Crankshaft and Piston Installation

Special Tools Required 

• Driver Handle, 15 x 135L 07749-0010000
• Oil Seal Driver Attachment, 106 mm 070AD-RCA0200

1. Check the main bearing clearance with plastigage (see MAIN BEARING CLEARANCE INSPECTION  ).
2. Check the connecting rod bearing clearance with plastigage (see CONNECTING ROD BEARING CLEARANCE INSPECTION  ).
3. Install the bearing halves in the engine block and the connecting rods.
4. Apply new engine oil to the inside of the main bearings and the connecting rod bearings.
5. Install the CKP pulse plate to the crankshaft (see CKP PULSE PLATE REPLACEMENT  ).
6. Lower the crankshaft (A) into the engine block, being careful not to damage the journals and the CKP pulse plate (B).
   Fig 1: Identifying Crankshaft And CKP Pulse Plate

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
7. Apply new engine oil to the side with the thrust washer groove. Install the thrust washers (A) in the No. 3 journal.
   Fig 2: Identifying Thrust Washer

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
8. Install the main bearings (A) and the main bearing caps (B) with the arrow (C) facing the timing belt side of the engine block.
   Fig 3: Position Of Installing Main Bearings And Main Bearing Caps With Arrow Facing Timing Belt Side Of Engine Block

   Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
9. Apply new engine oil to the bolt threads and flanges, then loosely install the bearing cap bolts (D) and the bearing cap side bolts (E).
10. Set the crankshaft to bottom dead center (BDC) for the cylinder you are installing the piston in.
11. Apply new engine oil to the piston, the inside of the ring compressor, and the cylinder bore.
12. Attach the ring compressor to the piston/connecting rod assembly, and check that the bearing is securely in place.
13. Position the piston/connecting rod assembly with the arrow (A) facing the timing belt side of the engine block.
    Fig 4: Positioning Piston/Connecting Rod Assembly With Arrow Facing Timing Belt Side Of Engine Block

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
14. Position the piston/connecting rod assembly in the cylinder, and tap it in using the wooden handle of a hammer (A). Maintain downward force on the ring compressor (B) to prevent the rings from expanding before entering the cylinder bore.
    Fig 5: Positioning Piston/Connecting Rod Assembly In Cylinder Using Wooden Handle Of Hammer

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
15. Stop after the ring compressor pops free, and check the connecting rod-to-rod journal alignment before pushing the piston into place.
16. Measure the diameter of each connecting rod bolt at point A and point B.
    Fig 6: Measuring Diameter Of Connecting Rod Bolt

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
17. Calculate the difference in diameter between point A and point B.

    Point A-Point B = Difference in Diameter 

    Difference in Diameter 

    Specification: 0-0.1 mm (0-0.004 in) 

18. If the difference in diameter is out of tolerance, replace the connecting rod bolt.
19. Install the connecting rod bearing (A), then line up the mark (B) on the connecting rod (C) and the rod cap (D).
    Fig 7: Identifying Connecting Rod Bearing, Mark On Connecting Rod And Rod Cap

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
20. Apply new engine oil to the bolt threads and flanges. Torque the bolts (E) to 20 N.m(2.0 kgf.m, 15 lbf.ft).
21. Tighten the connecting rod bolt an additional 90 °.
    NOTE: Remove the connecting rod bolt if you tightened it beyond the specified angle, and go back to step  16 of the procedure. Do not loosen it back to the specified angle. Repeat steps  10 to  21 for the remaining cylinders.
    Fig 8: Tightening Connecting Rod Bolt 90 °

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
22. Tighten the main bearing cap bolts, then tighten the main bearing cap side bolts to the specified torque in the sequence as shown. Repeat the torque sequence again to ensure the bolts are properly torqued.
    Fig 9: Main Bearing Cap Bolts With Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
23. Remove all of the old liquid gasket from the engine block end cover mating surfaces, the bolts, and the bolt holes.
24. Clean and dry the engine block end cover mating surfaces and the crankshaft oil seal housing.
25. Apply a light coat of new engine oil to the lip of the crankshaft oil seal.
26. Using the driver handle, 15 x 135L and the oil seal driver attachment, 106 mm, drive in the new crankshaft oil seal (A) until the oil seal driver attachment bottoms on the engine block end cover.
    Fig 10: Installing Crankshaft Oil Seal Using Hammer

