Dodge Intrepid Service Manual page 285

9 - 50 ENGINE 2.7L
FLEX PLATE (Continued)
(3) Install flex plate bolts (Fig. 63). Tighten bolts
to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
(4) Install the transaxle. (Refer to 21 - TRANS-
MISSION/TRANSAXLE/AUTOMATIC
INSTALLATION)
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD
DESCRIPTION
The pistons are made of a high strength aluminum
alloy with an anodized top ring groove. Piston skirts
are coated with a solid lubricant for scuff resistance.
The connecting rods are made of powdered metal
with a "fractured cap" design. The connecting rod
attaches to the piston with a full floating pin
retained by lock rings. The piston and connecting rod
are serviced as an assembly (Fig. 64).
Fig. 64 Piston and Connecting Rod
1 - "F" TOWARD FRONT OF ENGINE
2 - RING COMPRESSOR
3 - SPECIAL TOOL 8189
4 - OIL SQUIRT HOLE
OPERATION
The piston and connecting rod is the link between
the combustion force to the crankshaft.
- 42LE -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - FITTING PISTONS
The pistons have been cast and machined to one
size and weight. The piston and rod assemblies are
matched to weigh the same for engine balance.
Piston and cylinder wall must be clean and dry.
Piston diameter should be measured 90 degrees to
piston pin at size location shown in (Fig. 65). Cylin-
der bores should be measured halfway down the cyl-
inder bore and transverse to the engine crankshaft
center line. Refer to Engine Specifications. (Refer to 9
- ENGINE - SPECIFICATIONS) Pistons and cylin-
der bores should be measured at normal room
temperature, 70°F (21°C).
PISTON PINS
The pistons have been cast and machined to one
size and weight. The piston and rod assemblies are
matched to weigh the same for engine balance.
The piston pin is full floating and is held in place
by lock rings. Do Not switch pistons with other
rods. Pistons and connecting rods are serviced as an
assembly for balance.
REMOVAL
(1) Remove top ridge of cylinder bores with a reli-
able ridge reamer before removing pistons from cyl-
inder block. Be sure to keep tops of pistons
covered during this operation. Pistons and con-
necting rods must be removed from top of cyl-
inder
connecting rod assemblies from the engine,
rotate crankshaft so that each connecting rod
is centered in cylinder bore.
NOTE: Connecting rod bearing caps are not inter-
changeable and should be marked before removing
to ensure correct reassembly.
Fig. 65 Piston Measurements
block. When removing
LH
piston and