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Fitting crankshaft main bearings

INSPECTION

BEARINGS

Inspect the connecting rod bearings for scoring and bent alignment tabs (Fig. 29) (Fig. 30). Check the bearings for normal wear patterns, scoring, grooving, fatigue and pitting (Fig. 31). Replace any bearing that shows abnormal wear.

Inspect the connecting rod journals for signs of scoring, nicks and burrs.

CONNECTING RODS

Misaligned or bent connecting rods can cause abnormal wear on pistons, piston rings, cylinder walls, connecting rod bearings and crankshaft connecting rod journals. If wear patterns or damage to any of these components indicate the probability of a misaligned connecting rod, inspect it for correct rod alignment. Replace misaligned, bent or twisted connecting rods.

Fig. 29 Connecting Rod Bearing Inspection
Fig. 29 Connecting Rod Bearing Inspection

1 - UPPER BEARING HALF
2 - MATING EDGES
3 - GROOVES CAUSED BY ROD BOLTS SCRATCHING JOURNAL DURING INSTALLATION
4 - WEAR PATTERN - ALWAYS GREATER ON UPPER BEARING
5 - LOWER BEARING HALF

Fig. 30 Locking Tab Inspection
Fig. 30 Locking Tab Inspection

1 - ABNORMAL CONTACT AREA CAUSED BY LOCKING TABS NOT FULLY SEATED OR BEING BENT

Fig. 31 Scoring Caused by Insufficient Lubrication or by Damaged Crankshaft Pin Journal
Fig. 31 Scoring Caused by Insufficient Lubrication or by Damaged Crankshaft Pin Journal

BEARING-TO-JOURNAL CLEARANCE

(1) Wipe the oil from the connecting rod journal.

(2) Use short rubber hose sections over rod bolts during installation.

(3) Lubricate the upper bearing insert and install in connecting rod.

(4) Use piston ring compressor to install the rod and piston assemblies. The oil squirt holes in the rods must face the camshaft. The arrow on the piston crown should point to the front of the engine (Fig.

32). Verify that the oil squirt holes in the rods face the camshaft and that the arrows on the pistons face the front of the engine.

Fig. 32 Rod and Piston Assembly Installation
Fig. 32 Rod and Piston Assembly Installation

(5) Install the lower bearing insert in the bearing cap. The lower insert must be dry. Place strip of Plastigage across full width of the lower insert at the center of bearing cap. Plastigage must not crumble in use. If brittle, obtain fresh stock.

(6) Install bearing cap and connecting rod on the journal and tighten nuts to 45 N·m (33 ft. lbs.) torque. DO NOT rotate crankshaft. Plastigage will smear, resulting in inaccurate indication.

(7) Remove the bearing cap and determine amount of bearing-to- journal clearance by measuring the width of compressed Plastigage (Fig. 33). Refer to Engine Specifications for the proper clearance. Plastigage should indicate the same clearance across the entire width of the insert. If the clearance varies, it may be caused by either a tapered journal, bent connecting rod or foreign material trapped between the insert and cap or rod.

(8) If the correct clearance is indicated, replacement of the bearing inserts is not necessary. Remove the Plastigage from crankshaft journal and bearing insert. Proceed with installation.

Fig. 33 Measuring Bearing Clearance with Plastigage
Fig. 33 Measuring Bearing Clearance with Plastigage

1 - PLASTIGAGE SCALE
2 - COMPRESSED PLASTIGAGE

(9) If bearing-to-journal clearance exceeds the specification, install a pair of 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch) undersize bearing inserts. All the odd size inserts must be on the bottom. The sizes of the service replacement bearing inserts are stamped on the backs of the inserts. Measure the clearance as described in the previous steps.

(10) The clearance is measured with a pair of 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch) undersize bearing inserts installed. This will determine if two 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch) undersize inserts or another combination is needed to provide the correct clearance (refer to Connecting Rod Bearing Fitting Chart).

