I am currently working on a 1959 Fairlane 500, at this point I have been able to pool up about 1100-1200 to put just to the engine. It has already been completely torn down and magnafluxed, at that time I ran out of "spare" money, but the machine shop told me that the block needs to bored .030 over. It is a 292 y-block, it is going into a four-door sedan that will be used as a cruiser for my family. That being said I'm not looking for a power house of an engine, just a dependable car I could just put the family in and cruise worry free. All that said, my real questions are what parts to get and what parts to avoid. I am doing this on a budget, so yeah, I am looking for the best bang for my buck. I have the advantage of working in the auto industry, so I can get fairly good deals on parts, but which ones? The NAPA we use on the daily can get me "sealed power" bearings, but I can not seem to find any kind of real reviews on the brand. Has anybody used this brand? If so, how are/were they? I do plan on getting the pistons and push rods from Mummert's site, but I don't want put questionable parts in the bottom end of the engine only to have to do this all again because I cut corners where I shouldn't have. Any help you guys can provide is appreciated.
Sealed power is a major player in the engine hard parts business. A sub of Federal Mugul which is one of the largest producers. I can't see why you couldn't find info on them. I've been using their rings, bearings, cams, lifters and timing sets in a business situation, since the early seventies.
My NAPA folks have always been my best local source for parts and overall good advice regarding who does good work locally. Just make sure you work with your machine shop regarding pistons, rings, bearings, etc. so that fitment is coordinated. Cleanliness when ***embling is extremely important, as is making sure all oil p***ages are clear. And clean, chased threads will ensure your torque readings are on the money, a big deal when you ***emble.
For the best yblock information go over to Yblocksforever.com. John Mummert is on there along with Ted Eaton another yblock guru.
Talk to people in your area who have had work done. Who do they use? If you know someone who uses a vehicle in compe***ion, who locally does he use? Around here the people who machine also provide the parts needed to ***emble and usually they provide ***embly if needed. These businesses want to use good dependable parts. They can help you.
Thanks for the responses guys. I have a machine shop that I am going to use, it is part of a local parts store that carries sealed power bearings so that is what the use. I guess my next question is, has anybody here used sealed power bearings on your bottom end? Can I trust sealed power? I don't want to build this engine and have the whole thing come apart because of a cheap(?) bearing.
Glad I found this thread, I also have a 292 to rebuild. I am just getting ready to do the tear down. Going to check out Yblocks forever. Thanks guys
Like Bob said in post#2, Sealed Power is a major player in the world of engine parts and has been for many years. Their parts are as high of quality as any other aftermarket replacement parts company. The machine shop/parts store I worked at for 20 years was a Sealed Power dealer. Sealed Power engine rebuild kits came with Federal Mogul bearings for as long as I can remember (since 1990 at least). Although I doubt that Sealed Power offers a complete rebuild kit for the 292 anymore, if they did, it would come with Fed. Mog. bearings. I think that people who have been selling Sealed Power parts since before Federal Mogul bought them out (or absorbed them) tend to refer to the bearings as Sealed Power when in fact they are Federal Mogul. Either way, they are high quality parts in my experience. Ron.
In most rebuild kits, a upgraded kit contains Clevite bearings. Have used both type of bearings and prefer the Clevite bearings. Something to keep in mind. Hud
Never had a issue with the parts I've bought here (never done a Y block though). http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductId=842
Last year I put together a 292 for my 57 with a bunch of parts I picked up here on the HAMB from a guy that was cleaning out his dad's garage after he had p***ed away. Along with a set of Jahns pistons, a Speed-O-Motive crankshaft, Isky cam & lifters were a set of Sealed Power rod & main bearings. I used the bearings and put about 2k on it so far without any concerns. I wouldn't be afraid to use them.
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