sho rod knock

[T-bird<SHO]

my buddy came over last night in his 94 atx with 190 on it. he started it and i can hear a pretty quiet rod knock. i told him to catch a ride with my other friend and not to drive it any more until we can fix it. my question is, since its not that loud and we caught it right away, can we just change the rod bearings or is the crank most likely shot? any and all info is appreciated as he just bought the car and hes really dissapointed.

thanks,
lee

 

[SHO#7]

Responses will vary. I personally have done rod bearings on two cars that had a spun bearing. Both cars survived fine, even long term. The cranks were perfect in both cases. They looked fine, and there were no marks on the journals.

Others have had a rod knock for a few minutes and had to replace the motor. You will have to drop the oil pan and check.

Just make sure it is a rod knock you are hearing, and not some the timing belt tensioner. On an ATX that can often times sound like a spun bearing.

Mike

 

[DigDeez]

I hear this same knock on my 93 ATX(175,000mi.). It sounds like it's coming from underneath the engine and not the timing chain area! If I apply a lil' gas, the knocks follows alone and increases in knocking, but doesn't necessarily get louder.

I've noticed this in my SHO for some time now, maybe the last 12,000mi.

I have to do my oil pan gasket like yesterday, and it's said to do the rod bearing while in there. That seems like a scary ordeal (from the shophoenix guidelines) on top of doing the gasket. I'm so not comfortable with neither, but the intermittent smoking is a headache!!! I've done allot of repairs, but never had to get under the car!

 

[revhardSHO]

I think you would be fine with new rod bearings

If the journals look okay and old bearings havent spun, I wouldnt even plastigauge.