CONNECTING ROD BEARING FITTING CHART

CONNECTING ROD BEARING FITTING CHART

(11) FOR EXAMPLE: If the initial clearance was 0.0762 mm (0.003 inch), 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) undersize inserts would reduce the clearance by 0.025 mm (0.001 inch). The clearance would be 0.002 inch and within specification. A 0.051 mm (0.002 inch) undersize insert would reduce the initial clearance an additional 0.013 mm (0.0005 inch). The clearance would then be 0.038 mm (0.0015 inch).

(12) Repeat the Plastigage measurement to verify your bearing selection prior to final assembly.

(13) Once you have selected the proper insert, install the insert and cap. Tighten the connecting rod bolts to 45 N·m (33 ft. lbs.) torque.

SIDE CLEARANCE MEASUREMENT

Slide snug-fitting feeler gauge between the connecting rod and crankshaft journal flange (Fig. 34).

Refer to Engine Specifications for the proper clearance.

Replace the connecting rod if the side clearance is not within specification.

Fig. 34 Checking Connecting Rod Side Clearance- Typical
Fig. 34 Checking Connecting Rod Side Clearance- Typical

FITTING CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS

INSPECTION

Wipe the inserts clean and inspect for abnormal wear patterns and for metal or other foreign material imbedded in the lining. Normal main bearing insert wear patterns are illustrated (Fig. 35). In general the lower bearing half will have a heaver wear pattern.

Fig. 35 Main Bearing Wear Patterns
Fig. 35 Main Bearing Wear Patterns

1 - UPPER INSERT
2 - NO WEAR IN THIS AREA
3 - LOW AREA IN BEARING LINING
4 - LOWER INSERT

NOTE: If any of the crankshaft journals are scored, remove the engine for crankshaft repair.

Inspect the back of the inserts for fractures, scrapings or irregular wear patterns.

Inspect the upper insert locking tabs for damage.

Replace all damaged or worn bearing inserts.

FITTING BEARINGS (CRANKSHAFT INSTALLED)

The main bearing caps, numbered (front to rear) from 1 through 7 have an arrow to indicate the forward position. The upper main bearing inserts are grooved to provide oil channels while the lower inserts are smooth.

Each bearing insert pair is selectively fitted to its respective journal to obtain the specified operating clearance. In production, the select fit is obtained by using various-sized color-coded bearing insert pairs as listed in the Main Bearing Fitting Chart. The bearing color code appears on the edge of the insert.

The size is not stamped on bearing inserts used for engine production.

The main bearing journal size (diameter) is identified by a color-coded paint mark (Fig. 36) on the adjacent cheek or counterweight towards the rear of the crankshaft (flange end). The rear main journal, is identified by a color-coded paint mark on the crankshaft rear flange.

When required, upper and lower bearing inserts of different sizes may be used as a pair. A standard size insert is sometimes used in combination with a 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) undersize insert to reduce the clearance by 0.013 mm (0.0005 inch). Never use a pair of bearing inserts with greater than a 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) difference in size. Refer to the Bearing Insert Pair Chart.

NOTE: When replacing inserts, the odd size inserts must be either all on the top (in cylinder block) or all on the bottom (in main bearing cap).

Once the bearings have been properly fitted, proceed to Crankshaft Main Bearing-Installation.

BEARING-TO-JOURNAL CLEARANCE (CRANKSHAFT INSTALLED)

When using Plastigage, check only one bearing clearance at a time.

Install the grooved main bearings into the cylinder block and the non-grooved bearings into the bearing caps.

Install the crankshaft into the upper bearings dry.

Place a strip of Plastigage across full width of the crankshaft journal to be checked.

Install the bearing cap and tighten the bolts to 108 N·m (80 ft. lbs.) torque.

NOTE: DO NOT rotate the crankshaft. This will cause the Plastigage to shift, resulting in an inaccurate reading. Plastigage must not be permitted to crumble. If brittle, obtain fresh stock.

Remove the bearing cap. Determine the amount of clearance by measuring the width of the compressed Plastigage with the scale on the Plastigage envelope (Fig. 37). Refer to Engine Specifications for the proper clearance.

