Spun Rod bearing

[rescu2000]

Ok, I have just spun ANOTHER rod bearing. This engine had been running fine, and no work had been done to the bottom end. It got hot on me in a flash and got too hot before I noticed. The rod bearing spun and it had a VERY VERY slight knock. I was at home, so I immediately parked it.
Pulled the bootom off, and the #3 rod had a little play. Pulled of the rod cap and the crank looks ok. The bearings were toast. I thought I might have caught it soon enough. Well, I put a new set of STD bearings (the ones that came out were the 1988 factory bearings) The #3 still has a little play. The others are tight.

Is there anything I can do short of a full crank pull? can I pull the piston and have the rod resized? Any chance that will work? I don't wanna pull this engine again. But I will if I have to.

Also, if I pull the piston out, do I have to surface hone and put a new ring on it on reinstall? Compression is 150 on it right now.

Any tips or tricks out there?

Thanks
Rescu2000

BTW, this is a T2 bottom end. Forged crank.

Also, I can't be certain, but it looks like there is a mark on the rod bearing cap on that one (#3) that shows the notch for the bearing is in the back on both the ROD and the ROD CAP. I turned it around, so that the notches were on opposite sides. Was this a mistake (due to roundness)????

[glhsken]

MISTAKE.... They both go on the firewall side..

You can yank the motor and have the rod checked.. No need for a hone ..

[rescu2000]

So when you say yank the motor, do I have to tear it down and pull the crank out too? Or can the machine shop polish that one journal and check/resize the rod without pulling the crank out of the block? everything else is fine with the engine.
Thanks
Rescu2000

[glhsken]

LOL... sorry, I meant yank the piston. Any time you spin a bearing, Its best to have it checked out entirely.

CHECK THE HEAD!!!! Anytime I've seen a spun bearing, particles were in the oil journal in the head. Remove the lifters and CHECK it. If there are metal particals, You can bet they are throughout the motor and it won't live long. Those same particals have cost me 2 turbo rebuilds.

[rescu2000]

If I find the particles, is there any way to clean them out? without a tear down and rebuild?
Thanks

if you can clean out all your oil passages with your engine assembled then you would be fine. that would be very difficult. also check your pickup screen for your pump.

[Austrian Dodge]

i have the same problem

spun rod AND main bearings.
crank needs to be turned.

and i need a new turbo

what should i look for in the head? small metalpieces...were exactly?


those winters are so expensive, d*mn