Lotus Elise Service Notes page 223

ENGINE
Big-end bearings selection
1. Record big-end journal code letters from
crankshaft rear web.
First letter is Number 1 big-end bearing.
Record big-end bearing bore code numbers -
this will be 5, 6 or 7 located on the connecting
rod bearing cap.
2. Check crankshaft big-end journal diameters:
-1.1,1.4 and 1.6 litre
Big-end journal tolerance:
Grade A = 43.000 to 43.007 mm
Grade B = 42.993 to 43.000 mm
Grade C = 42.986 to 42.993 mm
Clearance in bearings = 0.021 to 0.049 mm
Maximum out of round = 0.010 mm
Big-end/connecting rod end-float = 0.10 to 0.25
mm
1.8 litre
Big-end journal tolerance:
Grade A = 48.000 to 48.007 mm
Grade B = 47.993 to 48.000 mm
Grade C = 47.986 to 47.993 mm
Clearance in bearings = 0.021 to 0.049 mm
Maximum out of round = 0.010 mm
Big-end/connecting rod end-float = 0.10 to 0.25
mm
3. Select the appropriate big-end bearing shells
from the table.
4. Replace crankshaft if outside tolerance.
Big-end bearings size selection table
Big-end bore
Crankshaft big-end journals
Big-end bore
Grade A
Grade B Grade C
Grade 5 BLUE - BLUE
RED-BLUE
RED - RED
Grade 6
BLUE - YELLOW
BLUE - BLUE RED - BLUE
Grade 7 YELLOW - YELLOW
BLUE - YELLOW BLUE - BLUE
Colour code on edge of bearing
Thickness progression:
YELLOW - Thin
BLUE - Intermediate
RED - Thick
If two bearing colours are to be used, thicker bearing
must be fitted to big-end bearing cap.
8 6 OVERHAUL