Connecting rod orientation

Hunter2024 · Apr 10, 2024

Hi, this is my first engine rebuild on a chevy c1500 4.3 vortec with the internal balance shaft, and I got a little carried away when tearing it down and did not mark the connecting rods and caps when I removed them. They have a dimple on them which I assume is to face them the correct way but I'm not sure which way on which bank. I also believe I mixed up the direction of the caps when i slid them back together for storage because some of the bearings have the slit on the same side and some of them have them on opposite sides. Can someone please help?

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GoToGuy · Apr 10, 2024

Have you looked in the service manual , the section on engine rebuild, it's pretty thorough. I would strongly suggest using it as you said this is your first time. In a stinky above there is the a forum posting of links to the OE service manuals collection, and there FREE pdf download. This is section 6 , it has what you need and want. Your new best friend.

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Hunter2024 · Apr 10, 2024

Thank you so much I really appreciate it.

rebelyell · Jul 23, 2024

while I DO recommend using a factory service manual

look at photos labeled motor1 and motor2 --- look closely at area surrounding rods' big end bores

motor1 shows a big end bore that has virtually NO bevel, but

motor2 shows a big end bore that has a Very Pronounced Bevel aka Chamfer

the NON-Beveled sides face the other rod's NON-Beveled side within each pair of rods.

those sides with a Pronounced BEVEL face the crank's cheeks (there is a small radius ground where journal meets cheek) and the rods' Bevels are there to accommodate those radii. If there were no radius, the crank would soon crack or break at that union. Typically, OE radii are smaller-narrower than hi-po aftermarket crank radii.

Hunter2024 said:
Hi, this is my first engine rebuild on a chevy c1500 4.3 vortec with the internal balance shaft, and I got a little carried away when tearing it down and did not mark the connecting rods and caps when I removed them. They have a dimple on them which I assume is to face them the correct way but I'm not sure which way on which bank. I also believe I mixed up the direction of the caps when i slid them back together for storage because some of the bearings have the slit on the same side and some of them have them on opposite sides. Can someone please help?
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Schurkey · Jul 23, 2024

Hunter2024 said:
c1500 4.3 vortec with the internal balance shaft

Hunter2024 said:
did not mark the connecting rods and caps when I removed them.

Is there any chance that the rods and caps have become mixed-up? For example, the #1 rod might have the #5 cap on it?

If so, that's gonna be a problem. You will almost certainly have to take them to a machine shop so that the machinist can use precision measuring equipment to put the correct cap onto each connecting rod.

The machinist may or may not charge you for the full "rod-resizing" process.

Hunter2024 said:
I also believe I mixed up the direction of the caps when i slid them back together

As said--chamfered side of the cap goes on the chamfered side of the rod.

Connecting rod orientation

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