Pouring And Boring!! Model T Ford Connecting Rod Babbitt From Start To Finish!

Come along for the process of Re-Babbitting a Ford Model T Connecting Rod as we pour and machine a new bearing! We are always trying to improve our process and learn as much as we can about these lost trades!
If you enjoy what we are doing like and subscribe, We have a Patreon account if you want to lend a hand in improving the channel. We have Patreon only content to keep you updated with latest goings on in the shop!
/ strongsgarage
Want to send us a letter and let us know how we are doing? Drop us a line at:
Strong’s Garage
Box 434
Bruderheim, Alberta, Canada
T0B0S0
Email
[e-mail]

[@CarterAutoRestyling]

After years of being ridiculed and hung up on by other "professional" engine builders, it sure is a relief to finally find a shop that's capable of rebabbiting my 350 Chevy. Great video!

[@johna1160]

Once again Matt and Jim are to be commended for passing on century (roughly) old auto tech with their fans. I'm imagine 99% of us will never have occasion to employ these skills, but it's just so doggone fascinating to watch. Between his floppy sport cap and straw boater, Matt is rocking the old timey lids!

[@n1r0l]

Thanks for posting another video. I was getting worried that something terrible had happened, like maybe you ran out of plaid shirts.

[@davidlong1786]

🤣

[@glennnickerson8438]

Plaid is the fabric that binds Canada together...😆

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

That babbitting cutting lathe/Machine is amazing !!!!! and the babbit forming dies are awesome you guys are doing impressive work !!!!! truly keeping history alive

[@Jeff_Pendleton]

Years ago I took my '48 stovebolt rods to have the babbit refreshed. I had no idea how this was accomplished. Thanks for taking a little of the mystery out of these old engines! Great job once again!!

[@edwardlincoln5680]

always find your videos interesting for an 83yo

[@1924ab]

Nice old machine.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

That was fascinating to watch. Beautiful, skilled work. I loved the number stamping set in it's precisely machined wooden box that has allowed it to survive since 1942. 😊

[@Bannimann2]

That was a good one guys. As a kid I watched my grandad do this, he had the equipment and the knowledge, but I haven't seen it done in over 50 years now, so this brought back some great memories. Thanks. 🥲👍

[@glennnickerson8438]

Looks like the store inventory is shaping up nicely. The showroom is the best man cave ever!

[@deweydodo6691]

Babbitting anything is almost a lost art. Glad to see the guys hard at it once again.

[@marshallcrank]

Great show guys.

[@vettekid3326]

The great thing about babbit is the old stuff can be washed out and reused along with the shavings from the machine work. if you want to test the harness just cast a test piece and check the hardness with a hardness tester and add whatever to make it softer or harder depending on the application.

[@lincolnmaniac]

A former employers grandfather used to come visit the shop and told me about this process. Nice to see it in a video in real time. thank you for sharing!

[@robertwells6454]

I have wanted to see this process. Glad You Guy's are doing this. Love the Strong's Garage content. Always a real treat Cheer's! 😁👌

[@davidsolloway9349]

Like 44 ! Good to see your post .

[@russdavis1960]

Another Quest, Another Job WELL Done!!!

[@dannmarceau]

Very cool, guys.

[@nerradnosnhoj5122]

Thank you for the video Very cool seeing the old tooling back in action

[@SuperMAZ007]

Re-Babbitting is the long lost art that now only few these days know how to do. @lifeafterourloss might need a bearing casting service.

[@rickrice3221]

Great video, guys - always a treat to watch Strong’s fix old machinery with old machinery!

[@stuartrose9456]

Great video guys, we need to keep these skills alive, your very talented at what you do.

[@robertwells6454]

What is just as cool as Your content is seeing all the great old tool's being put to work. It just check's so many boxes for Me in particular. Keep the coolness coming.🤟😎✨⚡✨

[@36oldsaussiecoupe]

Welcome back lads we have missed you great content 👍

[@phillipleeds296]

Fascinating to see the old techniques and the precision tool work. Automotive artistry. Thank you.

[@murraymeekel7842]

Awesome video! I still can't believe that Chevy kept with the Babbitt splash oiling system until the early 50's on their low pressure oiling 216, and early 235.

[@deanbrunner261]

Where have you been😀😀.hello from Memphis TN always ready for a video from y'all .your shop reminds me of a bunch of the garages in the 50s in my home town in North Dakota . Thanks for the memory

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

That is a wonderful thing to bring these skills back before they are gone. There are a lot of engines with babbit bearings around and you boys have a skill that is needed. Great Job!

[@coldwarmotors]

Another beautiful repair, gentlemen!

[@maggs131]

Not a lot of folks would even know this procedure exists and even fewer that cam do it. Thank you guys for preserving an important chapter of automotive history. 👍

[@brucelindskog542]

Thanks guys! Your videos are always enjoyable.

[@DavidHorsnall]

Thanks for posting another video. Great video.

