FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Connecting Rod: Service and Repair


REMOVAL

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove cylinder head and oil pan as previously described.
3. Turn crankshaft until connecting rod to be removed is in down position.
4. Remove carbon from upper portion of cylinder bore. If ridge can be felt or seen at top of bore, it must be removed.
5. If necessary, install suitable ridge reamer in cylinder bore and, following tool manufacturer's instructions, remove ridge until bore is straight to top edge of cylinder.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 as necessary.
7. Remove connecting rod nuts, then rod cap and bearing half.
8. Using hammer handle or piece of wood or plastic, tap rod and piston upward until piston rings clear top of cylinder block.
9. Remove rod and piston assembly from top of cylinder bore.
10. Repeat steps 3 through 9 as necessary.


Fig. 14 Installing connecting rod & piston:





INSTALLATION

1. Install proper size connecting rod bearing half into connecting rod and coat it with engine oil. The installed connecting rod bearing to crankshaft clearance should be .0008-0026 inch (0.020-0.066 mm).
2. Properly space piston ring gaps, Fig. 14, dip piston in suitable engine oil and install and tighten piston ring compressor tool.
3. Slide two pieces of snug fitting rubber hose over connecting rod bolts to prevent bolt to crankshaft journal contact during installation.
4. Start connecting rod/piston assembly into cylinder bore, keeping notch or arrow in piston top toward front of engine, ensuring that connecting rod number and cylinder bore numbers coincide.
5. Using hammer handle or piece of wood, tap piston/rod assembly into cylinder bore, guiding rod bolts over crankshaft journal, then remove rubber hose from bolts.
6. Insert proper size bearing half into connecting rod cap, then install cap, ensuring that number on cap and rod are on same side and that they match.
7. Install rod nuts and torque in two steps. First torque to 25-30 ft. lbs., then to 30-36 ft. lbs.
8. Repeat steps 1 through 7 as often as necessary on remaining rod/piston assemblies.
9. Install oil pan and cylinder head.