Hello, I spun a couple main bearings in my 97 Bonneville. I just got all of my parts from the machinist to start the rebuild and have a problem. I marked the pistons as to the cylinder and direction with a marker and forgot to stamp it. Well the machinist did a wonderful job of cleaning everything up along with the marks I forgot to stamp in. Is there anyway to tell which way the rods go? I'm using new rings and bearings so not really concerned about the cylinder but I don't want to starve the piston rings of oil and have to do this again. Thanks for any help.


Bill

I really should have mentioned that it'* a 3800 series II with no supercharger

I'm not sure the answer to your question..

But, how'd you cook the engine? Coolant issue?

I don't recall but maybe my picture could help. Maybe not.

vital49 I'm not really sure what happened. I was driving from Kansas City down to Biloxi MS. I stopped and crashed at a rest area for a few hours since I was towing my bike and didn't want to leave it on a trailer outside of a hotel. I pulled out of the rest area went maybe 5 miles and it started overheating. I started slowing down and lost all electrical power as I was pulling over. The radiator was spewing all over the place by then. about 15 minutes later all of the electrical power came back. Drop it at a dealer and the next day they called and said it had been idling in there shop for 2 hrs with no problems. They called back later and said when they tried to move the car outside it started knocking like hell. Still don't know if overheating thinned the oil and caused it or spinning the bearings caused the overheating. I looked over the intake gaskets and stuff when I pulled it and didn't find anything that looked out of the ordinary.

rhalford15 Looks nice does the lightening bolt go forward?

Bill

Maybe I'm not clear on what you are asking. What do you mean does it go forward?

I'm confused. Why would they let a car that just had overheating problems idle for two hours? Then you've got to fix it when it develops a knock 15 minutes later? I hate dealerships.

Ahh man, I'm on like 3 tranquilizers but the notches on the rod caps are what you use for a reference...but I can't remember which way they're supposed to face!

I THINK to the front, I'm like 80% sure..but don't quote me on that...anyway its the notches, go from there.

(err...there are notches on a SII right?)

rhalford15, The pistons and rods are supposed to go in a certain direction or it could effect oil flow.

DrJay I'm not sure what you mean by notches. Both sides of the rod are machined smooth and one side of the cap has a machined area like this \__/ that goes to the bottom of the cap. If I could post a pic I have one that shows it.

Bill

The cap is rectangular with one corner 'cut off', thats the notch. Does it have one?