Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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| | | | Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 | So if you've seen my other post regarding my '55 bearing problem, this is a follow up. In that thread it was mentioned that a block using doweled bearings could be modified by adding the notch to accept the tangs that are used on later '56-'63 blocks, the 690M-10's. Anyone have info, pics, anything on that. Seems like it may be my only option at this point. Thanks!
Last edited by Oswald; 07/21/2026 7:37 PM.
1954 3600 Stakebed
non-original engine out of a '55 passenger car with powerglide
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | Since the upper bearings with either dowels or tabs have the same outside diameter, it's a simple matter of using a narrow grinding stone on a Dremel tool to make notches in the block for the tabs to fit. Just be sure to get the slots positioned correctly- - - - -"Measure twice- - - -cut once"! Drop me a PM and I can probably walk you through the procedure with a phone call. You'll need to have the block stripped down completely to be able to do a good cleanup after grinding on it. I've also filed the notches into blocks, using a 1/8" square tool and die maker's needle file. www.ebay.com/itm/177987239469?Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | There are several listings on Ebay for the tang-style bearings, .010" undersize, at a pretty wide range of prices. Shop carefully! www.ebay.com/itm/203613474956?Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 |
Kicking self for selling off my Taskforce trucks.
Still looking for an LCF or conventional big bolt in decent shape.
As of 10-26-2022, A 55.2 Taskforce long bed now the work begins
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | Using a Louisville Slugger to swat a fly! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 | I don't have a mill, so I used a Dremel with a small cutoff wheel. Took me all of 15 minutes. It would take at least that time to set up a mill to do the same.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 | Glad I don't have a Louisville slugger but I do have a dremmel : ) Was in touch with Jerry, he gave me a good explanation of what needs to be done. Waiting for the bearings to show up. Once surgury is completed will update the patients status.
1954 3600 Stakebed
non-original engine out of a '55 passenger car with powerglide
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | As parts continue to dry up for these old engines, if we want to keep them running it's becoming more and more necessary to adapt "close but not quite right" bits and pieces to them. There will always be the folks who bow down and worship their "numbers-correct" factory parts manuals and insist that nothing else is suitable, but for more practical people, finding something that can be tweaked a little and still get the job done will be a good option.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 593 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 593 | If the block is dowel pin and the bearings are notched, then couldn't the new bearings be drilled with a hole to match the old ones? Then just remove the notch from the new bearing. Or is it more trouble to do that than to simply notch the block?
1965 C60 school bus | 1967 GMC 6500 school bus
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 87 | Better minds will follow up but from my didcussion with HRL, AKA Jerry, notching the block is a better option. Got my new bearings today but i'm going to be away from home for a couple of weeks. Once I get back I'll be back at it and will update my progress.
1954 3600 Stakebed
non-original engine out of a '55 passenger car with powerglide
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