Chapter GMW | E30 LS1 (starting on post #1427)

[jc43089]

Both main and rod bearings should be .0008 - .0023" clearance measured with plastigage.

[DrLeadFoot]

Thank you!

[DrLeadFoot]

Is it .008-.023?

.0008 seems really tight and plastic gauge doesn't go that small.

[B C]

A sheet of paper is ~0.003" thick  to have something from the real world you can relate to

Pete McHenry suggests   ".0020"-.0025", with half a thousandth looser on the rear main"

per this post here  http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?775356-Main-Bearing-Clearances

[jc43089]

IIRC Mine were about .0018.  Use the green that goes from .001-.003".

[DrLeadFoot]

Plastic gauge day!

Wet sanded the #1 journal with this new-ish 3M paper that is equal to 1200 grit and 5w-30 to get rid of the slight scratch that I could feel with my finger.

A little Vaseline to hold it in place.

Got this bad boy dialed in to 25ft/lbs and 55 degrees.

Looks to be .001!! Thank god

For reference

[B C]

nice! im sure it feels great to have checked it even though you could have said "screw it" and put it back together a few weeks ago.

[DrLeadFoot]

Getting intense up in here, up in here.

[DrLeadFoot]

Snap, I am glad I'm taking my time. I've noticed a couple of key issues especially the teeth of the crank sprocket being rounded off. If I was rushing I would probably have missed this and might have had it apart again in another 300 miles.

[Bassboy3313]

Where did you get the plasti gauge stuff from? I will need to do this when I start reassembling my spare block.

[jc43089]

I have bought Plastigage from Napa before, you have to ask for it, it was in a pretty dusty box at my store lol.

[mkoepp]

Bassboy3313 said:

Where did you get the plasti gauge stuff from? I will need to do this when I start reassembling my spare block.

I know NAPA has them. Any parts house should have them.

[DrLeadFoot]

All are torqued, three are in the pic.

[DrLeadFoot]

Pegasus Racing has the plastic gauge.

[Jeff]

Nice to see people actually checking specs when there building motors.

[DrLeadFoot]

I'm just terrified that I'm going to blow this up so I need to do it the right way.

[ClassE]

Plastidipping the crank was an odd choice.

Racekor.

[DrLeadFoot]

#tothelastdetail

[Jeff]

People usually don't clean journal bearing seats or install the bearings right 90% of builds gone wrong. Spun bearings are bad news

[DrLeadFoot]

I think I did it right. Tried to keep everything as clean as possible. Rubber gloves and brake clean were flying everywhere!