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
27. Apply liquid gasket (P/N 08717-0004, 08718-0003, 08718-0004, or 08718-0009) to the engine block mating surface of the engine block end cover and to the inside edge of the threaded bolt holes. Install the component within 5 minutes of applying the liquid gasket.
    NOTE:

    • Apply a 2.5 mm (0.098 in) diameter bead of liquid gasket along the broken line (A).
    • If you apply liquid gasket P/N 08718-0012, the component must be installed within 4 minutes.
    • If too much time has passed after applying the liquid gasket, remove the old liquid gasket and residue, then reapply the new liquid gasket.
      Fig 11: Identifying Liquid Gasket Applying Area

      Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
28. Install the dowel pins (A), a new O-ring (B), and the engine block end cover (C) on the engine block.
    NOTE:

    • Wait at least 30 minutes before filling the engine with oil.
    • Do not run the engine for at least 3 hours after installing the engine block end cover.
      Fig 12: Dowel Pins, O-ring And Engine Block End Cover With Mounting Bolts Torque Specifications

      Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
29. Clean the excess oil off the crankshaft, and check that the oil seal lip is not distorted.
30. Install a new crankshaft oil seal in the oil pump (see step 3 in INSTALLATION ).
31. Remove all of the old liquid gasket from the oil pump mating surfaces, the bolts, and the bolt holes.
32. Clean and dry the oil pump mating surfaces.
33. Apply liquid gasket (P/N 08717-0004, 08718-0003, 08718-0004, or 08718-0009) to the engine block mating surface of the oil pump and to the inside edge of the threaded bolt holes. Install the component within 5 minutes of applying the liquid gasket.
    NOTE:

    • Apply a 2.5 mm (0.098 in) diameter bead of liquid gasket along the broken line (A).
    • If you apply liquid gasket P/N 08718-0012, the component must be installed within 4 minutes.
    • If too much time has passed after applying the liquid gasket, remove the old liquid gasket and residue, then reapply the new liquid gasket.
      Fig 13: Identifying Liquid Gasket Applying Area

      Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
34. Apply a light coat of new engine oil to the lip of the crankshaft oil seal, and to the new O-ring (A).
    Fig 14: Dowel Pins, O-ring And Oil Pump With Mounting Bolts Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
35. Install the dowel pins (B), then align the inner rotor with the crankshaft, and install the oil pump (C).
    NOTE:

    • Wait at least 30 minutes before filling the engine with oil.
    • Do not run the engine for at least 3 hours after installing the engine block end cover and the oil pump.
36. Clean the excess oil off the crankshaft, and check that the oil seal lip is not distorted.
37. Install the baffle plate (D), then install the oil strainer (E) with a new O-ring (F).
38. Install the oil filter base/oil filter assembly (A) with a new O-ring (B).
    Fig 15: Oil Filter Base/Oil Filter Assembly And O-Ring With Mounting Bolts Torque Specifications

    Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
39. Install the oil pan (see OIL PAN INSTALLATION  ).
40. Install the timing belt drive pulley to the crankshaft (see TIMING BELT DRIVE PULLEY REPLACEMENT ).
41. Install the cylinder heads (see CYLINDER HEAD INSTALLATION ).
42. Install the drive plate:
    • 5-speed A/T model (see DRIVE PLATE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
    • 6-speed A/T model (see DRIVE PLATE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
43. Install the transmission:
    • 5-speed A/T model (see TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION ).
    • 6-speed A/T model (see TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION ).
44. Install the engine/transmission (see ENGINE INSTALLATION ).
    NOTE: When any crankshaft main or connecting rod bearing is replaced, run the engine at idle until it reaches normal operating temperature, then continue to run it for about 15 minutes.