i think i spun a bearing today? any signs?

[JerrysGN]

Hey guys, i was out driving today and i heard a noise that just didnt seem right. i rev'd it in neutral and sure enough it was a knock!! i immediately pulled over and called the tow truck. Once back in the garage i started it and tried to narrow exactly where it was coming from....

Idles smooth as glass. no smoke in the exhaust. but tomorrow i will be pulling down the oil pan and checking that. (just wanted to post here before digging into the motor)

if it is a spun bearing do i need to remove the crank and cut it? or if i change the bearings do you think i can squeeze another weekend out of it (to drive it to my actual home which isnt cost effective to tow)


how would i know if it was a wristpin or piston skirt?

 

[Six_Silver]

I wouldnt worry about it being a wrist pin or piston skirt.

Pull the oil dipstick and under a bright light, see if there is any bronze colored metallic in the oil on the end of the stick.

If you caught it early enough, it wont be as expensive as if you were to keep driving it.

 

[JerrysGN]

well i was hoping not to damage anything, oil pressure is about 40 during driving (was) and 10-14 stopped at a light.

pistons are JE .030 forged, lightweight wristpins.



how would i know if it was a main bearing.

 

[Six_Silver]

You would have to pull the oil pan off (can be done with motor in car), then pull one of the main caps. If you aren't familiar with pulling bearing caps then I would have someone do it for you. Its VERY important to make sure the caps and bearings go back on the correcty way.

 

[Red Regal T]

When you pull the pan, if you spun a bearing, there will be plenty of metal on your pickup and laying in the bottom of the pan. If you choose to drive it, that metal will find it's way through the whole motor, lodge in your oil cooler, hurt your turbo, and lot's of other bad things. Kind of makes towing more cost effective.

If you spun the bearing, you will have to pull the engine, machine the crank, and rebuild it. You can't put new bearings on a damaged crank. Will spin again in short order.

 

[steve hughes]

Before you go crazy pulling the oil pan check the torque convertor bolts and the flywheel. Also pull the belt off and check the balancer to see if it's loose.