Ron wrote
                        I can't speak for the Factory, but I know that
AVP (whose engines I sell)
                        has continued to use German bearings. They have
been buying them for
                        whatever price they have to in order to maintain
production, picking up one
                        or two sets at a time where they can find them.
So far they have been able
                        to get enough to meet their demand, but just
barely.  Despite the
                        temporarily higher cost, they have not raised
the price of their rebuilds.
                        However, I am told that at least one aftermarket
rebuilder has been
                        substituting "no name" bearings of unknown
quality, which have no track
                        record in terms of long-term reliability.  It
comes down to the issue of
                        sticking with a quality rebuilder with a solid
reputation. It is a safe bet
                        that a reputable rebuilder like AVP or Boston
Engine would sooner not
                        rebuild the engine, than use old worn bearings
or junky new ones.  However,
                        not every rebuilder is quite so ethical.

                        - Ron Salmon

Ron
thank you for the kind words. unfortunately it may come down to the fact
the 2.1 1.9 engines
may not be available for a time if KS does not sell the bearings
separately or speed up the process
and deliver bearings to the retailers
I have also heard that rear main bearings for the 1.9 are made by
individuals from aluminum
but that is the only bearing that I heard of
as for marnel selling bare heads first of all they don't have any in
stock at this time and I don't know of anybody that has been able to get
bare heads from them. I am also told that they typically have the
shipment sold before it arrives at there loading dock so much for great
deals on heads

Bob Donalds
http:/www.bostonengine.com
as always
all right reserved