QuestionQUESTION: thanks for all the past answers i have gotten from you they have help alot. now i have a 1991 toyota corolla 1500cc automatic transmission 250000 miles and i am in the process of rebuilding the engine main and connecting rod bearings piston rings new seals and gaskets etc. my question is there are two washers located between the center cap for the main bearing (#3) with two grooves i wanna know in which direction should theses grooves be facing toward the timing belt or toward the transmission. what are the torque specs for the main and connecting rod nuts and bolts. also is there any minor adjustments that can be done to increase my horse power and i already shaved the head. thanks in advance for your coopperation.
ANSWER: Horsepower increase: Use a Thinner head gasket
Install a K&N Air Filter
Install Cold Air Intake
Adjust your timing
Use lighter weight oil - 0W20 maybe
Torque specs: You'll need a service / repair manual for that info. Remember to torque the head in the proper order, and the proper # of passes. If you don't, you'll be redoing the head in short order.
I don't know about the washers; Sorry.
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QUESTION: i think the washers are called thrust washers anyways when you speak about adjusting timing you mean advancing it but how much can i do that by without bending any of my valves and wont the lighter wieght oil do anything to my bearings?
AnswerThere's only so much advancing you can do usig the distributor. You could move the chain one link on the camshaft to advance the timing. You do have to be careful about moving it too many links.
Lighter weight oil will reduce friction thereby allow for more available horsepower. You may want to go with a synthetic like Royal Purple, Amsoil, etc. As long as your oil pump is pumping and your oil filter is not plugged you should be getting enough oil pressure and flow to maintain the thin oil film on your bearings.
Hope this helps.
Vince
