Changed Rod Bearings Today - Have a couple questions...

[bradman]

After 122K, I finally got the rod bearings changed in my 94. Compared to some of the pictures I've seen on here, I think my rod bearings were in really good shape, with only two upper halves showing a little copper.

On to my questions...
First, I don't know what I was thinking when I was sealing the pan, but I ran the bead of RTV all the way along the pan ****** instead of just in the grooves. I'm sure I had some queeze out go inside the pan. Does anyone think this is going to be a problem??

Second, I torqued up all the pan to block bolts before I installed the two pan to tranny bolts. This means that when the pan to tranny bolts were torqued the pan wasn't able to "slide over" to the tranny and may have put some stress in the pan around the tranny bolt flanges. Over time, I wonder if this could cause the flanges to crack. Note, the gap that was "pulled up" when the bolts were torqued was probably no more than .002. Has anyone experienced cracked oil pan flanges?

-Brad

 

[MOSHO92]

I dont think that you need to stress about the RTV inside the pan. Probably wont break off, and even if it does, there is that screen before the oil pump to stop it from going through. If you are worried about it blocking the screen, install an oil pressure gauge... It would be nice to have one anyways.

On the second note: If the pan was bolted up correctly it should fit flush with the tranny brackets. Did you reinstall the shield between the trans and the pan?

If something were to break, it believe your RTV seal would shear before the tranny to pan bolts would break.

Just my $0.02

 

[bradman]

Well, I'm not too concerned about the excess RTV. When I took the pan off, there was quite a bit of sealant that I had to clean off which was excess right from the factory.

I did install the sheild between the tranny and the pan, but there was still a couple thou gap. There is way too much clamp up from the 13 pan to block fasteners to allow the sealant to shear. When I tightened the two pan to tranny bolts the gap would close. When I loosened, the gap would return, so the pan wasn't moving, but probably deflecting instead, leaving pre-load in the flanges at those bolt locations. It will probably be OK, but I'll check it at each oil change. Worst case will have me getting more practice at changing the oil pan.