Hey Ive got a D16dz6 block with stock crank, stock main girdle and ARP Main studs. Im using Honda main bearings. When I platigauge the bearings/journals I get about .0013" which is the clearance I want but when i clean the plastigauge off and put the bearings and girdle back on and torque it down (with the ARP spec, 60 lb ft.) the crank binds up. It spins easily once I get it started with a wrench. If I stop spinning it then it binds up again untill I turn it with a wrench to get it spinning. I took the girdle and bearing halves off turned the crank 90 degrees wiped off the journals and bearing halves layed down some more plastigauge it comes up the same, about .00125" so the journals aren't out of round. I also checked total crank runout, it was less than .001" (well below max spec). If I use the Honda torque spec (38 lb ft) the crank spins by hand, no problem. The crank starts to bind around 46 lb ft. I dont understand why the plastgauge reads an ok clearance at 38 lb ft and at 60 lb ft even though the crank will spin at 38 and not at 60. Certainly some one else has had this problem. Can anyone shed a little light on this? Is it ok if the crank binds a little when first moving on engine stand no oil pump to pressurize the oil, will it be ok when it's assembled and back in the car if the engine is running and the oil pressure is up to nominal pressure? Ive got mostly yellow bearings now if I get a set of reds will it help. Is the plastigauge lying?

 

When I replaced my rod bolts with arp I had to get the rods resized. Is it maybe the same deal with the mains? Maybe you need a slight line hone?

 

I agree, sounds like you need an align hone. The extra clamping force with the ARP bolts causes distortion where the mains meet the block. This won't affect your plastigauge reading.

If you want to do a quick test, remove the crank and bearings and reinstall the main caps. Torque them to the OEM spec and use your fingernail to feel for any lip or catch where the caps meet the block. Then torque the bolts to the full ARP spec and feel again. I'm guessing you'll feel something at the full spec.