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Plating automotive bearing shells to increase outside diameter by .0005"

Q. I have an engine block with main bearing holes that are .0010" too large. This makes for too much oil clearance with the crankshaft and bearings I have. If I could plate almost anything on the backs of the steel bearing shells, it would save the money of having to order a specially ground crankshaft for this engine block. Electroless nickel sounds good. .0005" is not much to ask. If I could find .0005" thick shim stock, I'd use that. As you have mentioned in other posts, copper sulphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] coatings do not work.

Ken Keune
- St. Louis, Missouri
January 16, 2012

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Have you checked around for bearings which are .001" undersize? It used to be fairly common to use these where crankshaft wear was only .001" or so in order to avoid regrinding cranks.

.0005" shim stock is readily available in stainless steel . Do an internet search, or here's one source: www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=406-0026

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
January 18, 2012