Main Bearings

I've got the pistons out of my TD5 at the moment, engine stripped but still in vehicle. I'm replacing the rings and big end bearings.

Has anyone done the the main bearing shells, whilst the crank is still in (ie rolled the shells in)? I was going to replace the mains whilst I'm in there, but the shells don't have a locating tang, which is putting me off.

The engine had no bottom end knocking prior to stripping, but has had a small amount of diesel in sump. Big end bearings looked ok, not down to the copper or anything. Want to replace mains as a precaution, but can't decide whether to leave well alone.

Cheers in advance

Lee

I've heard of it being done but never done it myself. If you've got the engine that far stripped just pull the block and do it on the bench properly. That way you can also inspect the clutch while you're at it.

I can see it coming to this, pulling the engine that is. I've re shelled other engines this way, but the bearings were tanged so you know for sure they are located correctly. Landrover always has to be different.

Did you plastigauge the journals when you did it?

I,ve looked for oil clearance specs, but considering there are only a couple of bearing sizes available, there's not much to work with.

I've never done the bottom end on a TD5 myself. My old engine let go with diesel in the sump from a porous head and a loose oil pump sprocket but the bottom end was pristine when stripped. I sold it about two years ago to a fella in Tanzania and to my knowledge its still going strong.

Update......

Did the mains today, couple of hours of a job. The shells came out easily, didn't even have to rotate the crank. The shells were in good condition considering the engine has done 130,000 miles and had diesel in the sump.

Nice to know it can be done in situ.