Thread: How freely crank has to turn after assembly?

Im putting together an SR20VE engine with my friend. Engine was running, then took apart for rebuild.

We installed new OEM Nissan main bearings to crank/block specs but after last torque step, it didnt feel 100% free. Maybe we are just very paranoid, but we do need about 15Nm on crank pulley bolt to rotate... its just not easy to rotate by hands on counterweights. We did aplly some oil on crank and bearings.

Its far away from this:


Any ideas?

should be like butter

did you use stock main bolts or arp?

should be able to rotate with very little effort. I use a box wrench.

that looks perfect if you used oil on the journals. Its a little harder when assembly lube is used.

What Mike said is good. @cortrim1

I think it is perfectly acceptable in that presented video but you say it is far away from the video. But, more importantly, since there are a million different compounds to assemble, can you let us know what you use for assembly lube?

I would pull it back apart and use assembly lube if you did not use it during assembly. no need to mess up the bearings on start up.

You need to start over. 15nm/11ftb is too much for just the mains.

I get 8 ft/b with the mains, con rods and pistons installed.

We have used stock main caps, torqued to specs. No assembly lube, just some 10w40 oil on the bearings.

What is the suggestion then? Put it apart and...?

More info. Main caps were assembled in order 1 to 5 from crank gear to flywheel side. Torqued to specs.

Block numbers: F22122
Crank numbers: 11021

Bearings grade used: 33143

Loosen all of the mains and tighten one by one in the correct order. Test how it spins after each cap is tight. If you find it binding after one of them you may need a smaller bearing size. Also you might want to check to make sure the center is still correct and that it does not need a line hone.