Engine Block Clean and Inspect
^ Tool Required- J7872 Magnetic Base Dial Indicator Set
- J8087 Cylinder Bore Gauge
1. Clean the sealing material from the gasket mating surfaces.
2. Boil the engine block in caustic solution.
3. Flush the engine block with clean water or steam.
4. Clean the oil passages.
5. Clean the blind holes.
6. Spray the cylinder bores and the machined surfaces with engine oil.
7. Inspect the threaded holes. Clean the threaded holes with a rifle brush. If necessary, drill out the holes and install thread inserts. Refer to Thread Repair.
8. Use a straight edge and a feeler gage to check the deck surface for flatness. Carefully machine minor irregularities. Replace the block if more than 0.254 mm (0.010 inch) must be removed.
9. Inspect the oil pan rail for nicks. Inspect the front cover attaching area for nicks. Use a flat mill file to remove any nicks.
10. Inspect the mating surfaces of the transmission case.
Notice: A broken flywheel may result if the transmission case mating surface is not flat.
11. Use the following procedure in order to measure the engine block flange runout at the mounting bolt hole bosses:
1. Temporarily install the crankshaft. Measure the crankshaft flange runout.
2. Hold the gauge plate flat against the crankshaft flange.
3. Place the J7872 stem on the transmission mounting bolt hole boss. Set the J7872 to 0.
4. Record the readings obtained from all of the bolt hole bosses. The measurements should not vary more than 0.203 mm (0.008 inch).
5. Recheck the crankshaft flange runout if the readings vary more than 0.203 mm (0.008 inch).
12. Inspect the crankshaft main bearing bores. Use a J8087 to measure the bearing bore concentricity and alignment at the following locations:
^ The camshaft
^ The crankshaft
Important: Recondition the engine block with the crankshaft bearing cap bolts installed and tightened to specification.
13. Ensure that the crankshaft bearing caps are installed correctly. The arrows should point toward the front of the engine.
14. Replace the engine block if the crankshaft bearing bores are out of specification.
15. Use the J8087 to inspect the cylinder bores. Inspect for the following items:
^ Wear
^ Taper
^ Runout
^ Ridging
Important: If the bore is worn beyond the limits, refit the bore with oversized pistons. Select the smallest available oversize piston. Refer to Piston Selection.
16. Leave sufficient material to allow honing when fitting the piston.