Posted by winget on January 17, 2000 at 13:20:57:
Below is a link to Babbit bearing supplies. I also follow the Model T Forum (yes, I have more than just a Dodge, Sorry...)
Anyway, the info I've read from their posts is to avoid ANY soft metals like lead, and that most vendors don't know REAL babbit composition nowadays (go figure)
Here's the formula someone posted for Ford's Babbits referencing LEAD:
The Ford babbit was: 85-86% tin, 7-7.5% copper and 7 to 7.5% antmony (?) with a max of .1% lead (that's one tenth of one percent)(1/1000). So forget about leaded babbit.
Now granted there was a great truck named Dodge, but Ford also bought much of the early parts (contracted out) from a company that wasn't quite DBCP, but was actually Dodge Brothers themselves.
Ford was picky about quality of the parts and insisted on higher standards. Another reason the T was so easy to repair in the field as the major items didn't give out.
If you want further info, try the Stationary engine sites. They know people who know people, etc.
Really worst case, I have a friend that just poured a set for an old Gin Mill (no, that's Cotton Gin as in machinery for making clothing, not the liquid type :( ) Seems he was raised with a "Gin" in his family business, and a restoration project asked him up from Ga. to help set the large machinery back into place (talk about BIG engines)
Bottom line: Get hard stuff, and Never EVER reuse old babbit, as it contains all the bad stuff from the previous life (shavings, chemicals, grit, etc.)
Happy Dodging WAW
PS: What were you babbiting anyway? have I missed something on my truck??? WAW