Main bearing clearences

[Malthael]

So I am putting together my 5.7 2009+ when I measured the crank journals the mains were at the smallest allowable tolerance. Now I was installing ARP main studs so I had the block align honed and bought standard bearings, now since I didn't have a dial bore gauge I used plastigauge which showed .001 of clearence on all the mains. This has me concerned the crank still rotates freely, but I'm going to have around 11.3:1 compression so 0.8 higher than factory and plan on shifting at 6000 rpm maybe 5900 rpm, with a BTR stage 2 cam, was wondering if getting different main bearings would be the smart move here? Like -.001 undersize(oversized for more clearance) to increase my clearence to .002. my main concern is spinning a main bearing the first time I hit 6000rpm I am thinking of buying these bearings CLE-MS2220HX to increase my oil clearence.

 

[work truck ram]

Wear and machining is going to increase the gap. The only way the gap is too tight would be "under sized" bearings, oversized journal/caps. Under sized bearings refers to the journal undersized diameter. Undersized (journal) bearings are thicker to decrease space. Are you sure you had all of the oil cleaned out of there when you gauged it?

If you are running stock diameters or used stock parts it will not be too tight with stock bearings. Plastigauge is not that accurate. If you can still spin with a wrench it isn't too tight. Sloppy clearance worked on old, pre gen 2, race motors but not on new motors that you don't plan to tear down each season.

 

[Malthael]

Yes I wiped both the bearing surface the cap the block and the crank down with acetone before I gauged it. Is it worth it to spend the $366 on the dial bore gauge to check the clearences,. Last thing I need is to find out the hard way that it is to tight.