Drill Rod Bearings

To provide a longer stroker crank that has more strength than the stock VW forging or any other aftermarket forged crankshaft, the 411 center main journal is required. For that reason all of the "Berg" forged cranks are made with the 411 center main to provide a stronger cross sectional area at the center journal. To maintain proper case strength, I use a special adapter bearing (GB 157) that fits the stock case and this larger crankshaft main journal. It is a steel backed bearing, as was the one it replaced, leaving the regular (steel back) split #2 main bearing as an extra. Gary, has been installing these split #2 bearings in the #3 location for years on all engines that use a 411 center main bearing crankshaft, having the round #3 bearing as the leftover. This requires adding a dowel hole in the other half of most cases at the #3 location so it will accept the dowel. A few cases have this dowel hole from the factory, but it is likely you will need to add the hole. Gary made a drill fixture by drilling through the pin hole in an old #2 split bearing, installing that bearing in the case and drilling a pin hole about a 1/4" deep into the case at the #3 location.
Extremely simple! This provides much stronger case and crankshaft support when using the split steel backed bearings in both #2 and #3 locations. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to remove or replace the cam/distributor drive gears from the crankshaft when working on the engine or changing main bearings. See LA CASE030 for adding dowel hole.