B230 Intermediate Shaft Bearings fitment

buddyglitch

Im a fan of doing things properly, much to my own detriment at times. Rebuilding my b230FB decided to change the aux shaft bearings. I'm now having nightmare fitment issues with installing shaft.

Part VP94015

Made sure the positions were correct as all 3 are slightly different sizes. Largest at front, smallest at rear. Pressed in easy enough... now close to impossible to install aux shaft without brute force and mallet. Bound up and won't turn without 30+ lbft.

I know that some of these bearings supplied have to be line bored to spec after installation, but I double checked that these specific ones were pre-machined. I'm at a loss. Maybe I could use a brake hone to slowly work away some material? Anyone had this issue before? would love to not have to pay for more machining on this build! ?

alphax

Have you measured the actual clearance of each bearing to each journal?

That will tell you if you have a clearance issue (and if so, how bad) or some other issue, like alignment, burrs or bend in shaft (not likely).

if they are tri-metal bearings you would not want to remove any material from the bearing to gain clearance. I'd remove material from journal before that or look for other bearings that offer correct clearance.

buddyglitch

Was preoccupied with bearing OD and making sure each was in appropriate place, I never thought to measure the journals themselves. Knew that they only come in one std size and that the block couldn't have possibly shrunk.. maybe I'm wrong?!

volvodriverman

Could the bearings have oval'd going in?

alphax

The only real way to know is to measure journal to bearing clearance. Bearings could have slight ovality or be undersized slightly. Is worth checking bearings like this to see if bearing fits on journal before knocking in. If they have insufficient clearance before going in, they will only be worse once in or if knocked in slightly askew.

buddyglitch

They had a bit of 'slop' when placed over the shaft outside of block, so figured they'd be ok when pressed in. Should have measured, but really don't know what I'd do if they were out of spec anyway.. There seem to be a few similar posts on TB http://www.forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=305685

Maybe the STD fit isn't the same for all blocks. This is a 1995 B230FB.

Major Ledfoot

Maybe the STD fit isn't the same for all blocks.

Yeah, they are - well, all OHC blocks, at least. B18 / B20 ones (cam bearings) are different.

Where did you get your bearing kit? They are usually fitted by align boring.

However the ones sold by High Performance Auto (aka OVO = Old Volvos Only) are pre-fit bearings.

carnut222

Major Ledfoot
Maybe the STD fit isn't the same for all blocks.
Yeah, they are - well, all OHC blocks, at least. B18 / B20 ones (cam bearings) are different.
Where did you get your bearing kit? They are usually fitted by align boring.
However the ones sold by High Performance Auto (aka OVO = Old Volvos Only) are pre-fit bearings.

Tell us more about this "High Performance Auto OVO". Is there a website? Can't find anything about it! Just curious! Thanks!

buddyglitch

@Major Ledfoot Kit was from KG Trimning. They sell both pre-machined and machined sets. Currently emailing to find out if I was sent the wrong one.

Major Ledfoot

JFYI

(photo pinched from Hi Perf Auto)

Major Ledfoot

@carnut222 I'm sure you'd know these guys. :)

http://hiperformanceautoservice.com/

carnut222

Major Ledfoot
@carnut222 I'm sure you'd know these guys. :)
http://hiperformanceautoservice.com/

Wow, they've been in business since 1976 and I've never heard of them...unbelievable. They must keep a very low profile! We were pretty much going with ipd 100% in the late 70s-90s...