Ive posted this elsewhere and I was told to download the helms manual as its the most informative..but ill put this out regardless.
Im rebuilding my z6 with a6 pistons and connecting rods(same as z6) and on top is a y8 head(already rebuilt).
I already cleaned the crankshaft, pistons, rods, and everything else and im just waiting on the main and connecting rod bearings to come in shipped.

My concern is that after reading the haynes manual for 92-95 honda civic's on assembling the bottom end, it almost seems too detailed for me to believe that EVERY engine is built that way properly.

For example..it says you cant handle the bearings with your bare hands as the acids will score the bearings..ok thats plausible but...

- as far as when installing the rear main seal...it says that the seal can only be a certain distance in its little home or else it WILL leak...the seal can only go so far as to seat in its location...are the engine builders on here actually **** about this or no

- also some of the steps for even putting standard size bearings on an unground crankshaft make it seem like open heart surgery...that if theres a spec of dust on the journal or bearing face...engine damage WILL OCCUR

My question for the engine builders on here that have successfully rebuilt many dseries engines...is after reading the haynes manuals...did you REALLY..do all the plastigage and clearance checks even if your crank didnt require any machine work and all the bearings are just standard size???

 

If there is a substantial groove in the crank where the rear main seal rides, shift the seal away from it so it rides on a new spot. I didnt do this one time on a toyota engine, it must have crossed just right and it leaked.

Minor dust and cloth fibers are tough to get rid of completely when dealing with crank and bearings. Just be extra careful to clean the parts well and keep them that way during assembly. And yes, always check bearing clearance at least with plastigauge.

 

everything you stated is mostly true. little too much with the main seal, but true. and yes. honda has different size bearing clearances for each journal. they aren't really that far off from each other, clearance wise. but standard bearings u need to mic or plastigage for the life of your engine. if the bearing is too thin or thick in that journal, it will get insufficient oil flow and will eventually destroy that bearing. leading to major engine damage.

 

ok thanks...it looks like i have a fair bit of work set aside for me..i was just worried about excessive mess on the bearings when using plastigage...but i want this engine to last more than 10 ooo km..so ill do it right..thanks