HELP! I-5 crankshaft end-play problem

[Ameer Antar]

Yes, the shell fits OK, but it's got zero end float. I measured about .001" difference between the shell and the space for the bearing in the crank. No feeler gauge will fit in there, and I'm sure that will destroy the bearings in a running motor. The bearings are oversize as the crank main journals were ground to .25mm oversize. But I thought that only affects the journal diameter, not the thrust clearance. I'm thinking of sanding down the bearing shells for the #4 bearing, but I'm worried about removing the coating or just too much. Thanks for any other ideas.

-Ameer

---Original Message---
From: Jim Green <jeg1976 at yahoo.com>
Date: 2/2/04 7:13:13 PM
Subject: Re: HELP! I-5 crankshaft end-play problem


--- Ameer Antar <antar at comcast.net> wrote:
> So, I got to laying down the crank in the block
> today and I was scratching my head about those
> thrust washers and the end-play on the crank. The
> new oversize main bearing set (.25mm) seem to be
> different than the stock ones. One pair of bearing
> shells has a lip on each side to fit over the
> recesses of the #4 main bearing cap. So I guess with
> this type of bearing set, you don't need to use the
> multi-piece thrust washers. Do I have that right?

Yes, you're right, that's how the new ones are.
> After test fitting the crank, everything seems fine
> and lined up, but I'm getting absolutely zero
> end-play on the crankshaft. I even tried tapping on
> the crank snout, but there's no movement. It looks
> like the spec is at least .003", but I can't get any
> feeler gauge in there. So I'm guessing that maybe
> the #4 bearing shells need to be machined to the
> right tolerance. How is this done? Should both
> shells be done at the same time? Does it matter
> which side of the shell I grind? 

If you put the shell into the cap, will it slide onto
the crank easily?  I've never heard about one needing
machined, are you sure you didn't get oversized bearings?

===== 
Jim Green
'89 90tq
'89 80q
http://www.mswanson.com/~jgreen/car_home.html

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