After measuring all eight rod bearing clearances and using shell halves to set the clearances, it’s very common to have a clearance spread between the rods of perhaps 0.0004- to 0.0005-inch.

Check out the answer Tech Editor Jeff Smith gives a reader when it comes to bearing clearance for a 355 chevy small block. Only at www.carcraft.com, the official website for Car Craft Magazine.

Remove the cap and compare the smashed string's width to the clearance chart on the Plastigauge package. Bearings that are .001-inch oversize or undersize are often available to fine-tune ...

Checked the main bearing clearance on a 410ci small-block. Bottom Line. Basic engine building fundamentals can go a long way. How Long It Took. Two hours. See All 10 Photos.