Reading back on a couple of threads, I am tempted to try my hand with rebabbitting a T block. I've done most everything else having to do with T mechanicals and am thinking its time I took the plunge. For those familiar with the process, is there a big learning curve? I am most concerned about pouring a good bearing. I would think that the boring part wouldn't be that tough if you have decent equipment.
Any advice is appreciated.

"I would think that the boring part wouldn't be that tough if you have decent equipment."

Famous last words!!

The boring part might be boring if you have the correct equipment -

and it might be exciting if you don't!

Pouring is an interesting process. The block is easy when you make the mold. Since you have seen the previous thread, there are examples. The main caps can be done in pairs with a simple mold. Needs two rears.
With regard to the learning curve...try melting some babbit in a crucible...to the correct temperature and pouring some rods. Hover that requires tinning the rods...another process.
You need a heating source, crucible, ladle, and a face shield...and correct temperature. It is an interesting process.

Richard:
the pouring and linebore are both relativly simple process's with proper equiptment and instructions ...the lack of instructions and completeness or condition of antique fixtures was the reason i designed and built my own around 1978 ...i have produced both the molds and linebore unit since then and have provided support for my tooling as well...i think i may have sent an info packet in the past,but in the event you would like an info packet on my tooling...e-mail your name and mailing address and i will send a packet at no charge ...best regards gene french
e-mail: gfrench1953@hotmail.com

Richard,

I encourage you to try your hand at babbiting, but I recommend that you find a friend who has the experience and the equipment(in good condition). It gets to be expensive to invest in the equipment if you only want to do one block, and there are tips and techniques that come with experience. And, you probably don't want to go into this as a sideline.

Several years ago I invested in a KRW Combination Machine, and have since had three reamers reground to fit undersize crankshafts. I was fortunate enough to find an NOS KRW boring jig, and then made a new bar with adjustable cutters. This system works very, very well and the final bearings come out so straight that you can shoot through them. I also invested in one of Gene French's main bearing cap molds to do the caps (it works great too!). But, to do the job right, it takes a lot of time. Lots of measureing, lots of adjusting the cutters as you sneak up on the final bore dimensions before running the reamer through. Lots of Time! So much so that if you value your time, it is a lot cheaper to have a good babbiter do the work.

Also, you need to keep in mind that once the news gets out that you can do that kind of work, all sorts of "friends" start to appear at your door. One friend of mine has made it a point NOT to have his own set of main bearing cap molds so when someone asks him if he will do a bearing job on their T block, he can say no because he doesn't have the molds (actually he borrows them from a friend not far away).

I don't do babbit work for other people (except for Dong Lang and his two sons, both of which participate in the process and have some serious sweat equity in the engine when it is done). But I do enjoy doing the work for my own cars.

Respectively Submitted,

Trent Boggess

I say GO FOR IT! Let us know how it turns out. What frustrates me most about this hobby is the people who try to make some things sound like they're magic and only the elite few that already know the dark secrets should ever attempt these feats that are over the heads of us mere mortals. If you have the time and money and desire DO IT TO IT! What are you gonna be out? It's not like you can't melt it out and try again if you screw it up. I'll bet you do screw it up the first time. I know I would. But so what? That's just one of those 1000 ways to not make a light bulb that Edison was talking about.

I built a spoke press and respoked a wheel (Thanks to John Regan). I got a HCCT and learned to rebuild coils (Thanks to Ron Patterson). You can learn to re-babbitt a block (And thank Gene French).

Richard
I went through learning that process many years ago. I was fortunate to be coached by someone familiar with the process.
I made my own pouring jigs and used one of Gene French's 1988 era boring frames. My mentor was never satisfied with the recommended horizontal feed mechanism. We found a Tobin Arps self contained hydraulic horizontal feed works Tobin Arps used on many of there rod and engine boring fixtures. We adapted the horizontal feed to a boring bend and using the French system to do align boring. I used this unit for several years and finally sold it to a Model T engine rebuilder in Connecticut and here is a photo of it still in use.
Investigate the T/A horizontal feed works.

Ron the Coilman

Richard
Sorry, there are two photos required to depict the use of the Tobin Arps horizontal feed works.


Ron the Coilman