How to Connect a Rod on a Dodge 360
First produced for the 1971 model year, the Dodge 360 was essentially a larger version of the earlier 340 engine. Like the 340, the 360 featured eight cylinders. Power is transferred from the engine to the transmission by the pistons and the crankshaft. Attached to the bottom of each piston is a connecting rod. The bottom of the connecting rod is then bolted to the crankshaft. Connecting the rods on the 360 is a straightforward job, but care must be taken not to install the piston attached to the rod backward.
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Things You'll Need
- Engine assembly lubricant
- Clean engine oil
- Piston ring compressor
- Hammer
- Torque wrench
Instructions
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1
Press one of the two rod bearing halves into the bottom of the connecting rod.
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2
Press the remaining half of the rod bearing into the rod cap.
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3
Smear engine assembly lubricant across the surfaces of the two rod bearing halves.
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4
Immerse the head of the piston in clean engine oil.
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5
Collapse the piston rings into the piston with a piston ring compressor. The compressor tool essentially is a band with a clamp that wraps around the band. Position the tool over the piston rings and tighten the clamp with the supplied wrench. Collapsing the piston rings will allow the head of the piston to slide into its cylinder.
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6
Lower the piston and connecting rod assembly into the cylinder from the top of the cylinder. Note that the piston has an indent on one side of the top of the piston. That indent must face toward the front of the engine.
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7
Tap the piston down into the cylinder with the handle of a hammer, ensuring that the crankshaft slides between the two studs on the bottom of the connecting rod.
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8
Slide the rod bearing cap over the two studs on the bottom of the connecting rod.
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9
Tighten the two rod bearing cap nuts to 45 foot-pounds of torque with a torque wrench to secure the rod in place.
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