Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual page 1075

9 - 46 ENGINE 2.5L
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD (Continued)
(4) Use a piston ring compressor to install the con-
necting rod and piston assemblies through the top of
the cylinder bores (Fig. 54).
(5) Ensure the arrow on the piston top points to
the front of the engine (Fig. 54).
Fig. 54 Rod and Piston Assembly Installation
(6) Raise the vehicle.
(7) Each bearing insert is fitted to its respective
journal to obtain the specified clearance between the
bearing and the journal. In production, the select fit
is obtained by using various-sized, color-coded bear-
ing inserts as listed in the Connecting Rod Bearing
Fitting Chart (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/ENGINE
BLOCK/CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS - STAN-
DARD PROCEDURE). The color code appears on the
edge of the bearing insert. The size is not stamped on
inserts used for production of engines.
(8) The rod journal is identified during the engine
production by a color-coded paint mark on the adja-
cent cheek or counterweight toward the flange (rear)
end of the crankshaft. The color codes used to indi-
cate journal sizes are listed in the Connecting Rod
Bearing Fitting Chart.
(9) When required, upper and lower bearing
inserts of different sizes may be used as a pair refer
to Connecting Rod Bearing Fitting Chart (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/ENGINE BLOCK/CONNECTING
BEARINGS - STANDARD PROCEDURE). A stan-
dard size insert is sometimes used in combination
with a 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) undersize insert to
reduce clearance 0.013 mm (0.0005 inch).
CAUTION: DO NOT intermix bearing caps. Each
connecting rod and bearing cap are stamped with
the cylinder number. The stamp is located on a
machined surface adjacent to the oil squirt hole
that faces the camshaft side of the cylinder block.
(10) Install the connecting rod bearing caps and
inserts in the same positions as removed.
CAUTION: Verify that the oil squirt holes in the rods
face the camshaft and that the arrows on the pis-
tons face the front of the engine.
(11) Install the oil pan (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/LU-
BRICATION/OIL PAN - INSTALLATION) and gas-
ket.
(12) Lower the vehicle.
(13) Install the engine cylinder head (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/CYLINDER
push rods, rocker arms, bridges, pivots and engine
cylinder head cover (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/CYLIN-
DER HEAD/CYLINDER
INSTALLATION).
(14) Fill the crankcase with engine oil.
PISTON RINGS
STANDARD PROCEDURE - PISTON RING
FITTING
(1) Carefully clean the carbon from all ring
grooves. Oil drain openings in the oil ring groove and
pin boss must be clear. DO NOT remove metal from
the grooves or lands. This will change ring-to-groove
clearances and will damage the ring-to-land seating.
(2) Be sure the piston ring grooves are free of
nicks and burrs.
(3) Measure the ring side clearance with a feeler
gauge fitted snugly between the ring land and ring
(Fig. 55) (Fig. 56). Rotate the ring in the groove. It
must move freely around circumference of the groove.
ROD
Fig. 55 Piston Dimensions
HEAD - INSTALLATION),
HEAD COVER(S)
AN
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