The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop bearing clearances on main caps

the bearing with the dimple is the thrust bearing it goes on the journal with the R on it. (that is why the 3rd journal has the front and rear face machined) So there is your problem, the gap was because all the journals are different size (smallest in the front, getting larger as they progress through the block.)and if you had the thrust bearings on #2 and vice versa (I didn't think that was possible) you probably ruined the thrust bearing as you were trying to squish it into a significantly smaller hole than it was supposed to fit in. Oh and by the way don't use the lube UNDER the bearing, it will interfere with your clearance readings, the interface between the block/caps and bearing shells should be dry. make sure you don't mix up tops and bottoms of different journals, as I said before they are all different sizes and although you can get them in the hole it don't mean it is right.