The crankshaft cannot be removed without the removal of the engine from the vehicle provided that the driveplate, crankshaft pulley, oil pan, timing chain as well as the
Piston/connecting rod assemblies have been removed. Prior to the crankshaft removal it is necessary to determine its end play by placing a dial indicator against a reference point on the crankshaft. Loosen the crankshaft warding by moving it to the rear and setting the indicator to zero before moving the warding to the front to adjust it to a standard of 0.003 to 0.010 inch. If you do not have dial indicator you may use the feeler gauges in order to get some clearance. For V8 engines start with side bolts, and turn the main bearing cap bolts gradually to the point where they can be removed by hand. For inline engines, then first, remove the stiffener plate if present and if you are planning to differentiate between main bearing caps, then mark these also if you have time. Slowly and gently, if possible with help, extract the crankshaft upwards and in again tighten the main bearing caps including the stiffener with a few turns. For installation, it is recommended to first check the condition of the engine block and the crankshaft and to remove possible dirt. Place the block in an inverted position, also, eliminate the original bearing inserts, or the projected surfaces, and wash them appropriately. New upper main bearing inserts should be fitted and to ensure the oil holes are in the correct alignment; place the lower ones into the main bearing caps. Inspect the oil clearance limit by run-in Plastigage verifying that it is standard. If not, check for cleanliness, and bear in mind different sizes of bearings are available if needed. In the process of operation, Plastigage is used to measure the amount of end play to ensure that after it is wiped off, place a thin layer of grease on the bearing surfaces and then re-install the crankshaft. The surfaces of the bearing inserts should be cleaned and lubricant applied before the main bearing caps are bolted on. After that tighten the bolts in the correct sequence and again check the crankshaft end play. Ensure that the crankshaft rotate with ease if not then it is an indication that it is bound. Last of them is to fit the new rear main oil seal into the retainer, however do not fit this retainer until the balance shafts are fitted.