F 350 4WD Pickup V8-351 5.8L VIN H EFI (1997)
Connecting Rod: Testing and Inspection
Cleaning And Inspection
CLEANING
Remove the connecting rod bearings from the rod and cap. Identify each bearing location if they are to be used again. Clean the connecting rod in
solvent, including the rod bore and the back of the inserts. Do not use a caustic cleaning solution. Blow out all passages with compressed air.
INSPECTION
The connecting rod bearings and related parts must be carefully inspected and checked for conformance to specifications. Various forms of engine
wear caused by these parts can be readily identified.
A shiny surface on either pin boss inside of the piston usually indicates that a connecting rod is bent.
Abnormal connecting rod bearing wear can be caused by either a bent connecting rod, worn or damaged piston pin, or a tapered connecting rod bore.
Twisted connecting rods can create an identifiable piston skirt wear pattern, but badly twisted rods will disturb the action of the entire piston, rings,
and connecting rod assembly and may be the cause of excessive oil consumption.
Check the connecting rods for bend or twist on a suitable alignment fixture. Follow the instructions of the fixture manufacturer. If the bend or twist
exceeds specification, the connecting rod must be replaced.
Inspect the connecting rods for signs of fractures and the rod bearing bores for out-of-round and taper. If the bore exceeds the recommended limits or
if the connecting rod is fractured, replace it.
