GM 10184907 Piston Asm

To start with the installation of piston/connecting rod assemblies, ensure that the cylinder walls are spotlessly clean, top edges of each cylinder are chamfered and the crankshaft is in place. Get off the end cap from number one connecting rod while paying attention to any marks made when it was being removed and wipe the old bearing inserts with a clean, lint-free cloth to keep the connecting rod and cap bearing surfaces spotlessly clean always. To check for clearance on connecting rod bearings, put a new upper bearing insert flat on its backside before placing it in the connecting rod, making sure that the tab on the bearing properly fits into an opening in the rod. Also put a new lower bearing insert flat against its backside then push it up into position in a similar way as one did above while ensuring that its tab aligns well with an opening in a cap. Arrange piston ring gaps at 120-degree intervals around piston, lubricate piston and rings lightly with clean engine oil and use aring compressor to compress rings flush with piston while gently pushing the piston/rod assembly into number one cylinder bore making sure it is in correct orientation. Gently tap piston guiding connecting rod onto crankshaft journal but avoid forcing it. Afterward, install Plastigage between caps and later reinstall them without disturbing Plastigage completely then look at thickness of flattened tape by comparing it to specifications. Remove cap without disturbing Plastigage and remove all traces of Plastigage material. For three steps of reinstalling the cap and nuts, spread equal amount of clean moly-base grease or engine assembly lube over both bearing faces evenly. Repeat again this procedure for other pistons/rods checking cleanliness, right piston/rod assemblies, orientation and lubrication as well. Finally after installation turn crankshaft manually make sure there is no binding; check connection rod endplay if necessary.