HELP! I-5 crankshaft end-play problem

[Mike Arman]

>Ameer Antar <antar at comcast.net>
>Subject: Re: HELP! I-5 crankshaft end-play problem
>To: Quattro List <quattro at audifans.com>
>Message-ID: <20040204061951.CF1145F5C4 at audifans.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"
>Well, I talked it over w/ the race shop where I got the block machined and 
>they told me I could have the crank ground down or just sand the bearings. 
>They said they always sand the thrust surfaces of the thrust bearings when 
>building a race motor to take any inconsistancies out of the surfaces. 
>Grinding the crank would probly cost another $50 and maybe 3-4 wks as 
>there's only one crank grinder here in CT. With all that I took my chances 
>and sanded down the bearing shells on the thrust surfaces. I used the 
>bearing cap to support the shell and wet sanded w/ 600 grit paper. After 
>putting it all back together, I'm right on the money w/ .006" end play.


>  Even though the silvery surface was removed and copper showing underneath,


This is _wrong_ - the silvery surface is the bearing material and the 
copper underneath is the backing.

There's an error here somewhere - if these are the crank and block that 
originally came together, and just the rod bearings have been ground, it 
sounds like someone gave you some incorrect thrust bearings (too thick).

Don't assemble the engine this way - this one is NOT going to last. Find 
the error - the copper usually only shows up AFTER the bearing is *already* 
worn out.

I'm not trying to make you unhappy, either - but you'll be a LOT unhappier 
if you put this engine into the car and it fails quickly and expensively.


Best Regards,
Mike Arman