Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 597

V-8 ENGINE
6-85
Fig. 6-145 Sealing Bearing Cap
5. Insert tool in oil hole of crankshaft and rotate crank-
shaft in usual direction of rotation. This will cause
bearing to be moved from between shaft and bearing
seat (Fig. 6-147).
6. Oil bearing surface of shell and install by inserting
plain end of bearing shell at indented side of bearing
seat and gently rotating shell into place by turning
shaft.
7. Install new bearing lower half by inserting in bearing
cap so indentation in shell and cap coincide.
8. Install bearing cap and check fit of bearing, using
plastic gage as outlined below.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances should
bearing caps be filed or shimmed in an effort to
effect a fit.
PLASTIC GAGE METHOD FOR DETERMINING
MAIN BEARING CLEARANCE
When checking main bearing clearance with engine in the
car, place a .002" brass shim between the crankshaft iour-
Fig. 6-147 Tool Installed for Removing Upper Half of Main
Bearing
nal and the lower bearing in each bearing cap next to the
one being checked (Fig. 6-148).
Tighten all cap bolts to proper torque as follows: rear
-
120
lb. ft., all others
-
100 lb. ft. (all except 307 engine) or 75
lb. ft. for all in 307 engine.
This causes the crankshaft to be forced against the upper
bearing and insures an accurate measurement of the total
clearance.
1. Remove the bearing cap of the bearing to be checked.
Wipe the bearing and the journal free of oil.
2. Place a piece of plastic gage the width of the bearing
on the journal or bearing surface. Install the cap and
Fig. 6 - 1 4 6 Tool for Removing Upper Half of Main Bearing
Fig. 6-1 48 ,002" Shim Positioned in Adjacent Caps t o
Check Main Bearing Clearance With Engine i n Car