I know that I have stated this a couple of times but it has been awhile since I’ve assembled a stock LA series engine. When you do something often enough, you just
know things and don’t have as many hiccups in the build.
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I called my machinist to remind me…. The notches in the big ends of the rods face OUTSIDE toward the oil pan rail.
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With the pistons facing with the valve reliefs UP like so…
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The chamfer in the big ends will need to be to the LEFT for all 8 rods.
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The left side faces the fillet/counterweight. The right side will meet another rod on the crank pin and so the rod is almost flush with very little chamfer.
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You can see better with a bearing in place. Note how the bearing below is tucked in a bit in this photo…
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Then almost flush in this photo….
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Many guys already knew this. Once I’m back doing this stuff it comes back to me. Having the pistons symmetrical does make it easier.
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Next will be to file fit the rings. These KB Hypereutectic slugs have an unusual spec….
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Really??? A .0065 gap factor means 4.040 X .0065. That is a .026 ring gap. That really seems wide but there it is as they call for.
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The last section above shows a more common .004 factor for the second ring. That is approximately .016”. I have this weird memory of a set of pistons I had some time ago that called for a second ring with a bigger gap than the top. Did I just imagine that??
Onward….