Hey everyone,

I hope all of you guys do well. I'm just recently started to rebuild my b20 bottom-end for my b20vtec project. It is a budget build, I just try to keep busy myself during the lockdown and not get bored.

So, I'm just installed a new set of bearings and checked the main journal clearance with plastigauge but unfortunately it is way off.

According to the service manual the no. 1,2,4,5 journal clearance should be between 0.024-0.042mm and no. 3 should be 0.030-0.048mm. Service limit is 0.06mm.

My measurements 0.09-0.1mm all across which is way to big/loose.

I'm not sure if this is because a worn out crankshaft or poor quality bearings. Engine was running great before I disassembled with 194k miles on the clock. Crankshaft looks mint, no scoring etc.., however I don't have a micrometer screw gauge to check it. It was fitted with the green colour bearings in all journals and it had little to no wear on them.

Before I get a new set of bearings or a micrometer screw gauge to measure the journals, does anyone know or used this brand before (CAP Certified) ? I was get it from ebay, it was soo cheap. Maybe it's a poor quality bearing with clearance issues?

 

I don't use anything except factory bearings... I am not sure what you expected from the cheapest bearings you could find on EBay.

 

Not much tbh, the guy who was selling it used stock photos of King bearings, so I did thought I'm going to get one of those. He's already sold over 40 of these and only had good reviews. I was always used ACL Race bearings in the past, but like I said, I just try to entertain myself. It would make no sense to spend a tons of money on this project when I've got two other cars. Anyway I bought a set of micrometer screw gauge to check the crankshaft, than I will know if it is a bearing issue or just a bad crank.

In the meantime if someone used these bearings before it would be nice to hear if they had any sort of issue with them. I can't even find this company anywhere..

 

Ok, so this week I checked the main and rod journals. It was all in spec. Fitted a new set of ACL Race bearings and now my main bearing clearance is between 0.042-0.048mm, rod bearing clearance is 0.035-0.042mm. So it is all good and I can confirm it was a bearing issue.

If anyone got these CAP bearings, don't use it! Last thing you want is a spun bearing.