pitviper33

Hey all,

I'm working on replacing main and rod bearings on my 22RE, and I've hit a couple small snags. I'm doing all of the work with the engine in the truck, so I have not removed the Rod bearings were no problem (and boy did they need it). I'm hoping that some of you have found workarounds for these little issues before.

A few of the top halves of the mains didn't want to rotate out for me after tapping them loose. For most of these I can put something in the oil hole in the crank and rotate it to push them out. The problem is with #1. There's no oil hole on that crank journal. Has anybody come up with another way to push it out?

The second problem is with main cap #3. I can't get it off. All the others, I used the tip in the FSM to wiggle them using the bolts. I've wiggled and wiggled on #3, but it doesn't wiggle very far. I think the thrust washers keep it from moving much. How do I get it loose?

Thanks in advance for the help!

pitviper33

Well, maybe I can at least help anybody else searching the forums that has run into the same issues.

The #1 main bearing was stuck mostly because I'm an idiot. I hadn't loosened the accessory belts. They were pulling the front end of the crank up into the block. I loosened them and hung some of my body weight on the crank pulley. Then the bearings would slide out by hand.

The #3 cap still wouldn't wiggle out. I came up with a good trick to get it. It's got a tapped hole in it where the long bolt on the oil pickup tube goes. Get a small box end wrench, put that bolt through it, and thread it into the hole. Then just pry the wrench against the counterweight, and the cap will pop right off. Easy!