3 Bearing bearing

[Henry Harris]

I'm working on a modified Austin/Reliant hybrid 3 bearing engine at the moment. 
I'd like to replace the centre main bearing shells with new. 
I have just removed worn Vandervell 1724 shells which don't look like Austin or Reliant.
Does anyone have access to a Vandervell catalogue? 
I'm interested to know what vehicle they originally came from?
Thanks in advance.

[Hugh Barnes]

Many years ago, Vince set up a 3 bearing bottom end for me and used shells from a Morris 1000, I think. Not suggesting they are necessarily what you seek, but may give another avenue of research..

Ah, I have found them...

   

Marked 040 so 40 thou undersize perhaps?

[Steve Jones]

Phone Gosneys in Romford. If they can't tell you from the reference number, you'll struggle to find someone who can.

Steve

[Stuart Giles]

Re. the Morris Minor possible contender, How wide is the shell? Early ones were 1.187" wide. Later 1098cc ones were narrower. Can't remember the width but I have a set of them here which I could measure if it is useful.

[Henry Harris]

Austin and Reliant shells are 15/16" wide. BMC A series seem to be 1 1/16" wide. Both are 1 3/4" dia.

[Stuart Giles]

Austin and Reliant shells are 15/16" wide. BMC A series seem to be 1 1/16" wide. Both are 1 3/4" dia.

The 998cc and 1098cc mains are 1 1/16" wide; the 803, 850 and 948cc shells are 1.187 (1 3/16") wide as I said earlier, the difference is pretty obvious in this photo after a quick rummage in my workshop.



I would be interested if you manage to find any documentation that matches the number(s) on the shell with the part number of the bearing. None that I have seen have any correlation. eg. the wide main marked VP2744 part number of the set VP244; The narrow main marked VP 4499 has a part number VP733. This is more than idle curiosity, I have a couple of sets of new bearings here where the tab was missing from the box end when they came to me. I have not been able (using t'interweb) to find a part number or fitment for these.

[DavidL]

Not thought about these for a great many years, but have a memory of Metro Turbo bearings being considered special, and necessary, but not sure if that's a main or big end, or anything else, but its another guess at what it might be.

[Stumpi]

I used metro bearings for a long time, they lasted about
2 years before failing.I just dropped the sump and changed them.
Eventually changed to 2 bearing crank.
Andy

[Henry Harris]

I used metro bearings for a long time, they lasted about
2 years before failing.I just dropped the sump and changed them.
Eventually changed to 2 bearing crank.
Andy

I have used Metro bearings in the past with the supercharged engine but they require narrowing and re-drilling.
I'm keen to find what the Vandervell 1724 are from as they need no modification.

[Bob Culver]

Just curious but are all or any of these white metal? The early 803cc were notorious fro origianl w.m. big end failure, but main loads are less severe.