Main Bearing s
Clearanc eSelection
1.
2 .
3.
4 .
5.
6.
7 .
8 .
T o chec k mai n bearing-to-journa l oi l clearance ,
remov e th e mai n cap s an d bearin g halves .
Clea n eac h mai n journa l an d bearin g hal f wit h a
clea n sho p towel .
Plac e on e stri p o f plastigag e acros s eac h mai n jour -
nal.
NOTE : I f th e engin e i s stil l i n th e ca r whe n yo u bol t
th e mai n cap dow n t o chec k clearance , th e weigh t
o f th e crankshaf t an d flywhee l wil l flatte n th e plasti -
gag e furthe r tha n jus t th e torqu e o n th e ca p bolts ,
an d giv e yo u a n incorrec t reading . Fo r a n accurat e
reading , suppor t th e crankshaf t wit h a jac k unde r
th e counterweight s an d chec k onl y on e bearin g a t a
time .
Reinstal l th e bearing s an d caps , the n torqu e th e 9
m m ca p bolt s t o 3 9 N- m (4. 0 kgf-m , 2 9 Ibf-ft) . Torqu e
the 1 1 m m ca p bolt s to 7 6 N- m (7. 8 kgf-m , 5 7 Ibf-ft) .
Torqu e th e sid e bolt s t o 4 9 N- m (5. 0 kgf-m , 3 6 Ibf-ft) .
Remov e th e cap s an d bearings , an d measur e th e
wides t par t o f th e plastigage .
Mai n Bearing-to-Journa l Oi l Clearance :
Standar d (New) : 0.02 0 - 0.04 4 m m
(0.000 8 - 0.001 7 in )
Servic e Limit : 0.0 5 m m (0.00 2 in )
PLASTIGAG E STRI P
If th e plastigag e measure s to o wid e o r to o narrow ,
remov e th e crankshaft , an d remov e th e uppe r hal f
o f th e bearing . Instal l a new , complet e bearin g wit h
th e sam e colo r cod e (selec t th e colo r a s show n i n
th e righ t colum n o f thi s page) , an d rechec k th e
clearance .
CAUTION: D o no t file , shim , o r scrap e th e bearing s
o r th e cap s t o adjus t clearance .
I f th e plastigag e show s th e clearanc e i s stil l incor -
rect , tr y th e nex t large r o r smalle r bearin g (th e colo r
liste d abov e o r belo w tha t one) , an d chec k again .
NOTE : I f th e prope r clearanc e canno t b e obtaine d
b y usin g th e appropriat e large r o r smalle r bearings ,
replac e th e crankshaf t an d star t over . CAUTION
: I f th e code s ar e indecipherabl e becaus e o f a n
accumulatio n o f dir t an d dust , d o no t scru b the m wit h a
wir e brus h o r scraper . Clea n the m onl y wit h solven t o r
detergent .
Crankshaf t Bor e Cod e Location s
Letter s o r bar s hav e bee n stampe d o n th e en d of the
cylinde r bloc k a s a cod e fo r th e siz e o f eac h o f th e fou r
mai n journa l bores . Us e them , an d th e number s o r bar s
stampe d o n th e crankshaf t (code s fo r mai n journa l size) , t o
choos e th e correc t bearings .
No. 4 JOURNA L(DRIVE PLAT E END )
No. 1 JOURNA L(PULLEY END )
Main Journa l Cod eLocation s (Number s o r Bars )
No.1 JOURNA L(PULLEY END )No. 4 JOURNA L(DRIVE PLAT E END )
Bearin g Desig n
COLOR
GROOV E
UPPER BEARIN G
COLOR
LOWE R BEARIN G
Bearing Identificatio nColor cod e is o n th eedg e o f th e bearing .
NOTE: Whe n usin g bearin g halve s o f differen t colors , i t
doe s no t matte r whic h colo r i s use d i n th e to p o r bottom .
ProCarManuals.com
Connecting Rod Bearings
Clearance
Selection
1. Remove the connecting rod cap and bearing half.
2. Clean the crankshaft rod journal and bearing half
with a clean shop towel.
3. Place a plastigage strip across the rod journal.
4. Reinstall the bearing half and cap, and torque the
nuts to 44 N-m (4.5 kgf-m, 33 Ibf-ft).
NOTE: Do not rotate the crankshaft during inspec-
tion.
5. Remove the rod cap and bearing half and measure
the widest part of the plastigage.
Connecting Rod Bearing-to-Journal Oil Clearance:
Standard (New): 0.022 - 0.046 mm
(0.0009 - 0.0018 in)
Service Limit: 0.05 mm (0.002 in)
PLASTIGAGE STRIP
7.
If the plastigage measures too wide or too narrow,
remove the upper half of the bearing, install a new,
complete bearing with the same color code (select
the color as shown in the right column of this page),
and recheck the clearance.
CAUTION: Do not file, shim, or scrape the bearings
or the caps to adjust clearance.
If the plastigage shows the clearance is still incor-
rect, try the next larger or smaller bearing (the color
listed above or below that one), and check clear-
ance again.
NOTE: If the proper clearance cannot be obtained
by using the appropriate larger or smaller bearings,
replace the crankshaft and start over.
CAUTION: If the codes are indecipherable because of
an accumulation of dirt and dust, do not scrub them
with a wire brush or scraper. Clean them only with sol-
vent or detergent.
Connecting Rod Code Location
Numbers or bars have been stamped on the side of each
connecting rod as a code for the size of the big end. Use
them, and the letters or bars stamped on the crank
(codes for rod journal size), to choose the correct bear-
ings.
Half of number is
stamped on bearing
cap and the other
half is stamped on
connecting rod.
Connecting Rod Journal Code Locations (Letters or Bars)
No. 4 No. 2
No. 1 JOURNAL
(PULLEY END)
Bearing Identification
Color code is on the
edge of the bearing.
No. 6 JOURNAL
(DRIVE PLATE END)
Smaller
rod
journal
NOTE: When using bearing halves of different colors, it
does not matter which color is used in the top or bottom.ProCarManuals.com
