<VV> '65 Project coming to a close...

[Jason Morri]

After almost two years I'm happy to report that my '65 Monza has completed
the body and paint portion of the restoration (boy was there a lot of
rust!).  (Picture here: http://alamocitycorvair.org/PIC/65%20corvair.JPG )

The only major project left is to rebuild and install the engine.  Which is
why I'm writing this email.  

 

After cleaning and prepping all the engine parts (including having the heads
professionally rebuilt, cylinders honed, new pistons pressed onto the rods,
etc.), I started the reassembly process by first checking the clearance on
the rod bearings.  Even though the machine shop told me my crank was in spec
for STD bearings, I still used some plastigage to make sure.  I checked to
make sure the rod bolts were tight and torqued them to 30 lbs.  Well long
story short after checking different rods multiple times, I'm showing a .008
clearance.  Which means, according to the assembly manual, I'm .005 over the
max.  

 

My question is, is this something that I should worry about?  Should I trust
the machine shop or trust the plastigage (which by the way, is the first
time I've ever used it).  I checked Clarks and they only have rod bearings
that are .000, .001, .002, .010.  How does one get to .000 with a .008?

 

Thanks for any help that can be provided.

 

Jason Morris

Jmorris at AlamoCityCorvair.org