70. Piston, Connecting Rod, and Bearing Installation
^ Tools Required- J 8037 Ring Compressor
The connecting rod bearings are precision insert connecting rod bearings, and do not require shims for adjustment. Do not file the rods or the rod caps. If the. engine has excessive clearances, install a new bearing. Service bearings are available in standards size, with yellow color for identification, and 0.026 mm (0.001 inch) undersized, with green color for identification.
Selective fitting of the rod and the crankshaft is necessary in order to obtain close tolerances. For example, use one-half of a 0.026 mm (0.0010 inch) undersized insert, which will decrease the clearance by 0.013 mm (0.0005 inch), rather than using a full standard bearing.
IMPORTANT:
^ When using selective fit rod bearings, always use the standard bearing in the connecting rod, and use the undersized bearing in the end of the rod cap.
^ Note that the color-coding for selective fit rod bearings is different from the color-coding for the crankshaft bearings.
^ Connecting rod bearings are available in 0.026 mm (0.0010 inch) undersized for select fitting.
^ The L56 engines may have both, standard and 0.08 mm (0.0010 inch) oversize connecting rod bearings. The oversize connecting rod cap's lower end is stamped with OS.
IMPORTANT:
^ Make sure that the cylinder walls are clean.
^ Lightly lubricate the cylinder walls with engine oil.
^ Make sure that the pistons install in their matching cylinder.
^ Install used pistons in the cylinders from which they were removed.
^ Install new pistons in their fitted cylinders.
1. Remove the connecting rod cap from the piston and connecting rod assembly.
2. Install two 10 mm (3/8 inch) hose onto the connecting rod studs.
3. Locate the piston ring end gaps, with the piston viewed with the swirl indent up, in the following way:
3.1. The oil ring expander gap at 45° left of the swirl indent
3.2. The oil control ring gaps at 180° opposite of the oil expander ring
3.3. The second compression ring gap at the piston top and under the swirl indent
3.4. The first compression ring 180° opposite of the second ring. Lubricate the piston and rings with engine oil.
4. Without disturbing the ring end gap location, install the J 8037
5. Install the piston so that the depression in the piston crown is toward the outside of the engine.
6. Tap the piston down into the bore using light blows with a hammer handle, while guiding the connecting rod to the journal from beneath the engine.
7. Hold the ring compressor against the block until all rings have entered the cylinder bore.
8. Remove the hoses from the connecting rod bolts.
IMPORTANT: Each connecting rod and bearing cap should be marked, beginning at the front of the engine. Cylinders 1, 3, 5, and 7 are the left bank and 2, 4, 6, and 8 are the right bank. The numbers on the connecting rod and bearing cap must be on the same side when installed in the cylinder bore. If a connecting rod is transposed from one block or cylinder to another, new connecting rod bearings should be fitted and the connecting rod should be numbered to correspond with the new cylinder number.
9. Apply engine oil to the connecting rod bearings.
NOTICE: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.
10. Install the connecting rod cap and the nuts, with the bearing.
^ Tighten the connecting rod cap nuts to 65 Nm (48 ft. lbs.).
11. Measure the connecting rod side clearance.
^ Use a feeler gauge between the connecting rod and the crankshaft.
^ The correct clearance is 0.17 - 0.63 mm (0.007 - 0.025 inch).