The crankshaft as we have earlier seen can only be removed if the engine has been pulled out of the car which means DISASSEMBLED or REMOVED of the driveplate, crankshaft pulley, timing chain, oil pan, oil pump body, oil filter, piston/connecting rod assemblies. The rear main oil seal retainer must be removed by the dismantling of its bolts and then the crankshaft cannot be removed without the removal of this retainer. First tape a dial indicator on the crankshaft and use it to measure the endplay. Loosen the nut on the front of the crankshaft and turn it to bring the dial indicator to zero, then push again; the standard figure should fall in the region of between 0.003 to 0.010 inch. In case the dial indicator is missing, or unavailable, the clearance might be checked with feeler gauges. For a V6, turn the main bearing cap bolts up to but not beyond the point so that they can be undone by hand; for a four-cylinder engine, slacken the lower crankcase bolts in the sequence by which they were tightened. Take off the main bearing caps or lower crankcase as gently as possible so as not to lose the bearing inserts. Remove the crankshaft as it should be done with a help of an assistant and fit back the main bearing cap or lower crankcase half onto the engine block tightening the fasteners only lightly but making sure that the caps are placed in the correct manner. While installing considerfulness of the engine block and the crankshaft and even their wash. Set the we engine block on its bottom, if any initial bearing inserts are there have to be removed and then clean all bearing areas. Place a new upper main bearing insert into each of the main bearing saddles, the oil holes of which must correspond to those of the other component; put in the main lower bearing inserts to the related caps. Clean the faces of crankshaft and bearing insert, then position the crankshaft in the bear. The Plastigage is used to check the oil clearance of the main bearing, while the caps should be properly fitted without interfering with the content observed. Once the bolts have been tightened, the caps are next to be removed, so that the width of the Plastigage can be compared to the scale in order to check the clearance. If clearance is wrong check cleanliness and if necessary consider other bearing inserts. All traces of Plastigage should be cleaned off carefully. Before the bearings are finally installed, the faces of the bearing inserts should be wiped clean with a clean rag; a thin layer of grease or assembly lube should then be applied; this is when the crankshaft should be placed back in its usual position. Dry and clean the bearing insert faces and lubricate lightly while making sure there is no oil between the two then mating surfaces. All the bolts are to be installed and tightened and if they are lost, they have to be procured and used The crankshaft end play has to be checked again. This has to be done in order to check for binding of the crankshaft thus if it turns freely. Last, there is the rear main oil seal that should be put in its new one.
