GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Boring Procedure

  1. Before honing or boring, measure all of the new pistons. Select the smallest piston for the piston fitting. Slightly varied pistons in a set may provide correction, if the first piston is too loosely fitted.
  2. Before using any type of boring bar, file the top of the engine block to remove any dirt or burrs. If the cylinder block is not straight, the boring bar may be tilted, causing the bored cylinder wall to have incorrect right angles to the crankshaft.
  3. Carefully follow the instructions furnished by the manufacturer regarding use of equipment.
  4. Install all crankshaft main bearing caps to specification when boring cylinders. Cover or tape the crankshaft bearings and other internal parts to protect these parts during the boring or honing operation.
  5. Leave 0.03 mm (0.001 in) on the diameter for finish honing when performing the final cut with a boring bar. Carefully perform the honing and boring operation to maintain the specified clearances between pistons, rings, and cylinder bores.

Honing Procedure

  1. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for use, cleaning, and lubrication when honing the cylinders. Use only clean, sharp stones of the proper grade for the amount of material to be removed. Dull, dirty stones cut unevenly and generate excessive heat. When using coarse or medium-grade stones, leave sufficient metal so all stone marks may be removed with the fine stones used for finishing to provide the proper clearance.
  2. During the honing operation, thoroughly clean the cylinder bore. Check for the correct piston fit.

  3. Object Number: 186747  Size: SH
  4. Make full strokes in the cylinder to eliminate taper. Repeatedly check the measurement at the top, the middle, and the bottom of the cylinder bore.
  5. Notice: Handle the pistons with care. Do not force the pistons through the cylinder until you hone the cylinder to the correct size. The piston can be distorted through careless handling.

  6. When finish honing a cylinder bore to fit a piston, move the hone up and down at a sufficient speed to obtain a fine and uniform surface finish in a cross hatch pattern.
  7. The finish marks should be clean but not sharp. The finish marks should be free from imbedded particles and torn or folded metal.
  8. Determine the finish hone cylinder measurement by measuring the piston to be installed, and by adding the average of the clearance specification. Measure the block and the piston at normal room temperature.
  9. True up the refinished cylinder bores. Final hone each cylinder bore to remove all stone or cutter marks.
  10. After final honing and before the piston is checked for fit, clean the bores with hot water and detergent. Scrub the bores with a stiff bristle brush and rinse the bores thoroughly with hot water. Do not allow any abrasive material to remain in the cylinder bores. This abrasive material will wear the new rings, the cylinder bores, and the bearings lubricated by the contaminated oil. After washing dry the bore.
  11. Permanently mark the piston for the cylinder to which the piston has been fitted.
  12. Apply clean engine oil to each bore to prevent rusting.

Boring Procedure

  1. Before honing or boring, measure all of the new pistons. Select the smallest piston for the piston fitting. Slightly varied pistons in a set may provide correction, if the first piston is too loosely fitted.
  2. Before using any type of boring bar, file the top of the engine block to remove any dirt or burrs. If the cylinder block is not straight, the boring bar may be tilted, causing the bored cylinder wall to have incorrect right angles to the crankshaft.
  3. Carefully follow the instructions furnished by the manufacturer regarding use of equipment.
  4. Install all crankshaft main bearing caps to specification when boring cylinders. Cover or tape the crankshaft bearings and other internal parts to protect these parts during the boring or honing operation.
  5. Leave 0.03 mm (0.001 in) on the diameter for finish honing when performing the final cut with a boring bar. Carefully perform the honing and boring operation to maintain the specified clearances between pistons, rings, and cylinder bores.

Honing Procedure

  1. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for use, cleaning, and lubrication when honing the cylinders. Use only clean, sharp stones of the proper grade for the amount of material to be removed. Dull, dirty stones cut unevenly and generate excessive heat. When using coarse or medium-grade stones, leave sufficient metal so all stone marks may be removed with the fine stones used for finishing to provide the proper clearance.
  2. During the honing operation, thoroughly clean the cylinder bore. Check for the correct piston fit.

  3. Object Number: 186747  Size: SH
  4. Make full strokes in the cylinder to eliminate taper. Repeatedly check the measurement at the top, the middle, and the bottom of the cylinder bore.
  5. Caution: Handle the pistons with care. Do not force the pistons through the cylinder until you hone the cylinder to the correct size. The piston can be distorted through careless handling.

  6. When finish honing a cylinder bore to fit a piston, move the hone up and down at a sufficient speed to obtain a fine and uniform surface finish in a cross hatch pattern.
  7. The finish marks should be clean but not sharp. The finish marks should be free from imbedded particles and torn or folded metal.
  8. Determine the finish hone cylinder measurement by measuring the piston to be installed, and by adding the average of the clearance specification. Measure the block and the piston at normal room temperature.
  9. True up the refinished cylinder bores. Final hone each cylinder bore to remove all stone or cutter marks.
  10. After final honing and before the piston is checked for fit, clean the bores with hot water and detergent. Scrub the bores with a stiff bristle brush and rinse the bores thoroughly with hot water. Do not allow any abrasive material to remain in the cylinder bores. This abrasive material will wear the new rings, the cylinder bores, and the bearings lubricated by the contaminated oil. After washing dry the bore.
  11. Permanently mark the piston for the cylinder to which the piston has been fitted.
  12. Apply clean engine oil to each bore to prevent rusting.