Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn?
11-17-2002, 07:38 PM
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Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? I'm in the middle of installing new bearings in the bottom end of a stock ls1. My question is once the crank is installed (torqued) and lubed with bearing guard how many ft lbs does it take to turn just the crank in a bare block?
It's taking 20 ft lbs to get the crank to spin once the mains are torqued. Seems kinda hard to me but this is the first ls1 i've taken on.
What should it be or am i in the ball park?
Thanks Shawn
It's taking 20 ft lbs to get the crank to spin once the mains are torqued. Seems kinda hard to me but this is the first ls1 i've taken on.
What should it be or am i in the ball park?
Thanks Shawn
11-17-2002, 07:45 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? If rods and pistons are not installed it shouldnt take any torque to rotate engine. Take it back apart and inspect wear pattern on bearings to see why and where it is so tight.
11-17-2002, 08:01 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? No rods and pistons installed yet. I've taken it apart a few times now and i don't see any thing wrong with the bearings or any sign of wear. It is cold out in the garage (40*) and that bearing guard is kinda sticky, not slick like oil.
Anyone else every take a TQ wrench to the crank and see how ft lbs it takes to spin it over?
Anyone else every take a TQ wrench to the crank and see how ft lbs it takes to spin it over?
11-17-2002, 08:03 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Sounds like it has to be rubbing on something in there. See if any part of the crank is touching the block besides the bearings. You need to get it in there just right for it to spin freely.
11-17-2002, 08:37 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? The last few motors we assembled it took 15lb-ft to turn the motor over AFTER the crank and pistons/rods were installed. You should be able to spin the crank over with your hand with no pistons/rods installed.
Make sure you are installing the correct size bearings. I have heard of bearings being mispacked, so checked the backside of the bearing to make sure it was boxed as advertised. Was the cranked turned at the machine shop?
Make sure you are installing the correct size bearings. I have heard of bearings being mispacked, so checked the backside of the bearing to make sure it was boxed as advertised. Was the cranked turned at the machine shop?
11-17-2002, 08:40 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? I'm going back out in the garage now. I'll take out the crank again for the 4th time and recheck the bearings. Everything is standard size. Be back in a few.
11-17-2002, 09:43 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Mic the crank and main bores (with bearings), look for .0025. Lay crank in without caps, use dial indicator to chek runout. Be sure bearing locks are correctly oriented and that caps face the proper direction. This can lock up a standard block, though the ls-1 may be different. You should be able to spin the crank by hand and have it coast.
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11-17-2002, 09:49 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Is this motor in the car or on a stand? if you can, try to spin in each time you torque a main bearing down. Maybe you can pinpoint the one that could be causing a problem. Also do you have any plastigage? Check clearances!
11-17-2002, 10:12 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? I had the same problem on an engine I rebuilt a few years back. I don't know if the bearing caps only fit one specific way on an LS1, but on this mopar engine we rebuilt, a bearing cap was on backwards.
11-17-2002, 10:13 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Thanks everyone, I didnt have the first four caps on the right way. I had all the feet on the caps pointing forward <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />
11-17-2002, 10:15 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? BTW the crank spins very easily now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />
11-17-2002, 10:16 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TA2SLOW346:
<strong>BTW the crank spins very easily now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
<strong>BTW the crank spins very easily now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
11-18-2002, 06:08 AM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? They looked brand new <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
11-18-2002, 10:09 AM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Easy enough. Good to hear it isn't scuffed.
I'm having a similar problem on a 302 I'm building--cam bearings though.
I'm having a similar problem on a 302 I'm building--cam bearings though.
11-18-2002, 10:20 AM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 9D9LS:
<strong>Is this motor in the car or on a stand? if you can, try to spin in each time you torque a main bearing down. Maybe you can pinpoint the one that could be causing a problem. Also do you have any plastigage? Check clearances!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not to be an ***, but have you ever pulled a crank out of an LS1 with it still in the car?
<strong>Is this motor in the car or on a stand? if you can, try to spin in each time you torque a main bearing down. Maybe you can pinpoint the one that could be causing a problem. Also do you have any plastigage? Check clearances!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not to be an ***, but have you ever pulled a crank out of an LS1 with it still in the car?
11-20-2002, 01:10 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? Well I got it all together lastnight and with the crank, rods, pistons, rings, all torqued down I'm at 18ft lbs to turn it over. How does that sound?
11-22-2002, 08:26 PM
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Re: Assembling engine? Crank hard to turn? [QUOTE]Originally posted by DenzSS:
[QB]Easy enough. Good to hear it isn't scuffed.
Fords are known for line bore problems with cam bores. I think Ford used select fit cam bearings to assemble motors origonally. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
[QB]Easy enough. Good to hear it isn't scuffed.
Fords are known for line bore problems with cam bores. I think Ford used select fit cam bearings to assemble motors origonally. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
