if the main bores in the block are correct and the crankshaft is ground to the correct dimensions, you won't need shims. I could never figure out why you would need them. The block and crankshaft are (supposed to be anyway) held to +/- .0005" tolerance. Do the math from there. Although '48 is the pivotal year, '49 and beyond don't require them, at least Egge doesn't provide them with bearings sets after '48. My suspicion is the precision insert bearings weren't quite as precision in the era these engines were built, as they are today.
Last edited by brokenhead; 10/25/2013 4:08 PM.
