Just got back from the PRI show. Always worth the effort and cost to go there. Couple of quick observations that may help some building engines. Engine bearings will continue to be a problem for at least the next year. This is from ALL bearings manufacturers. I talked to King, Federal Mogul, Cevite, ACL. They all say the same thing. Manufacturers are all trying like crazy to replenish the warehouse distributors. National stock was completely depleted during COVID. LS engines, modern Hemi, SBC, BBC, SBF, will all be supplied first in STD. and -.010 sizes. Then +.001 and -.001 for those engines. Then all the other popular fast moving brand engines. Last and finally, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, and all the other legacy engines that have been gone for decades. They will only be supplied in STD and -.010 at first. It could be 2 YEARS for example to get -.030 or -.040 bearings for a Pontiac engine, if ever.
Overall, the show was up beat and busy. Attendance may have been a little light yesterday, but seemed pretty crowded today. Lots more successful, very old companies have been bought up by giant investment, venture capitol groups. Race Winning Brands, Industrial Opportunity Partners, and Holley Group probably have nearly 100 well known brands under their umbrella.
One buyout mentioned quite a bit was the sale of Jegs to an investment firm. Talking to the manufacturers, that has gone very badly for the most part, and many of them are leaving and moving their goods to Summit, Motor State and other warehouse merchandisers. Customer service and tech help seems to be a mess.
If others made the trip, chime in with your thoughts.
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