Posted by GypsyJim (IP: 209.219.7.75) on October 26, 1999 at 08:33:37:
In Reply to: Thanks guys... posted by Brian on October 26, 1999 at 07:18:49:
First of all, plasti-gauge the main journals (you should also do the same for the rod journals) by turning the engine up side down and installing the top half of the main bearings. Carefully set the crank in and then place a small piece of plasti gauge on top of the crank. Put the bottom half of the bearing into the main cap, install the cap on the block, and torque them down in sequence to appropriate specs. Remove each cap, one at a time, and inspect/measure the plasti-gauge. On the back side of each bearing mark the # of the cap it came from. If everything is within tolerance, remove the crank and look down at the location of the oil gallery in relation to the slot cut in each bearing (I've seen the location of these galleries be off by as much as 1/4"). With an ink marker, put a mark where the oil gallery meets the bearing. If it's in the middle of the slot, don't do anything. If it's off to one side, open up the slot in the bearing to line it up. Use the smallest drill bit needed to do the job and make sure you don't leave any burrs. Be sure to also number each bearing (on the backside) so that you can get them back in the right location at a later date. You can now rest assure that you will have adequate oil flow to the bottom of the engine.