<VV> Engine noise, Bearings, Plastigage et al

[ChiefTAM@aol.com]

Thanks to everyone who sent e-mails explaining plastigage and it's use.  I 
had lots of Corvair books, and have looked at many of them (I didn't have a Shop 
Manual until this happened however, only had some supplements that came with 
my 69) but I hadn't read about rebuilding an engine because I never had to do 
that.  The problems I have had with Corvairs before this were not internal 
engine related.  My total experience with rebuilding engines involved a Briggs 
and Stratton in the early 70's in high school shop (and we didn't use 
plastigage) and helping my brother assemble a couple of small block Chevy's we built for 
my racing Jeep.  We didn't have to, or we didn't, use plastigage there 
either.  In the case of my recent problem with my 69, it was not crank related, but 
piston rings, and the replacement of the rod bearing was really just an 
afterthought.  While it was off, we decided to replace the old one with new.  We 
didn't have (I didn't know about as said) plastigage, but we did mic the journal. 
 As there are no Corvair mechanics (as a business) in the Dallas area, and 
I'm sure, as we age, and the cars age, there will be fewer and fewer of 
mechanics specializing in Corvairs, I am going to have to learn how to be a mechanic 
if I want to keep up with Corvairs.  I will learn by trial and error, with the 
help of friends in NTCA, and with the help of those on this list.  Believe me, 
I would rather this not have happened, I would much rather be driving my car, 
working on getting my house built, concentrating on my new job, and now 
finding a place to live for the next 4-5 months, but I'm at least smart enough to 
learn from it.  Lots of extra work, but I'm learning.  Thanks for the help.

Todd
Dallas