I'm building a h22a4. What I want to know is what are the pros and cons of using acl bearings.

Also is it true that you have to have them machined for proper clearance?

 

I read somewhere that they are actually preferred over OEM Honda bearings because they are made of somekind of "tri-metal" combination which makes them more durable or something to that effect....Im too lazy to research it again but imho you can't go wrong with acl bearings....

 

Really?


Anyone else can chime in. I googled acl but every thing about them were sites selling them and the layers but no sites talking about anyone using them.

 

The tri-metal is the race series of ACL (there are two different versions). There is currently a shortage of the bearings due to the company changing hands (there is a thread I believe in the A-M section), but you can find them online if you look around. For almost any purpose, either ACL's or OEM will be fine as long as you run the proper clearances.

 

Okay so for ACL bearings standard will be what i need.

But do I have to have the ACL bearings machined?

 

You will have to buy them install them and check clearances. Do you have the Honda manual for your car ? If not buy one you will learn alot. I just used standard ACL bearings in my h23vtec rebuild and All the clearances were in spec.

 

Okay cool.

So do I need to install the rods on the crank and the measure or can I do dial gauge and measure the diameter with the rod and rod ends connected and off the off the crank.

 

I ran the Tri-Metal race bearing in an H22A4 rebuild a couple years back. Had no problems with clearances and everything bolted up just fine. Don't know how much that will help you but might give you some confidence in the company :D

 

I personally would go with OEM, ACL's are alright but you cant go wrong with OEM. That way you know your going to be putting in correct bearings with exact clearances/specs.

 

No matter what you use its still important to check clearances. Yeah you can go by the markings on the block and crank to determine the size of oem bearings but overtime things can change... metal can grow slightly bigger from heat cycling or it can get smaller from wear etc. I've always ran ACL as long as the clearances have came out good.

I like to mic all the journals and take notes, and then use a bore guage and measure the rod and main bores with and without bearings installed, and then measure the thickness of the bearing itself (with a special micrometer of course) to determine what bearings I want where for the best clearances. Then after all of that for a final check I will use plastiguage, which can also point out other problems that you might not have caught by measuring individual journals.

 

I agree, clearances should be checked when doing anything with bearings. ACL bearings come in standard sizes though unlike OEM where you can get the correct size for your motor and have better/tighter clearances.