i nicked one of the crankshafts journals just a tad, clearance is all good and everthing. how bad will i damage the rod bearing, should i have to get it regrounded? or should i just put it in?

 

i have seen cranks polished out with crocus cloth
Eric B

 

i'd take it to someone to be polished. i polish all my own cranks but wouldn't mess with one that's been nicked. did you do it installing rods/pistons? you there are ways to be 100% sure it'll never happen when you install the rods and pistons?

 

Carefully file down the high spots of the nick and then lightly polish it smooth and it will be fine, unless the nick is a huge one that covers the width of the bearing. If this is a very high HP engine where even a tiny scratch could lead to a crank failure then you might want to have it reground.

 

Get yourself some pieces of rubber or plastic tubing, and slip them over the rod bolts next time, to avoid this.