Okay first let me start by saying I have searched (here and other places) and do understand that early 95's have different main bearings.

I am still in the middle of a rebuild in which my crank was too far gone to have turned so I order a reman. crank kit with main and rod bearings from napa part #KBP3042. When this kit came in it look good and (even matched the forging numbers on the crank) until I tried to plastic gauge the bearing clearances. The main bearing are notched on the wrong side! I ordered this kit for a 97 Talon. I took the main bearings back to napa and they tried to get the correct ones for me. Three days later they told me that these bearings are the only ones that they carry just different sizes but all notched on the same side as these. Then napa called Clevete and Clevete told them the same that they only have the bearings like I recieved. Clevete then faxed a paper to napa telling me that the bearings are made for a 95 and have to be renotched? Has anyone heard of having to renotch main bearings? Does Clevete actually only make bearings for a 95? If so I am stuck with these bearings. Has anyone used or had good luck with ACL main bearings from Dino?

Here are some pics:

My old bearings

Wrong bearings I recieved

My block

Again wrong bearings I recieved

check to see if there's a different part # for an avenger 2.0. A lot of times I've found that parts places will show the same part for a 2gnt and a neon (which they often aren't) but a different part for the 2.0 avenger (which is almost always the same)

I have clevite mains in my car and its got a 95 block in it. I bought the bearings from howell though because they offered the "kit" that the 95 needs. Instead of having to buy two sets of bearings. When I plastigauged it out it fit the clearances and I have about 15k on the engine now with no problems. As far as ACL, I have the ACL rod bearings and I don't have a problem with them at all either. Everything measured out.

Originally posted by Slo2g
I have clevite mains in my car and its got a 95 block in it. I bought the bearings from howell though because they offered the "kit" that the 95 needs. Instead of having to buy two sets of bearings. When I plastigauged it out it fit the clearances and I have about 15k on the engine now with no problems. As far as ACL, I have the ACL rod bearings and I don't have a problem with them at all either. Everything measured out.

look at his pics. the bearings physically won't go into the block. they're notched on the wrong side. he doesn't need the early 95 set, he needs a 97 set but the crank bearing kit he got was notched like the early 95's. IIRC the neon blocks never changed the notching and I'd bet that NAPA crosses their part#'s with a neon.

like I said, check if the set for a 97 Avenger 2.0 is a different part #. that's probably what you'll need

or check Parts dinosaur (about 1/4 down that page) I know those are the right bearings.

the clevites are just fine
they are 95's just without the full groove

just notch your skirt so they fit
its easy and takes less then 30 min with a dremel with a metal cutting disk. then poof your done button up and go play

Okay I checked Napa's part numbers and they have the same crank kit and same main bearing part numbers for Avenger, Neon, Talon, and eclipse. However they do have a different part number if I select Mitsubishi motor instead of Chrysler motor. I know I have a Chrysler motor but what would be the difference in these main bearings?

Im kind of worried to renotch them myself and screw up the bearing surface.

The main bearings that Dino has on his site match what I have so I might just go ahead and order those, but hate the idea of getting stuck with an extra set of bearings.

Originally posted by Tpratt43
However they do have a different part number if I select Mitsubishi motor instead of Chrysler motor. I know I have a Chrysler motor but what would be the difference in these main bearings?

big difference as the mits motor is the 4G63, but across the chrysler motors there is no difference except in the 95 year

Originally posted by Tpratt43
Im kind of worried to renotch them myself and screw up the bearing surface.

since the bearing surface is purly in the part you are trying to install i.e. the clevites, you cannot ruin the surface as nothing will ride on it and as long as your not adding material then the bearings will still drop in.
look at the notch you already have on the block, your gonna do the same thing on the skirt. as long as you take your time the bearings will still fit