Bearing cap fun.

[dreamsOfSkylines]

Ok im rebuilding a 94 KA24DE. I removed the camshaft bearing caps and found that two of the bolts are stuck in the cap and won't slide out. I've left them to soak in WD-40 but so far it hasn't helped. Any suggestions? Can I buy the caps individually to replace them if worst comes to worst? Also I have taken the nuts of of the rod caps but cannot get the caps to come off no matter how much I wiggle and pull them. Finally I decided I would remove the crankshaft bearing caps so that i could get better access to the rod caps. So I removed the 10 bolts for the crankshaft bearing caps but I can't get these off either. I pulled up so hard on the crankshaft bearing caps that I lifted the block and still it won't budge!!! Are there some hidden bolts I'm missing? Should I go buy a rubber mallet? I didn't want to pry the crankshaft bearing caps because I though I might damage the oil pan gasket surface. Any advice is apprecitated.

[DAEDALUS]

Hopefully someone here is familiar with that engine. I can say that you can NOT buy the bearing caps by themselves. The bearings are precision machined while bolted together...It's the only way to get a smooth enough surface. Same for conrods and their caps. You can buy the entire head as your only other option, but the bolts should come out. Have you tried turning the crankshaft in the block? That might loosen the conrod caps. What did you grab onto on the caps to be able to lift the engine?

[dreamsOfSkylines]

I have tried turning the crank over several time to lossen the rod caps but it didn't help a whole lot. The main bearing caps are all connected on this engine with a brace which is what I was grabbing to try to pull the main bearing caps off. I've been dousing everything with WD40 and will be trying again tommorow. Please keep the sugestions coming.

[NISTECH]

you have to smack it a couple times to break the bond between the 2 surfaces. if you got all the main bearing bolts out and the oil pick up tube off it will come of it just needs a little encouragement. as for the cam cap. if you have it off spray some carb clean into the bolt hole from the other side. You probably have oil residue built up on the inside and the bolt threads are catching on it. if you dont have it off and the bolts are all the way in and just spinning you have a problem with the head.

[dreamsOfSkylines]

Thanks I pryed the main bearing caps off carefully with the wood handle on my hammer and then knocked the rod caps off with a peice of wood. The cam caps are off and soaking in a jar of WD40, i will try carb cleaner next. Thanks again.

[dreamsOfSkylines]

Ok so now to remove the crankshaft do I just need to pull out rear oil seal or does the part that the flywheel bolts on come off? Also any suggestions for removing the the bearings from the rods and main caps?

[NISTECH]

remove the 4 bolts holding the rear main seal plate from the back of the engine block. then it will lift right out. pop the bearings out with a pocket screw driver. they will come right out with little effort.