[@roberthocking9138]

Wonderful old machine tools, thanks for preserving them and showing us how they were used. It could have a used a few more better close ups, but interesting none the less

[@bigunone]

Thank you for keeping the old tech alive

[@JorgeDiaz-ly5qp]

Superb video on a completely lost art! Giving those little four-bangers a new lease on life and getting them back on the road is as worthy a cause as any car-lover can imagine. Cheers, Gentlemen!!!

[@twgarage-terrywatson1672]

👍Looking good.

[@brianmatthews9697]

Quite impressive. You guys and your tool collection are really great.

[@djambrosia]

Excellent stuff guys.

[@rickardjohnson4524]

Thumbs Up Guys for keeping it going, NEAT...

[@ratt727]

Great tech session

[@bernierezny8156]

Nice to see ya guys

[@goodkarmechanic]

Thanks for this video I always wondered how it was done

[@bbrut3332]

Darn guys, you must have been really busy to not have posted any new stories. Glad to see you back and with a subject I have never had to use. Stay warm from your East Texas viewer.

[@cudaman-yq7pq]

Great video! I hope that Model T counterbalanced cranks isn't a Sure-Mike, those have a bad reputation for breakage.

[@johnhillside9105]

Neat, neat, neat!!!

[@jamiewaddell1598]

Absolutely fantastic wow was so interesting I know what babet bearings was bit never seen it done . fantastic guys . Jamie from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 keep up the great work

[@ellwoodblooz]

Ding ding YEAH! Thanks for the vid guys 😎👍🍺🍺

[@user-rw9xi8qv7x]

Good job on the new used equipment very good that you found it before running the engine always better checked ✔️ than sorry ❤😊

[@craigbowley6783]

Merlin down at Merlin's old school garage on KZbin is a wealth of knowledge for those old fords. He builds a lot of those.

[@bryduhbikeguy]

I jested with my other comment,but I'm glad to see a thorough work through of the steps to Babbitt correctly.I like machining and to see it for actual use is pretty kewl.

[@algonquinbriar5647]

Very well done gentlemen. I always enjoy watching your work. Be well.

[@timothynewkirk2654]

You Guys Rock ! ...Newk from Kentucky

[@mikewatson4967]

So great to see old skills being relearned and saved to be passed down.

[@Mercmad]

The unsung hera is Matts Dad who appears to be a very skilled Machinist /Turner/ Mill Wright or what ever Canadians called them .

[@AstraWerke]

Beautiful work you did there. I've seen people treat the freshly poured babbitt with a pneumatic hammer, stating it'd work-harden the material and make it more durable during its service life. Then I've hear others say that all the hammering does is make the babbitt brittle and fail prematurely... Do you have an opinion on the topic?

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Dear Astra Werke. 🙋 Hi there! 👍👌👏 Very nice to meet you here. I once recommended this channel to you and just wanted to send you the link to this very special video (but you already watched it). By the way: Before I watched Strong's Garage, I sent you a link to a short video about modifying a Model A engine support and the radiator mounting. I hope that you will receive it. Best regards, luck and health in particular.

[@scottrayhons2537]

You did'nt answer his question.

[@Meskhov]

Astra: I've been Babbitting since the 70's and wanted to answer. When the metal is "tinned" as in steel or brass shells/caps, no need for peining. Peining is for Cast iron shells, caps, blocks and is used to spread the Babbitt, while hot "Tight" against the metal to produce almost a bonded bearing so it will last. A loose bearing will fail prematurely. If done cold, the bearing will fracture so must be done right after removing the mold. Hope this helps!

[@AstraWerke]

@@MeskhovYes, this helped alot! Thank you!

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

👍👌👏👏👏 Oh WOW, simply fantastic! Congratulations! 🎉 Your machines and skills will be able to save a lot of cars respectively engines. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and especially health to all involved people.

[@stevenwithanS]

That was really cool.

[@jamesonpace726]

Don't quite know what yer doing, but I really like it....

[@erichutchins2113]

Thanks for the education! You guys are like Sesame Street for car guys. See you next time.

[@denisnedelec1159]

Nice job guy’s!!!thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

[@johns9993]

Really enjoy watching the process ! A few close up of each step would be nice as well ! Great job guys !

[@mechanics4all405]

fantastic

[@pappabob29]

Thanks Gentlemen for posting this not often seen topic !! Unless I missed it, I didn't catch you saying that a "shim pack" was installed between the rod and its cap prior to sizing the journal. I thought I saw one (brass color) installed when Jim was showing the journal end. The shims are/were intended to be removed as the babbitt wears so proper clearance can be maintained until the babbitt is mostly gone. Very nice looking work !!! I bet it's very enjoyable ! ;o)

[@jerrypeal653]

We’ll go ahead Ah !

[@bryduhbikeguy]

Glad you were able to correct the Babbit after the 1 st crew Fudded it up.

