Connecting rod side clearance question..

[SinistrV6]

I understand that connecting rod side clearance is supposed to be .015 max. What if it is more? What can be done about it? I assume that I'm measuring it correctly.

 

[Intercooler]

Short of having brand new rods and crank probably nothing! I for one am unaware of any new GM replacement rods but you can get aftermarket. Same goes for the crank. You will lose a little oil pressure but since they don't share a journal like a SBC it shouldn't hurt the engine.

 

[Steve Wood]

They get noisy.

 

[SinistrV6]

noise

I'd heard about noise problems from rod side clearances being to wide. I checked mine w/ a feeler gauge and they seem to be a good bit wider than .015". Everyone says how important this clearance is but there's nothing that can be done about it? Does that mean it's just a crap shoot as to whether it causes problems or not? Anyone close to Jack Merkel or one of the other good TR engine builders that can ask them?

 

[Steve Wood]

I would pick up the phone and call a couple of them...

 

[TurboTR]

I saw the same thing with my production engine too. Side clrnc was way bigger than the published spec.

TurboTR

 

[Intercooler]

I guess one thing you can do is match the widest rod with the widest journal and so on... Naaaa, it will probably blow up or need freshened before then anyways!

 

[ijames]

I've read somewhere that you can solder on the sides then surface them back down with fine sandpaper to tighten things up. Check with your local machine shops and see what they say (and call Ron Williams in Jackson, he did my motor ).

 

[cool 84]

All of my side clearances were either right on the loose end or a little over and my bearings looked nearly brand new when I pulled the motor apart after 30,000miles and a ton of abuse. Oil pressure was great to the end and there was no noise from the bottom end.