K series crank ladder - two dowels only?

[itiejim]

As per the title really - I'm rebuilding an 1800 VVC K series engine and see that there are only two dowels (placed diagonally) locating the crank ladder to the block . Is this correct or should there be four? I can't for the life of me find any reference to the correct number via t'interweb or the Rover manual...

Always best to use the full compliment of components from my experience, if anyone can confirm it would be most appreciated!

[Auntieroll]

Just checked on the one in my workshop, only 2 on that one, similarly the tubular dowels which locate the cylinder head.
The dowels are are only there to locate the components in the correct place during engine build, the clamping forces applied via the head bolts( that is when correctly fitted ) more than prevents anything moving in the crankcase/head/ main brg cap "stack".

[itiejim]

That's great, thanks for going to the trouble to check for me.

[DVandrews]

The original prototype engines had ten dowels, but once they had been run on test, they were virtually impossible to get apart, so the dowels were reduced in number. Although the ladder and block are clamped together by the flange bolts around the periphery and the long bolts, there is still a tendency for the joint to move and fret when under duress, the higher the secondary out of balance forces , the more this is likely to happen.

Dave