Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 1639

9 - 390 ENGINE 8.0L
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD (Continued)
NOTE: Be sure position of rings does not change
during the following step.
(5) Immerse the piston head and rings in clean
engine oil. Slide Piston Ring Compressor Tool C-385
over the piston and tighten with the special wrench
(part of Tool C-385).
Fig. 39 Proper Ring Installation
1 - TOP COMPRESSION RING GAP
UPPER OIL RING GAP
2 - 2ND COMPRESSION RING GAP
LOWER OIL RAIL GAP
3 - SPACER GAP
(6) Install connecting rod bolt protectors on rod
bolts, a long protector should be installed on the
numbered side of the connecting rod.
(7) Rotate crankshaft so that the connecting rod
journal is on the center of the cylinder bore in the
bottom dead center (BDC) position. Be sure connect-
ing rod and cylinder bore number are the same.
Insert rod and piston into cylinder bore. Be sure the
piston and rod assemblies are installed in the proper
orientation (Fig. 40).
(8) The notch, groove or arrow on top of piston
must be pointing toward front of engine. The larger
chamfer of the connecting rod bore must be installed
toward crankshaft journal fillet.
(9) While tapping the piston down in cylinder bore
with the handle of a hammer, guide the connecting
rod over the crankshaft journal.
(10) Install rod caps. Install nuts on cleaned and
oiled rod bolts and tighten nuts to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)
torque.
(11) Install the oil pump pick-up tube and oil pan
(Refer to 9 - ENGINE/LUBRICATION/OIL PAN -
INSTALLATION).
(12) Install the cylinder head (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/CYLINDER HEAD - INSTALLATION) and
cylinder head cover (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/CYLIN-
DER HEAD/CYLINDER
INSTALLATION).
HEAD COVER(S)
Fig. 40 Piston and Rod Orientation
1 - FRONT I.D. TOWARDS THIS SIDE
2 - ORIENTATION BUTTON TOWARDS REAR
(R.H. ONLY)
2, 4, 6, 8, 10
3 - ORIENTATION BUTTON TOWARDS FRONT
(L.H. ONLY)
1, 3, 5, 7, 9
(13) Install intake manifold (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/
MANIFOLDS/INTAKE MANIFOLD - INSTALLA-
TION).
(14) Install the engine into the vehicle (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE - INSTALLATION).
PISTON RINGS
STANDARD PROCEDURE—FITTING PISTON
RINGS
(1) Measurement of end gaps:
(a) Measure piston ring gap 2 inches from bot-
tom of cylinder bore. An inverted piston can be
used to push the rings down to ensure positioning
rings squarely in the cylinder bore before measur-
ing.
(b) Insert feeler stock in the gap. Gap for com-
pression rings should be between 0.254-0.508 mm
(0.010-0.020 inch). The oil ring gap should be
-
0.381- 1.397 mm (0.015-0.055 inch).
DR