hope you have all had a chance to have a decent Xmas and best wishes for the New Year.
Still hoping for Classic Le Mans in 2021
Best wishes Harry
PS Our "new" gearbox has finally been finished and we are hoping to fit that in January too (again Covid permitting. Presently in Tier 4....)

[Srenner]

Pretty good recent conversation about bearings without recommending what to use.

https://jowett.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5739

[Forumadmin]

Be wary about main bearings as there are some poorly made ones, or at least not to the specification to directly replace existing ones, that purport to be for Jowetts.
Of course, first try JCS, but these probably will not be of a spec suitable for a race engine.
Suggest you talk with Richard Gane.
My engines are modified for a centre thrust bearing.

[David Morris]

Hi Keith,

Interesting that you have the thrust bearings on the centre main shells. I have a block that Jowett Engineering produced for Ferguson, from memory the serial number is FER02, and that has separate thrust bearings located adjacent to, but not connected to the rear main shells.

Stay safe and all the best for 2021.

Best regards,

David

[Forumadmin]

This mod has been done by many people e.g. Dennis Sparrow used it a lot and Neil Moore in NZ and a few in Aus. Lots on JT about it.
The rear main has poor oil delivery so moving to centre seemed logical. It also means you can revert back to rear main.
The main reason is to use readily available lead indium throughout.

[harrynaerger]

Richard Gane highly recommended bearings from Bill Lock.
Bill is now awaiting supplies from New Zealand.
I have a further question about cylinder head inlet port diameters and carbs but I will post as a separate topic.