the coreplugs should be renewed at this point..they are cheap and can only really be all renewed when the engine is out...just knock the sifdeways in their bore, remove with pliers and then use the least bent old coreplug as a drift to insert the new ones with


the bearing grades on the mains, crank and rods have been noted and ordered to spec, i had the crank checked whilst i was having the block bored but i would still like to check it with plastigauge

the bearings are fitted to the block, mains and rods but without oil!

you want to cut a slither of the stuff so its slightly shorter than the jounal itself, do this to all of the mains journals on the crank with the crank placed in the engine awaiting the girdle

now fit the girdle with the plastigauge in situ being careful not to knock it off, torque up the bolts in the correct fashion and then dis-assemble it all again to measure and then remove the plastigauge

measurement is real easy with the bit of card they supply, you just match the size of the "splat" it makes on the crank with a splat on the card lol

the stock clearance is just under 2 thou, max clearance is 3.5 thou, all of mine came up at around 2.0-2.1 so well within clearance




mains bearings cleaned and oiled ready for the crank to be finially fitted


mains offered up to block just prior to crank install

crank and mains fitted


top view