Nissan A2010-1Z110 Piston W/Pin

Prior to removing the piston/connecting rod assemblies, remove the cylinder heads, the oil pan, the windage tray (3.5L engine only) and the oil pump pick-up. Use your fingernail to feel if a ridge has formed at the upper limit of ring travel. If carbon deposits or cylinder wear have produced ridges, they must be completely removed with a special tool. After the cylinder ridges have been removed, turn the engine upside-down so the crankshaft is facing up. Before the connecting rods are removed, check the side clearance (endplay) with feeler gauges. Slide them between the first connecting rod and the crankshaft throw until the play is removed. Check the connecting rods and caps for identification marks. Loosen each of the connecting rod cap nuts 1/2-turn at a time until they can be removed by hand. Remove the number one connecting rod cap and bearing insert. Slip a short length of plastic or rubber hose over each connecting rod cap bolt to protect the crankshaft journal and cylinder wall as the piston is removed. Remove the bearing insert and push the connecting rod/piston assembly out through the top of the engine. Repeat the procedure for the remaining cylinders. After removal, reassemble the connecting rod caps and bearing inserts in their respective connecting rods and install the cap nuts finger tight. Don't separate the pistons from the connecting rods.

So, before you start putting the piston/rod assemblies in place, make sure that cylinder walls are clean enough, the top edges of all cylinders are chamfered and the crankshaft is installed. First, take off the cap at the end of number one connecting rod. Just get rid of old bearing inserts and thoroughly clean both rod and cap bearing surfaces with a soft cloth that is perfectly clean and free from fluff. Clean the backside of upper insert that's new for connecting rod bearing oil clearance check, fit it into the rod ensuring its tab aligns with hole at recess backside. Do this for another insert and the rod cap, taking good care to protect their faces from any oil or dirt contamination. Carefully place the piston rings as specified around the piston and lubricate them with fresh engine oil. Affix a piston ring compressor to hold compression as you guide it into position in the cylinder with skirt sticking out slightly. Rotate crankshaft until number one connecting rod journal reaches bottom dead center (BDC) and then apply oil on cylinder walls. The notch in pistons should face toward other end of engine behind belt or chain drive when inserting piston/connecting rod assembly into number one cylinder bore using gentle tapping motion onto crankshaft journal. Always keep rings compressed during this process; do not force piston if it is stubborn going through dead center. Finally, there should be a similar examination for connecting rod bearing oil clearance by placing Plastigage on number one connecting rod journal then installing rod cap without disturbing Plastigage in case something goes wrong because Plastigage has been removed carefully without harm to any part of the engine or other components involved in its operation which will require complete overhaul sooner rather than later due to failure caused by lack maintenance practices depending on how long it took since last service was done but sometimes engineers can make mistakes even unintentionally such as leaving some leftover material inside their cars after assembling them hence leading catastrophic consequences if not attended time by qualified technicians. As you tighten nuts, use a lightweight socket and do not turn the crankshaft. Gently unfasten rod cap verifying oil clearance matches given specifications with reference to width of crushed Plastigage as seen on envelope. Otherwise, check out various bearing inserts after confirming cleanliness and journal diameter. Remove all Plastigage material then apply clean moly-base grease/ engine assembly lube to bearing faces and reinstall rod cap. Repeat the same process for the other pistons/connecting rods ensuring cleanliness, correct assembly, correct "W" mark position and lubrication as required. Hand-rotate the crankshaft after all these assemblies have been installed for binding purposes. Finally, check connecting rod endplay against specifications and take necessary steps if endplay is wrong such as resizing or replacing rods should be done when it is not sufficient/excessive according to allowable range specified in given service manual by manufacturer of your particular vehicle/motorcycle model which can be obtained through authorized dealerships or directly from their websites depending on where you reside within continental United States (CONUS).