1979/03/14 Caterpillar

D342, D353 Engines

Three Engine News articles, two Supplements, and a Special Instruction have been published with information about the use of spacer plate cylinder blocks in the above models. For easier access to this information, the chart shows a list of the articles and where to find them.

At the same time, some of the information has not been clearly understood. For assistance with possible problems during engine reconditioning, make a note of these items:

1. On 5.75" Bore engines, the former cylinder heads can be adapted to the spacer plate cylinder block. It is necessary to drill six holes along the side that has the push rod compartment, and install inserts in the water director counterbores as shown in the Special Instruction form. See the chart.

2. On 6.25" Bore engines, the current recommendation is that the former cylinder heads not be used on the spacer plate block because of possible oil leakage at the gasket on the camshaft follower side of the cylinder head. If desired, dealers and customers can use the former cylinder heads with inserts installed in the water director counterbores, but the holes for added head bolts along the camshaft follower side can not be drilled in these heads. Since the new gaskets must be used with the spacer plate, but the new bolts can not be added with former heads, gasket compression will be less which can permit leakage of oil along this side of the head.

3. On 6.25" Bore engines, former cylinder liners can not be used with spacer plate blocks. Only the former head gasket can be used with the former liners, and this gasket can not be used with the spacer plate block.