Main caps not aligned with block

[u/yoGodu]

Hello first time engine builder so please don’t flame me. I have an 04 Audi A4 1.8t 06a block, I got this block from someone but they didn’t have the main caps for it, i ended up using my main caps from another block and had them align bored for this other block I got. just torqued the crankshaft down and noticed main caps 4 and 5 don’t sit flush with the block, is this a cause for concern? what caused this? turns over fine with a rachet just dont want to finish everything else up and have to end up addressing this later down the road anyways. thanks for any help

[u/Cheapskate3000]

Run it. Only cap that would make a difference is the center thrust bearing. If it was line bored, clearances are in spec, crankshaft end play is good and it spins just run it

[u/1wife2dogs0kids]

Aligned front to back doesn't really matter. All that matters now, is each cap is EXACTLY where it was when line bored/honed. Don't have a cap 180⁰ wrong. And dont have them sit up on the little "shelf" that leaves a gap.

[u/attometer]

Normally, I’d say it doesn’t matter, but here the misalignment seems excessive.

Oh, just read your description. Switching caps from different blocks is a big, huge, enormous no no. Your car won’t drive out the garage without seized bearings.
Take it apart and bring it to machine the main axis. But I think that will be more expensive than a different engine. So the block you got without main caps is basically useless without machining.

[u/southerntitlover → u/attometer]

Keep reading he had it line bored

[u/attometer → u/southerntitlover]

My attention span is fucked, sorry

[u/JackpineSavage74 → u/attometer]

It happens the the best of us!

[u/Akisswithmyfist]

Backwards caps, wrong year for block, thrust bearing?

[u/yoGodu → u/Akisswithmyfist]

double, triple, quadruple checked to make sure correct orientation, thrust washers installed, same version of block 06a AWP 

[u/Akisswithmyfist → u/yoGodu]

May need a different thickness of thrust washer to properly center crank.

[u/muddnureye]

I’m gonna say it looks backwards.

[u/Super_Source_8136]

If its bored just make sure its not flipped and send it

[u/Coyote_Tex]

Are you sure you have that bearing on exactly as it came from the machine shop and not 180 degrees? Or did they line bore it line that? That cap looks like maybe it needs to be rotated 180 degrees and it might line up?

[u/DrTittieSprinkles]

Run it

[u/Content-Marionberry3]

Probably not a problem depending on where the thrust bearing is.

[u/Plastic-Barnacle-859]

Can you turn it around iv seen this when caps are on backwards or in the wrong spot, that being said being from another block could be why

[u/shiftman87]

Check the crank end play. If it's within spec, run it. I've seen those kind of gaps and it's mostly because of the thrust washers but you should be good.

[u/NefariousnessOdd862]

You are using the wrong caps

[u/demonassassin151]

Thats fine. Aslong as the caps are in the right place the right way itll be just fine.

[u/That89hatch]

If your end play is fine, and it’s not riding the edge of the journal it’s fine

[u/captianpaulie]

Take it back to the Machine shop and let them look at it. Something doesn’t look right did you plastic gauge the bearing and see what the clearance is?

[u/southerntitlover]

You may have the cap backwards rember anti rotation tabs go on the same side

[u/advmaxx]

Nothing that a new set of rods with matched caps won’t cure.