Pacifica V6-3.8L VIN L (2005)
Connecting Rod: Description and Operation
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD
DESCRIPTION
CAUTION: DO NOT STAMP the connecting rods during identification. The use of a scribe or a paint mark is acceptable.
NOTE: The 3.8L may have any combination of forged or cracked cap connecting rods. The cracked cap design is easily identified by the connecting
rod cap bolts rather than the traditional forged connecting rod cap nuts. The cracked cap design also has a different tightening procedure and
specification. The connecting rod caps must be paint marked or scribed to identify the accompanying connecting rod. All connecting rod caps ARE
NOT inner changeable between connecting rods.
The pistons are made of cast aluminum alloy and are a strutless, short skirt design. The connecting rods have either the standard forged caps or forged
cracked cap design. Both the cracked cap and forged cap connecting rod designs are interchangeable and may be found in any combination when
mounted to the crankshaft. The difference between the two different rod caps, aside from design, is the tightening procedure and specification. The
piston rings consist of two compression rings and a three piece oil ring. Piston pins connect the piston to the forged steel connecting rods. The piston
pins are a press fit into the connecting rod small bore. The piston, pin and connecting rod are serviced as an assembly.