[@paulstanley31]

One of the members of my vintage truck club is also in the local Model A club. He does babbitt work at his place. I'm over there on Sunday for a club meeting. Maybe I'll take some pictures of his set up.

[@brianbethel9929]

Matt, Jim great seeing you again. Interesting stuff for sure. Glad you are still at it in Bruderhiem. I sincerely wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@user-rw9xi8qv7x]

Nice you acquired another new old tool and able to build your missing parts and learn how to make it work and provide a lost 🎨 of making the old cars operate as smoothly as new😊

[@gregadams51]

Thanks, that was really neat to see and understand .

[@wesbellmore6664]

Fantastic resource for the old car community !

[@ellwoodblooz]

I was shown how to ‘file’ the rod caps after the shim had to come out, when I was about ten by my uncle, this was when working on Brit Ford 8s and 10s. Four cyl side valves used in pretty well everything. I’m knocked out you came across this practice. He warned me not to loose the shims in case you filed too much off the cap. 🧐 We lived on a farm 😉

[@mylanmiller9656]

My dad used to talk about doing Babbit bearings, years ago, The way he talked was if it was a simple proses. After watching the work going into these rods, I can see why they switched to Shell bearings. It is neat to see that you guys bring this stuff back.

[@BillGaliette]

Wonderful to see you gentlemen continue the fine craftsmanship of years gone by. Always a pleasure to watch your skills at work. Cheers from Connecticut!

[@danontherun5685]

I recently got a 31 Hudson 8 hasn't been run in many years and while I really like you guys I sure do hope when I start it I don't hear a reason I have to beg you to redo the bearings. You Canadian guys are alien level calm, too damn helter skelter here in the US.

[@robertparker3172]

Fascinating.

[@67697072]

Nice work !!!

[@liljoeii6091]

Awesome video,that's awesome you guys know how to do that stuff and HAPPY THANKSGIVING

[@JoeHynes284]

i learned about them in machinist mate A school for the navy in 1996

[@leegathers6845]

Great video! I been waiting years to see how it's done.

[@andrewpeter4114]

Amazingly Low-Tech, but extremely interesting, Gives us 21st Century Petrolheads a fascinating insight into the beginnings of our obsession. Keep up the fantastic Vids - they make my day ! Andy P. Liverpool UK.

[@brucemitch928]

Thabks for showing us the fascinating process, nice video. Well done 👍

[@drifterdrifter9558]

So cool watching this. I was born 50 years to late 😊

[@frasercrone3838]

That is great stuff and interesting' I have done babbitt bearings on an old stationary engine where we poured the material around the actual shaft and then it was finished by hand with a bearing scraper. Not something you would want to do on a higher revving engine. Maybe some more close in shots when you are machining would be good for the people watching. Keep up the good work.

[@wilco3588]

I don't think even late T's had Dipper rods but I'm pretty sure the replacement engines that were built after the T I think some of those had Factory Dipper rods.

[@dennisfoltz7880]

You do the whole process or the whole car in house excellent. Great video,s !!! Could i get some credit. 😂😂

[@crchuckh6852]

very good👍👍

[@saltyreesescup3104]

My Grandfather Taught Me About How To Pour Babbitt Bearings When I Was Very Young 10-11, I Would Tell My Other Gearhead Friends About It In The Early 80s And They Would Just Stare At Me With A Blank Face...😶🧂

[@billyporter2195]

I’ve heard Jonathan W speak of Babbit on his channel but not understood it, great video very informative thank you and well done

[@nickjervis8123]

We in the UK were using these bearings well into the 1950's on British Fords and Singers. We used to scrape the bearings

[@timrayburn2461]

Thanks

[@erikbarrett8523]

That’s a Sure Mike crankshaft. Also known as sure break. Like having a grenade in the oil pan.

[@christianheidt5733]

Top notch!!!

[@rickardjohnson4524]

Freaking Neat, Love what you Guys Do! Thumbs Up... "O" Thanks!...

[@MrJeep75]

Awesome

[@myoldtractorshed]

Thank you. Scott

[@timothysmith5769]

Now THAT's entertainment!

[@erikbarrett8523]

May I offer some input from my experience? Pay more attention to temperature in your rod prep. The tinning solder should be in a liquid state when the babbitt is poured. Invest in a non contact infrared thermometer and see to it that the item to be poured is 600 degrees. When done properly the bearing will be effectively soldered to the rod or cap. Also, as soon as it is poured cool it as rapidly as possible with water. The longer the babbitt stays in a liquid state the more time there is for the constituent elements to separate from each other. Test your bond by hanging the rough poured parts from a wire and tapping them with a wrench. They should ring. If it sounds like you are tapping a potato the bond is defective and the bearing will fail again. Plan on doing the other rods soon. The one you just did probably failed due to no bond.

[@jonathangehman4005]

A little trip down someone else's memory lane. More please

[@ihrescue]

Under some typical/regular use how long would ne of those babbit bearings last?

[@chrispiazza7487]

I missed you guys! Slicker than owl snot!