# Engine bearing "shells" vs "white metal"?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-bearing-shells-vs-white-metal/194068>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [December 24, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-bearing-shells-vs-white-metal/194068 "2023-12-24T22:07:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-bearing-shells-vs-white-metal/194068/1 "2023-12-24T22:07:58Z")

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What is the difference? These terms were mentioned in a magazine article about a Model T that has been restored using “shells” rather than “white metal”.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-bearing-shells-vs-white-metal/194068/2 "2023-12-24T22:13:43Z")

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White metal is a poured babbit material that is poured directly into the block using a fixture and machined after. Mostly lead and or tin, if I remember correctly.

Shells are the bearing inserts - upper and lower halves - that are snapped in place and used as-is.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-bearing-shells-vs-white-metal/194068/3 "2023-12-24T22:33:21Z")

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Thanks for the explanation. I’ve always thought engine bearing shells were tin-based, similar to white metal w/the resulting confusion. I didn’t know the original model t engine bearings were poured right into the place the crank shaft journals fit, using hot melted metal. If anyone is interested in seeing how that’s done, I found this vdo below. I didn’t watch the entire process, but got the gist of it from the first couple of minutes.

[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/3/d31c8710f856992d24d1b222d9308c6a4529f3ca.jpeg "Pouring Babbitt bearings on a Ford Model T Engine Block") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQOQZXlWF7M)