Listen, everything everyone says about the bearings is logical and makes sense. As far as the downpipe goes, this was speculation coming from the idea that everything else was in order. I not only had to use a big ass prybar to line it up, (and for informational sake, the V-Band was not only loose, the nut wasn’t even on) but the had to take another prybar to line it up with the rest of the exhaust. Now, would this flex the center section of the turbo? Not to any great extent, however were talking about a thrust bearing center section and any stress to one side would definitely wipe them out. As far as a turbo w/ shaft play that is wear between the bearing and shaft. Again this was just speculation and the idea is sound. Now on the rod bearings, would plastigauge have shown a clearence issue, of course. However; the only reason for a clearence issue would be the use of the wrong bearings. The research and purchase of all parts was done by Adam, not I. The crankshaft showed no signs of wear, so while the use of plastigauge would have been an extra precaution, it shouldn’t have been necessary. Now we get into the select a size bearings (the rod bearings are sized in accordance with difference in crankshaft rod journal and rod diameter)
Here are the specs for the Supra Turbo and IS300
