Apparatus and method for positioning a connecting rod relative components underlying a cylinder of an engine block

A method for positioning a connecting rod relative to one or more components underlying a cylinder of an engine block in tandem with assembling a cylinder liner to the cylinder of the engine block, the method comprising:

• providing a holder mechanism for releasably holding a bottom end of the cylinder liner,
• defining a groove within a portion of the holder mechanism that extends beyond the bottom end of the cylinder liner, the groove disposed parallel to a circumference of the cylinder liner;
• providing a link having a first end defining a pin slidably engaged with the groove of the holder mechanism and a second end defining an opening to facilitate insertion of a fastener for releasably securing the link to a bottom end of the connecting rod;
• and
• urging the pin to follow a profile of the groove such that the second end of the link is biased to move the bottom end of the connecting rod while preventing the bottom end of the connecting rod from coming into contact with the one or more components underlying the cylinder.