307 questions

[kcfirstbuild]

I plan on putting in a new Oil pump , timing chain and gears , and main bearings in this weekend. If any one has any idea how to do these things. Could you give me a little insight. This is the first time i have ever worked on a motor.

Right now i have the motor on the engine stand with the oil pan off. Will i have to rotate the motor to install the main bearings or can i do it form the bottom up. I'm afraid my cheap piece of SH** engine stand might not rotate for me.


Any help will be appreciated or if you could just come over and do it for me that would even be better! haha

[Hutch]

kcfirstbuild
When I first started rebuiding motors I got a hold of a book by David Vizzard
He has a way with explaining the process in laymans terms
His books are everywhere I have even seen them in local libraries

Here is a link to one I would suggest that would probably answer alot of your questions
These books are well worth the small investment
http://www.allbookstores.com/book/97...ock_Chevy.html

[junkyardjohn]

EXELLANT ADVICE.. AN OLD GUY I USED TO WORK WITH WHEN I WAS AN APPRENTICE ONCE TOLD ME... RILEY (HE ALWAYS CALLED ME RILEY) "ALL THE WORLDS KNOWLEDGE IS CONTAINED IN PRINT". READ IT AT LEAST TWICE, LEARN IT, THEN DO IT. JOHN

[Shyguy]

Yes, it is best if you rotate the engine so the bottom is up to replace the main bearings.

One of our engine stands is not the best so one of us usually holds the front of the engine to help rotate the engine while the other does the rotating from the back.

Danny

[kcfirstbuild]

Ill try and find the book. Thank everyone !

[tim21391]

ya beause it will be hard to apply assembly lube in the main bearings without them falling out while you reapply the crank

[MC10]

Rotate the motor and apply lots and lots of assembly lube. Also, try to remember the order the bearing caps were in. Enjoy!

[kcfirstbuild]

Ah man i have to take the Crank shaft out ??? Is that hard or no?

[panhandler62]

!

Definetely start by reading up.

1) You lack some of the basic knowledge needed. Reasearch first and cry less later. Please don't take that as rude -- I ruined the first motor I tried to rehab because I was in a hurry to jump in and didn't learn first. Like to save another from that joy...

2) If you are replacing the main journal bearings I would (at an absolute minimum) replace the rod cap bearings and main seals as well.

3) Pay heed to the earlier comment: get the main caps and rod caps back on exactly where they came off. You need to label them (or put them someplace they won't be disturbed) because you can't see the tiny differences that will jump up and bite you if you scramble them.

4) There is no such thing as too much assembly lube or too little dirt. Clean all fasteners and chase the threads with dies and taps (the correct ones!)

5) Get crush gauges and double check that everything is to spec when it is torqued down.

6) Find a realy anal friend to pester you about all the measurements and specs along the way.

7) Don't drop the crank on your fingers when you set it back in place.

8) If you are leaving the motor for longer than to turn around and grap something cover it up.

9) Verify all of the fastener tourques at least twice. Leave one loose and it will spin the bearing out -- crank one down to hard and somehting real spectacular (and quite unpleasent) will happen. :P


It's really not all that hard but attention to detial and patiance is absolutely critical.

[MC10]

By yourself? Kind of. Two people make it really easy. Remove timing cover and chain. To replace the main bearings disconnect each connecting rod from the crank. You have to rotate the crank by hand (torque wrench or breaker bar makes this easy) to be able to disconnect all rods. Another important detail is to make sure you replace each rod end with it's respective rod (i.e. piston #1's rod needs to be connected back to the rod end originally on it). Also, when you have the crank off stand it up vertically with the flywheel side down; laying it down horizontally is a no-no.

[panhandler62]

Don't drop it either. I've seen the results of that.


Yikes.. :P

[kcfirstbuild]

NO offense taken, I really have no clue what im doing when it comes to motors. rod cap bearings ? I bought a Main bearing set is that it or is that something else ? I'm hoping to get some help from someone that knows what they are doing.

[panhandler62]

You will have to rotate the motor.

Get organized first. Locate all of the tools you need and all of the materials and make sure you have a clean space to lay out the parts. You will want the following:

• Service manual
• Assembly lube
• Main bearings
• Connecting Rod bearings
• Assembly lube
• Crush gauges
• Rubber caps for the connecting rod bolts
• Lots of clean rags

You really need the service manual (or some similar source) to get the correct torque specs and bearing clearances.

Read this: http://www.circletrack.com/tipstrick...ips/index.html

each bearing should be installed twice. People can and do skip the first step, where you assemble and torque down with a crush gauge in between, but if you have a funky bearing or a hooved out journal; you'll want to know now, not somewhere down the road.

These links should be very helpful.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6184848_chec...es-engine.html
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ar797.htm
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...nce/index.html

[kcfirstbuild]

Do I need rear main seals then too ?? And the rod connecting bearings are they a must ??

[panhandler62]

You have to take all of the rod caps off to pull the crank. It's not generaly a good idea to re-use the old bearings. It's comming apart anyway and bearings aren't all that expensive.

http://www.pawengineparts.com/shoppi...717&catid=1557
That's less than $100 for all this stuff.

[trusty72]

You dont have to pull the crank just "roll" the bearings and rear seal in. gettin the crank back in with 8 rods hanging in the way is a pain in the butt. If i were in your shoes i would find a friend with some experience but I will give any advice you need. And yes you would be wasting your time re using the rod bearings.

[tim21391]

if you put it on engine stand one person can do it.. just wear old clothes i found out cuz then u dont have to worry about having a rag with u just wipe the lube and oil on your clothes.. im building a 347 stroker for my 67 stang and i did it all myself

[kcfirstbuild]

ok will get new rod bearings, but what is a rod cap ?

[Hutch]

Google is you friend

[kcfirstbuild]

Got the rod bushings from work today. here is my check list

Rear main bearing set
rod bearings
Rear main seal
Assembly lube
oil pump
Mr gasket ultra seal pan gasket
timing gears and chain
timing cover set
Black RTV

Hows that sounds ?

[tim21391]

dont forget to lube the pushing before u put piston on

[LONGHAIR]

I just read through this whole thing.....and not one person said "Why?" or at least "How do you know you need new bearings?"

It is not likely that you wold really need to replace the bearings and not need to have something done to the crank "while its out". If the bearings are truly damaged, so it the crank. If they are not damaged, why are we even talking about this? Apparently we don't even know? Are we just "guessing" that this needs to be done?
Trying to "roll" bearings in place (like a rear main seal) is just plain crazy talk. Whether it can be done or not is irrelevant, it shouldn't.

If you are going to take it apart... take it apart, fiddling around trying to "Half way" take it partly apart, is just wasting money. You are gaining nothing...and wasting money for bearings, gaskets, etc. that will have a short life.


I have no issue with "learning as you go", but learn it right in the first place. This is not an area for "short-cuts"....especially for a rookie.

This is "heart surgery" .....let's not do it with a butter knife.....and on a heart that actually needs it.....

[kcfirstbuild]

I was told to put in new main bearings in by a couple people since i have the motor out and on a stand. I would hate to pull the motor back out and do it all over again. And same holds true with doing it the right way. I have a couple people that are going to help me out and do it right.

[tim21391]

i was told whenever you rebuild an engine you install new bearings if they are bad or not.. also to check crank to see if it needs turned...

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by tim21391

i was told whenever you rebuild an engine you install new bearings if they are bad or not.. also to check crank to see if it needs turned...

There has been no talk of "rebuilding" this engine....just trying to figure out how to put in new bearings with minimal "disturbance" as possible......

Which is exactly my point, "Rebuild it or leave it alone" there really is no "in-between"