Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual page 1121

9 - 92 ENGINE 3.9L
CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS
STANDARD PROCEDURE—CONNECTING ROD
BEARING FITTING
Fit all rods on a bank until completed. DO NOT
alternate from one bank to another, because connect-
ing rods and pistons are not interchangeable from
one bank to another.
The bearing caps are not interchangeable and
should be marked at removal to ensure correct
assembly.
Each bearing cap has a small V-groove across the
parting face. When installing the lower bearing shell,
be certain that the V-groove in the shell is in line
with the V-groove in the cap. This provides lubrica-
tion of the cylinder wall in the opposite bank.
The bearing shells must be installed so that the
tangs are in the machined grooves in the rods and
caps.
Limits of taper or out-of-round on any crankshaft
journals should be held to 0.025 mm (0.001 in.).
Bearings are available in 0.025 mm (0.001 in.), 0.051
mm (0.002 in.), 0.076 mm (0.003 in.), 0.254 mm
(0.010 in.) and 0.305 mm (0.012 in.) undersize.
Install the bearings in pairs. DO NOT use a new
bearing half with an old bearing half. DO NOT
file the rods or bearing caps.
CRANKSHAFT
DESCRIPTION
The crankshaft (Fig. 26) is of a forged steel splayed
type design, with four main bearing journals.The
crankshaft is located at the bottom of the engine
block and is held in place with four main bearing
caps.
Fig. 26 Crankshaft—3.9L Engine
OPERATION
The crankshaft transfers force generated by com-
bustion within the cylinder bores to the flywheel or
flexplate.
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the oil pan (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/LU-
BRICATION/OIL PAN - REMOVAL).
(2) Remove the oil pump (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/
LUBRICATION/OIL PUMP - REMOVAL).
(3) Identify bearing caps before removal. Remove
bearing caps and bearings one at a time.
(4) Lift the crankshaft out of the block.
(5) Remove and discard the crankshaft rear oil
seals.
(6) Remove and discard the front crankshaft oil
seal.
INSTALLATION
(1) Lightly oil the new upper seal lips with engine
oil.
(2) Install the new upper rear bearing oil seal with
the white paint facing towards the rear of the engine.
(3) Position the crankshaft into the cylinder block.
(4) Lightly oil the new lower seal lips with engine
oil.
(5) Install the new lower rear bearing oil seal into
the bearing cap with the white paint facing towards
the rear of the engine.
(6) Apply 5 mm (0.20 in.) drop of Loctite 518, or
equivalent, on each side of the rear main bearing cap
(Fig. 27). DO NOT over-apply sealant or allow the
sealant to contact the rubber seal. Assemble bearing
cap to cylinder block immediately after sealant appli-
cation.
(7) To align the bearing cap, use cap slot, align-
ment dowel, and cap bolts. DO NOT remove excess
material after assembly. DO NOT strike rear cap
more than two times for proper engagement.
(8) Clean and oil all cap bolts. Install all main
bearing caps. Install all cap bolts and alternately
tighten to 115 N·m (85 ft. lbs.) torque.
(9) Install oil pump (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/LUBRI-
CATION/OIL PUMP - INSTALLATION).
(10) Apply Mopar Silicone Rubber Adhesive Seal-
ant, or equivalent, at bearing cap-to-block joint to
provide cap-to-block and oil pan sealing (Fig. 28).
Apply enough sealant so that a small amount is
squeezed out. Withdraw nozzle and wipe excess seal-
ant off the oil pan seal groove.
(11) Install new front crankshaft oil seal (Refer to
9 - ENGINE/ENGINE BLOCK/CRANKSHAFT OIL
SEAL - FRONT - INSTALLATION).
(12) Immediately install the oil pan (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/LUBRICATION/OIL PAN - INSTALLA-
TION).
AN