M758

Yes that works to some degree, but it will still shift around. Just removing the rack and then installing it causes a small change in the alignment. It is not alot, but does exist. However doing toe on the front end is pretty easy.

RedlineMan

You answered your own question. If you have an engine that has been together for many miles, few of the components that should be round are any more, and much more so on a turbo. If you introduce a full spec bearing into an out of spec environment, you create a complication (tight spots) that may likely see you have a failure sooner than if you'd just left it alone. This theory is derived from my own experience coupled with that of many pretty experienced 944 engine guys, and my ace machinist who I'm convinced has seen and done it all.

Resizing the rods takes the big end back to a perfectly round state of the proper ID. Then, a new bearing will be in a new environment, and as long as the crank journal is not messed up, it will be nice and happy. It is also an opportunity to open up the big end to a more track friendly ID to increase oil flow for. Bearing installations are a little too snug for serious track use if they are toward to tighter end of the spec.

That stuff is of little use for rod bearings. Think about the forces you are creating in torquing a ROD bearing and then tell me why Plasti-gauge doesn't tell you anything worthwhile?

Well, you can save the work by not doing the bearings that often anyway. Overkill. Unless you see a loss of oil pressure, or do 40-50-60 RACE days a year, full tilit boogie fast, your bearings are likely fine. As for the x-member, your call. One thing to consider, the more times you disturb the caster mounts, the sooner you will strip a bolt. It is a matter of when, not if. I'm toying with a new design that will not require any welded plates on the x-member. Haven't gotten around to doing one yet though.

That could be the problem. The ones I build use a factory style crush ring gasket/flange setup like the other joints in the system. They are very easy to deal with when installing them as long as you put all the bolts in first before tightening ANY of them, and they have been 100% reliable.

Larry Herman

Well, it's pretty much back together, with just the intake manifold to go back on tonight & then start it up. Good thing that we did it as the second picture shows, with the #2 rod bearings on top and a good bearing half (from #1) below them.

Gary R.

Next time take the pictures BEFORE you have that bowl of mini-wheats with Glenlivet 18 Larry!

93 FireHawk 968

Exactly why I have a 'Professional" work on the car.......

Larry Herman

Why, we don't have any bolts left over.

A.Wayne

Potomac-Greg

Yup. This post has been very useful in steering me away from a rather nice looking 951 on local Craigslist.

Larry Herman

Back together and running fine! Just in time for a 3 day DE with all of my boys at Watkins Glen this weekend.


All in all, it was not as bad a job as I thought, it just takes a lot of time. When I re-aligned the front end I did take the opportunity to throw some more negative camber in it, which it desperately needed.