Jughead

What is the proper or preferred method to separate the bottom part from the connecting rod? The engine shop assembled them when they balanced the rotating assembly. The bolts were torqued down but now I need to take them apart to attach to the crank.

I don't want to screw up the connecting rods/bolts. Can I tighten the rods in a vise & use a punch?

redwingvette

Clamp them in a vise using blocks of wood and a plastic mallet or wood to "tap" them apart.

NHvette

It's been a while since working a rotating assembly, but I would not put my
rods in a vise. If you really need to hold them in the vise, then sandwich
them between a couple pieces of pine. You don't want to put nicks or gouges
in the rods. Take the bolts out - and screw them back in two turns or so. This
way, when the cap comes off - it won't go bouncing on the floor. Now, tap the
cap loose from the rod with a plastic or lead mallet.

Before totally taking the cap off, make sure that the ends of the cap and rod are marked for proper alignment during assembly. You can't just flip the cap around and have it line up properly (without lots of luck).

Hope this helps more than hurts.

:seeya

Jughead

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I wasn't sure about the vise, that's why I asked. I didn't think about the blocks of wood, I was going to wrap the rods in a heavy towel.

clem zahrobsky

i take them apart by tapping on the bolts with a small all copper hammer while holding the rod by the cap. :chevy


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:51 PM 1/4/2003]

Jughead

:cool: :cheers: