Piston, Connecting Rod and Bearing Installation

Special Tools 

EN-45059  Angle Meter

Equivalent regional tools:Special Tools 

1. The arrow (1) on the piston head must point to the timing side.
   Fig 1: Proper Piston And Rod Alignment

   Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
2. Note the marking (2) of the connecting rod and connecting rod cap.
   NOTE: The connecting rod bearing caps must be installed in their original position.
3. The piston ring joints must be displaced 120 degrees to each other.
4. Set the crankshaft to top dead center (TDC) of combustion stroke of cylinder 2.
5. Coat all pistons and cylinder bores with engine oil.
6. Install a piston ring compressor in order to compress the piston rings.
   Fig 2: Rod And Bearings

   Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
7. Install the 2 pistons with connecting rods (2) and connecting rod upper bearing shells (1) into cylinder 1 and 4.
8. Install the 2 connecting rod bearing caps (2) with connecting rod lower bearing shells (1) into cylinder 1 and 4.
   Fig 3: Connecting Rod Bearings, Caps And Bolts

   Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
9. Install the 4 NEW connecting rod bearing cap bolts (3) to the cylinder 1 and 4 and tighten in following order:
   CAUTION: Refer to Fastener Caution .
   CAUTION: Refer to Torque-to-Yield Fastener Caution .
   1. Tighten the bolts in first pass to 45 N.m (33 lb ft).
   2. Tighten the bolts a final pass to an additional 60 degrees, using the EN-45059  meter.
10. Turn crankshaft through 180 degrees and set crankshaft to TDC of combustion stroke of cylinder 1.
11. Install a piston ring compressor in order to compress the piston rings.
    Fig 4: Rod Bearings

    Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
12. Install the 2 pistons with connecting rod (2) with connecting rod upper bearing shells (1) into cylinder 2 and 3.
13. Install the 2 connecting rod bearing caps (3) with the connecting rod lower bearing shells (1) into cylinder 2 and 3.
    Fig 5: Connecting Rod Bearings, Caps And Bolts

    Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
14. Install the 4 NEW connecting rod bearing cap bolts (4) to cylinder 2 and 3 and tighten in following order:
    CAUTION: Refer to Torque-to-Yield Fastener Caution .
    1. Tighten the bolts in first pass to 45 N.m (33 lb ft).
    2. Tighten the bolts a final pass to an additional 60 degrees, using the EN-45059  meter.