ok i have ARP bolts installed on my GSR rods. and once you get the end caps all the way on, its an absolute BITCH to get them off. and im worried that when i go to check the clearances that once i get everything torqued down, that i wont be able to get the rods off again. i mean its hard enough to seperate them with them not installed on anything, i can just imagine how hard its gonna be when i have them on a crank and nothing to pull/pry against.

has anyone else had this problem? how did you check clearance? ive thought about removing the bolts then tapping on the end of the rod bolt to push the upper half of the rod off, but im worried this will effect the plastiguage reading. will it? or will i have to put the plastiguage on the upper half of the rod and do readings that way?

help is greatly appreciated.

 

I am a fan of plastigauging the upper half of the rod because of the hammer blows you sometimes use to take the cap off. Are you sure you dont have the caps on 'backwards' ?

 

caps are not on backwards. come on man gimme more credit then that lol

 

Im not sure, but by the way you worded it, it sounds like you havent even put them on the crank yet in the block. If thats the case, then i wouldnt worry about it. Once theyre in the block with the pistons, rings installed, youll have something to work against to get them off.

 

no, they arent in the block yet. but even not in the block with me pulling with all my might i cant get them off. just makes me worried that when i get them in the block that i wont even have anything to work with as it will be on the crank. could i just tap the upper half of the rod down by the rod bolts?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSRCRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could i just tap the upper half of the rod down by the rod bolts?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes. Assuming that your engine is "upside-down" on an engine stand, and you placed the strip of plastiguage in the rod end, you can gently tap the rod bolts with a small rubber mallet or dead blow to separate the cap and rod.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B20C5 Turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yes. Assuming that your engine is "upside-down" on an engine stand, and you placed the strip of plastiguage in the rod end, you can gently tap the rod bolts with a small rubber mallet or dead blow to separate the cap and rod.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

would putting the strip of plastiguage on the cap end effect the reading? maybe ill ty it with 2 pieces of plastiguage and see if it really matters.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSRCRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">would putting the strip of plastiguage on the cap end effect the reading? maybe ill ty it with 2 pieces of plastiguage and see if it really matters.</TD></TR></TABLE>
If you place the strip on the cap end, it will be subjected to impact from tapping on the bolts, and rotation of the cap as you alternate taps between each bolt. Common sense indicates that this will affect the readings.

I have never tried it, but it wouldn't cost more than a few minuites of time and $5 in plastiguage to perform the experiment. Let us know what you find.