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#28739 10/27/2004 1:44 AM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1 | I'm rebuilding a 261. I've got the crankshaft in but it seems like it's too tight. I know the real oil seal is the culprit. I'm afraid that once I get it in the car it won't turn over and I'll be screwed. I read on the valvaline oil site that the crank is supposed to turn "freely". This is what my book says. The sight did say that if one is using a rope type seal it will have "considerable drag". I have the rope type. I'd really like to see my chevy with this new engine so help would be appreciated! | | |
#28740 10/27/2004 7:55 PM | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 146 Member | | Member Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 146 | Macman,
With no rope seal in place and only the crank in place, side trust correct and mains tightened to the specs, You should turn the crank freely with no big effort, with your hand only, no tools required. If You want a cheapo way to be sure it's not too loose, make a small piece of newspaper paper measuring 1/2 X 3/4, remove any of the main caps, place it over the crank, tight the main again and it should be locked or at least hard to turn. By no means it should turn free. The rear main seal rope type should place some 35-50 foot pound of drag, You can measure it placing a torque wrench in the crank snout and measuring it. As normally L6 have no bolt in the crank snout You can use a large socket driving it using the pulley key. Do it softly not to damage anything. Neoprene seals puts no considerable drag there, after the crank is tightened with one in place You can turn it the same way using hands only.
Alexandre Garcia
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#28741 11/09/2004 5:15 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 7 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 7 | IF UNCERTIAN WHY NOT "plasti-gage" THE BEARINGS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CLEARANCE IS.PLASTI-GAGE IS A THIN PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT FLATTENS TO CERTIAN WIDTH TO TELL YOU WHAT THE CLEARANCE IS IT COMES IN VERIOUS SIZES 1TO3 THOU SHOULD WORK FINE FOR YOUR TASK
Richard Laszchuk
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#28742 11/09/2004 9:12 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 200 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 200 | Macman,
Make sure your number 2 and 3 main caps are on in the correct direction. We rebuilt a 261 and one of the caps was on in the wrong direction and it was very hard to turn. Loosen one at a time to see which one is tight. Once we got that corrected, it turned freely. Hope this helps.
Mark
1951 Chevy 3100
Some days you get the bear. Some days the bear gets you.
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