Connecting rod bearings, not used in action, can they be re-used?

[Wagner]

I assembled a block after having checked that everything is ok (or so i thought). Later when i had it all together i started to wonder that what did i set the ring gaps to be and checked my notes... Hmm, such a foolish mistake to make, but apparently i did not check the ring gaps at all. :oops: Somehow i managed to skip that part altogether. Naturally i will not leave it like that, they have to be checked ang gapped.

So my question is: can i re-use the rod bearings? I have to remove the rods and thus open the rod bearing caps. The bearings are crushed a bit when the caps are tightened, so should i buy new ones? Can they be crushed only once? Is there a risk of bearings spinning if i re-use these? They are new and the engine has not been run yet.

John V? StealthFTI? Anyone with a lot of experience?

[2manyturbos]

I wouldn't hesitate to use them. Metal springs back. They are going to fit just as tight if you re-torque everything properly. If you think about it this way, you do this whenever you check clearances with Plasti-gage.

[Wagner]

Oh yes, that's true, and i have plastigauged this block as well.

However this engine block has been sitting as it is (assembled) for quite some time (like 5 months) and now i have a use for this engine. Does that make a difference (the time)?

[2manyturbos]

Not at all.

[John V, outside agitator]

Oh yes, that's true, and i have plastigauges this block as well.

However this engine block has been sitting as it is (assembled) for quite some time (like 5 months) and now i have a use for this engine. Does that make a difference (the time)?

Bearings can be reused even after 100,000km as long as they measure correctly and I have seen plenty of motors with cast iron cranks where the bearings measure correct out to the .0001". (That's what iron cranks are good for)
You'll be fine.
The thing that kills bearings is detonation--it can actually flatten the metal.

[Wagner]

Thanks guys. They were orig. Volvo bearings from the dealer and quite expensive as well. So the fact that they are re-usable is really goods news. :)

[2manyturbos]

Like John said. I tore down the lower end on a 211K miles B230F that I hadn't heard run just to measure everything to make sure it was good before installing it. The engine had within a few pounds of factory compression, so, it seemed like it was a good bet. The lower end was within spec to .0001, just like John's motor. I reassembled it, installed it and 50K miles later, it is still running around Portland, OR.