Piston Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 GMC Yukon XL, 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, and 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Coat the following components with clean engine oil:
- The piston
- The piston rings
- The cylinder bore
- The bearing surfaces
- Install rubber fuel line onto the connecting rod bolts.
Important: The mark on the top of the piston must face the front of the engine block. When assembled, the flanges on the connecting rod and cap should face to the front of block on the left bank and to the rear of block on the right bank.
- Install the piston, connecting rod and upper connecting rod bearing through the top of the engine block.
- Install the J 8037 onto the piston and compress the piston rings.
- Use the J 8037 and lightly tap the top of the piston with a wooden hammer handle.
- Hold the J 8037 firmly against the engine block until all of the piston rings have entered the cylinder bore.
- Use the rubber fuel line in order to guide the connecting rod onto the crankshaft journal.
- Remove the rubber fuel line.
- Install the connecting rod cap and lower connecting rod bearing.NOTE: Refer to FASTENER NOTICE in Cautions and Notices.
Important: When installing the piston/connecting rod assembly, NEW connecting rod nuts must be installed.
- Install the new connecting rod nuts.
Tighten
Tighten the connecting rod nuts to 30 N.m (22 lb ft) plus an additional 90 degrees.
- Once the piston and connecting rod assemblies have been installed, lightly tap each connecting rod assembly, parallel to the crankpin, in order to make sure that they have side clearance.
- Use a feeler gage or a dial indicator to measure the side clearance between the connecting rod caps. The rod side clearance should be 0.384-0.686 mm (0.0151-0.0270 in).