Replaced rod bearings, but i can still hear them?!

[Robert93SHO]

I recently replaced the rod bearings in my 93 sho 3.2. with 164k.I used some plastiguage (red) prior to assembly. The clearance was between .002 and .0025. Well i put everything back together verbatim and filled with 5w30 valvoline and ran the engine for 10 minutes. Changed the oil and filter again and filled it with valvoline 5w30. The first time i drove it home that evening, you could hear the rod bearings.
I changed the oil to a thicker castrol 20w50 and then the rod bearing noise went away for 5 days or so. Now it's back again. I have installed a manual oil pressure guage and noticed only 10-12psi hot at idle and 25-30psi while driving. So i am assuming the mains are ok, but that is with 20w50.

BTW the old rod bearings were pretty beat up, some were worse than others.
Is it time for a new engine? or should i just put some +.25mm rod bearings in it and see what happens

 

[SASHO91]

are you sure its rod bearings?

Sounds like it may be the timing chain tensioner....


and you cannot put over sized bearings in with out getting the crank reground.

EDIT: IIRC, arent you supposed to use the Green plastic gauge?

and also there is a thread around here that has a sound clip of a rod knock... i will try to find it.


EDIT#2: here... fourth post... http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=56497&highlight=rod+knock

 

[Robert93SHO]

I know for a fact it is not the timing chain tensioner. I know you are not supposed to put in oversized bearings without turning the crank, I was just being sarcastic.lol. The green plastiguage is for .001-.003 clearances, the red is for .002-.006.and the blue is for .004-.009 .
I think i read the rod bearing oil clearance specs are .0009-.0022, correct me if i am wrong.
I was thinking of putting a reground crank in the motor, but i am concerned about the rods needing to be resized...

 

[SASHO91]

when i got my RB kit from RCM, i was given the green platicgauge. Allthough i did not use it...

No the rods dont need to be resized. thats the job for the oversized bearings.

 

[SASHO91]

did you tq the rod caps correctly? And did you put them in correctly?

 

[Robert93SHO]

did you tq the rod caps correctly? And did you put them in correctly?

absolutely!

when i got my RB kit from RCM, i was given the green platicgauge. Allthough i did not use it...

No the rods dont need to be resized. thats the job for the oversized bearings.

It's looking like i need to get a crank. I know where one is in a 89k 3.2.
I can have it turned for $60. I'll make sure i use i use some green plasiguage next time but that doesn't make any sense to me specs wise.

 

[SASHO91]

yeah... i know what you mean...

BUT then again, not all the specs in the book are not correct...

for instance, they have the MTX fluid rating at like 6 qts... when in reality its barely 3...and the oil pick up tube.. IIRC they have a HIGH tq. rating for that little bolt, when it only needs a few ft lbs....