Ball bearing conversion?

I would like to change out the ball bearings on the front spindles on my to roller bearings for my 39 Olds coupe. Is there anyone out there who has done this? Any advice? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

ummmm....find a reason to do it first? Been running those ball bearings on my old trucks for a long time, they work ok if you keep them greasy and tight.

 

go to timken bearings web site and check their dimensions charts. find a bearing whose outside race dimensions and inner race dimensions are the same. pound the old one out and the new ones in. if you can't find a match there probably isn't one in this world.

 

Tapered rollers have thrust control and considerably more durability and endurance than the ball bearings.
Back in the late 50s I worked in a parts house and we sold a kit to change GM cars over to tapered rollers. Wish I could tell you more, but All I know for sure is that it can be done.
Dave

 

Ther are advertisers on E-bay with kits for this purpose........a search there should lead you to one of them.......

 

One of Ford's and Plymouth's biggest sales pitches about their durability had to with the number of tapered and other roller bearings used rather than the archaic ball bearings used in Chevrolets.

 

"It's all ball bearings these days..."

 

Check out The Filling Station it is mainly Old Chevy parts but the guys there have been helpfull to me and have been polite answering my idjut qustions.