Fig. 36 Crankshaft Journal Size Paint I. D. Location
Fig. 36 Crankshaft Journal Size Paint I. D. Location

1 - NO. 7 MAIN JOURNAL SIZE PAINT MARK
2 - NO. 6 CONNECTING ROD JOURNAL SIZE PAINT MARK
3 - NO. 1 CONNECTING ROD JOURNAL SIZE PAINT MARK
4 - NO. 1 MAIN JOURNAL SIZE PAINT MARK

BEARING INSERT PAIRS CHART

BEARING INSERT PAIRS CHART

Fig. 37 Measuring Bearing Clearance with
Fig. 37 Measuring Bearing Clearance with Plastigage

1 - PLASTIGAGE SCALE
2 - COMPRESSED PLASTIGAGE

Plastigage should indicate the same clearance across the entire width of the insert. If clearance varies, it may indicate a tapered journal or foreign material trapped behind the insert.

If the specified clearance is indicated and there are no abnormal wear patterns, replacement of the bearing inserts is not necessary. Remove the Plastigage from the crankshaft journal and bearing insert. Proceed to Crankshaft Main Bearing-Installation.

If the clearance exceeds specification, install a pair of 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) undersize bearing inserts and measure the clearance as described in the previous steps.

The clearance indicate with the 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) undersize insert pair installed will determine if this insert size or some other combination will provide the specified clearance. FOR EXAMPLE: If the clearance was 0.0762 mm (0.003 inch) originally, a pair of 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch) undersize inserts would reduce the clearance by 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch). The clearance would then be 0.0508 mm (0.002 inch) and within the specification. A 0.051 mm (0.002 inch) undersize bearing insert and a 0.0254 mm (0.001 inch) undersize insert would reduce the original clearance an additional 0.0127 mm (0.0005 inch).

The clearance would then be 0.0381 mm (0.0015 inch).

CAUTION: Never use a pair of inserts that differ more than one bearing size as a pair.

FOR EXAMPLE: DO NOT use a standard size upper insert and a 0.051 mm (0.002 inch) undersize lower insert.

If the clearance exceeds specification using a pair of 0.051 mm (0.002 inch) undersize bearing inserts, measure crankshaft journal diameter with a micrometer. If the journal diameter is correct, the crankshaft bore in the cylinder block may be misaligned, which requires cylinder block replacement or machining to true bore.

Replace the crankshaft or grind to accept the appropriate undersize bearing inserts if:

  •  Journal diameters 1 through 6 are less than 63.4517 mm (2.4981 inches)
  •  Journal 7 diameter is less than 63.4365 mm (2.4975 inches).

Once the proper clearances have been obtained, proceed to Crankshaft Main Bearing-Installation.

MAIN BEARING JOURNAL DIAMETER (CRANKSHAFT REMOVED)

Remove the crankshaft from the cylinder block (refer to Cylinder Block - Disassemble).

Clean the oil off the main bearing journal.

Determine the maximum diameter of the journal with a micrometer. Measure at two locations 90 apart at each end of the journal.

The maximum allowable taper and out of round is 0.013 mm (0.0005 inch). Compare the measured diameter with the journal diameter specification (Main Bearing Fitting Chart). Select inserts required to obtain the specified bearing-to-journal clearance.

Install the crankshaft into the cylinder block (refer to Cylinder Block - Assemble and Crankshaft Main Bearings - Installation).

MAIN BEARING FITTING CHART

MAIN BEARING FITTING CHART

MAIN BEARING FITTING CHART

    More about «Service procedures»:

    Valve timing

    Valve service

    Piston fitting

    Piston ring-fitting

    Fitting connecting rod bearings

    Fitting crankshaft main bearings

    Form-in-place gaskets

    Engine performance

    Honing cylinder bores

    Repair damaged or worn threads

    Service engine assembly (short block)

    Hydrostatic lock

    Engine oil service

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