A: Use a stone, file or scraper to remove burrs from the crankshaft oil holes and chamfer the oil holes to get rid of sharp edges that may damage new bearings. Examine the main and connecting rod bearing journals for uneven wear, scoring, pits, and cracks. To find any issues, rub a penny across each journal several times-if copper rubs off and sticks on the crankshaft then grind the journals. Clean the crankshaft with solvent and dry with compressed air if available. The remainder of the crankshaft should be magnafluxed to find cracks; this is usually done at an automotive machine shop. Use a micrometer to measure the diameter of the main and connecting rod journals, taking measurements at various points around each journal's circumference in order to ascertain whether it is out-of-round. If damaged or out of specification for taper, out of roundness or size limits on wear according to specifications, have it reground by an automotive machine shop. Inspect the oil seal journals at both ends of the crankshaft for wear or damage. In case where there is evidence that a groove has been cut into the journal by a seal or it has been nicked or scratched putting together the engine will cause leaking by new seal when installed back in place. An automotive machine shop might be able to repair such a journal by pressing on a thin sleeve as an alternative. However, if repair is not possible, then install another one or replace it completely. On Quad-4 engines, check for wear and damage on oil pump drive gear. In case you need a replacement dealer service department can take your crankshaft or go to any automotive machine shop around you. Drill and chisel off old gear must be drilled off first before heating new gear in an oven prior to installation.The main bearing inserts should finally be inspected again.
A: The crankshaft can only be removed after the engine has been removed from the vehicle. It is assumed that the flywheel or drive plate, crankshaft balancer/vibration damper, timing chain, oil pan, oil pump, and piston/connecting rod assemblies have already been removed. The rear main oil seal/housing (Quad-4 only) must be unbolted and separated from the block before proceeding with crankshaft removal. Before removing the crankshaft, check the endplay. Mount a dial indicator with the stem in line with the crankshaft and just touching one of the crank throws. Push the crankshaft all the way to the rear and zero the dial indicator. Next, pry the crankshaft to the front as far as possible and check the reading on the dial indicator. The distance it moves is the endplay. If it is greater than specified, check the crankshaft thrust surfaces for wear. If no wear is evident, new main bearings should correct the endplay. If a dial indicator is not available, feeler gauges can be used. Gently pry or push the crankshaft all the way to the front of the engine. Slip feeler gauges between the crankshaft and the front face of the thrust main bearing to determine the clearance. Check the main bearing caps to see if they are marked to indicate their locations. They should be numbered consecutively from the front of the engine to the rear. If they are not, mark them with number stamping dies or a center punch. Main bearing caps generally have a cast-in arrow, which points to the front of the engine. Loosen the main bearing cap bolts 1/4-turn at a time until they can be removed by hand. Note if any stud bolts are used and make sure they are returned to their original locations when the crankshaft is reinstalled. Gently tap the caps with a soft-face hammer, then separate them from the engine block. If necessary, use the bolts as levers to remove the caps. Try not to drop the bearing inserts if they come out with the caps. Carefully lift the crankshaft out of the engine. It may be a good idea to have an assistant available since the crankshaft is quite heavy. With the bearing inserts in place in the engine block and main bearing caps, return the caps to their respective locations on the engine block and tighten the bolts finger tight.
A: Assuming the prior cleaning, inspection, and potential repair or reconditioning of the engine block and crankshaft, the first step in engine reassembly is the installation of the crankshaft. Remove the main bearing cap bolts with the engine positioned bottom-side up and carefully lift out the caps, ensuring their proper order for later installation. If original bearing inserts still remain in place on the block and caps then remove them from there before carefully cleaning lint free cloth. The cleanliness should be maintained at all costs during this process. Those inserts should be cleaned by raking off any build-up on their back surfaces before one insert is placed into each main bearing saddle in this block while another one goes into its corresponding main bearing cap. For correct positioning, make sure that grooved insert is oriented properly in block and tab on bearing insert must align with recess in block or cap. Moreover, oil holes in block have to match those provided for bearing inserts. Depending on the engine type, flanged thrust bearing should be installed at designated cap and saddle location. Additionally, clean faces of bearings in block and crankshaft main bearing journals. Finally, lay it carefully into position in main bearings with taking care to verify cleanliness of crankshaft as well as measure clearance of main bearings oil. For measuring this clearance, Plastigage is used by putting pieces on each crankshaft main bearing journal and installing caps without destroying Plastigage. As always take care not to rotate crankshaft while tightening main bearing cap bolts stages should work from center mains outwardly. When caps are removed compare width of crushed Plastigage with scale provided to determine if it meets specifications for oil clearance of main bearings. If these values are different then some other types of bearings may be needed instead. Clean all traces of Plastigage material from main bearing journals and also their respective faces if need arises again as a part of final crankshaft installation lift out engine followed by cleaning bearing faces in block, applying uniform layer moly-base grease or engine assembly lube on bearing surfaces (including thrust faces) and laying crankshaft back in place. Apply lubricant to the faces of the bearings in the caps and install them in their original locations with the arrows pointing forward. After that, progressively tighten bolts, tapping gently on the ends of crankshaft to align main bearing with crankshaft thrust surfaces. All main bearing cap bolts should be retightened and the crankshaft should be rotated manually to check for any binding. Finally check this by feeling endplay with feeler gauges or dial indicator before installing new rear main oil seal.