h22/h23 vtec crank and rod bearings clearance question

nathan007 · Apr 9, 2014

Hey all!

Well i got around getting my rod and crank bearings (taiho standard size), after checking my oil clearances with plastigauge i'm surprizingly on the loose size (slightly out of the .002 zone, towards the .0015 zone but not by much; green plastigauge used) for RODS and CRANK.
Now i have been checking all of this with parts near the 0 degree celcius temp (non-heated garage) so i cant say for sure if it has an effect.

Also, while trying to rotate my crank without the upper half installed, and with alot of assembly lube (thicky stuff) my #3 bearing moved out of it's place , like it was stuck to the crank.. (wtf?! will i destroy it even tough i have loose clearance)

My engine rotates normally when i spin it by hand

xci.ed6 · Apr 9, 2014

Don't yours have a 'tab' to hold them in place?

nathan007 · Apr 9, 2014

yes they have a tab, correctly installed, but i guess my cold-*** assembly lube was too sticky.. I do remember this half went in looser than the others, it would still "clip" in place, but easier than its fellow brothers

xci.ed6 · Apr 9, 2014

something must be f'd up. the cap & rod are machined for notch, should be WAY too tight in journal.

for fun, see what plastguage looks like there.

nathan007 · Apr 10, 2014

for this #3 bearing i was outside the .051mm range, slightly on the tighter side. Measure was taken on the bottom side (oil pan side). Wich is loosy-fit

xci.ed6 · Apr 10, 2014

It's very confusing to read your posts.

Less gap for oil, closer to 0.000 inches or meters, is tight.

Too big of gap for oil, closer to 0.100 inches or meters is loose.

You said both in one sentence. The bearing half is not actually a half circle, it's more of a

\_/
so it 'clips' into the block/rod/cap/whatev.

If your bearing spun:
1) learn
or
2) take it to a shop
or
3) buy new bearing (trial/error game)
or
4) buy new engine

nathan007 · Apr 13, 2014

Sorry if i was confusing, english is my "second" language..

I decided to put this on hold, send the bottom end go get professionally overhauled later during the season, i figured i may be out of my league in this case.

New engine came in yesterday, will test today to make sure it's okay, fingers crossed!!