Once my attention had turned to the engine block, the first job was to assess the condition of the crankshaft bearings. To get a practical idea about this, I needed to remove a piston so that I could get a proper look at a big end journal; this always gives you a valuable clue about wear levels and, therefore, overall condition.
A couple of nuts hold the big end onto the rest of the con rod and, once these are removed, it generally takes nothing more than a gentle tap to free the cap. With that removed, I wiped the face of the bearing clean
