Ok, i sent my crank out for my lt230s to be rebuilt. In my books and my training says that there is supposed to be thrust washers between the rod and crankshaft halves. Why would a shop with 20 years of experience not install them?

Anyone have any clues?

 

I'd ask them.
Maybe look into rod kits and see if they are included.
I'm with you, any crank I've seen has the thrust washers.
I donno, maybe something new???

 

my brother bought the exact same rod kit by Vesrah off ebay and it has the thrust washers. but i bought mine from the shop and i didnt even think to check the crank to see if they were installed before i brought it home. I got the crank put in my block set my piston rings in the cylinder and with oil in the cylinder, i ran the piston through its full stroke and i noticed it was hitting the crankshaft halves with the skirt. when it was a stock rod and piston the piston skirt missed the crankshaft halves by a few millimeters. well about the same distance as the thickness of the OEM thrust washers.

i now have the crank case sealed and bolted. Do you think i should have the guy re-split the cases and fix the mistake? or do i have a leg to stand on in that arguement?

 

Something isn't right IMO.
The skirt cannot hit the crank.
I'd investigate more by asking others,shops,etc.
Personally, I think it's comming apart.

 

well i got the thrust washer problem solved and the piston skirt clearance solved.

the thrust washers are excluded due to having bearing spacers to allow extra oiling of the rod bearing. thats definately a plus.

and as for the skirt hitting the crank? it was my fault, i use magnets alot during a build to catch unwanted metal shavings/ particles from getting into the engine. i let a couple on the crank halves and forgot about them, talk about a brain fart!!

 

So missing these parts helped you?

 

they really wasnt missing. the clearance and tolerance of the engine and crank allowed me not to need them. aftermarket rods are a little thicker on the bottom than OEM so i didnt need them.

 

So they want the crank to hit the4 crank 1/2's instead of a washer?
I'm not looking to argue or anything, it just seems weird.

 

I get it… sorta

 

Ya, Like I sid. "maybe something new".
I'll put it in that file.