I think a rod spun a bearing in my rebuilt 454

[txaggie]

Only 4k miles post the machine shop rebuild and knocking started while driving on the highway yesterday. Pulled over and the bearing screech started. I’m really upset about it.

What a pain in the butt and wallet.

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[Edelbrock]

Are you sure its not that rusty bolt causing the problem?

 

[Edelbrock]

But all jokes aside - if it's a spun bearing, you might be able to drop the pan and replace the bearing without pulling the motor or doing a full rebuild.

 

[txaggie]

But all jokes aside - if it's a spun bearing, you might be able to drop the pan and replace the bearing without pulling the motor or doing a full rebuild.

My issue is that I paid a shop for a full rebuild and already had issues with the heads. They refunded me for that and I went with aluminum heads instead of trusting them to fix them. Now s bearing is spun and whose to say it won’t happen with other bearings.

 

[Edelbrock]

Will they warranty it or refund it?

Change all 8 while you are in there if you are really worried about the other bearings.

 

[77Dmax]

But all jokes aside - if it's a spun bearing, you might be able to drop the pan and replace the bearing without pulling the motor or doing a full rebuild.

That won't work. That rod and it's partner will need resized and the crank will need turned.

To the OP- Unfortunate turn of events. You'll have to tear it down and determine what caused the failure. 4k miles is nothing. I'd guess it was not properly cleaned before assembly.

 

[nvrenuf]

But all jokes aside - if it's a spun bearing, you might be able to drop the pan and replace the bearing without pulling the motor or doing a full rebuild.

It’s not that easy. Throwing a bearing in it might make it quiet for a minute but you haven’t diagnosed the reason for the failure. If you don’t fix the root of the problem it will happen again and next time might damage more parts.

 

[Turbo4whl]

But all jokes aside - if it's a spun bearing, you might be able to drop the pan and replace the bearing without pulling the motor or doing a full rebuild.

Won't get the pan off a rat in a 2WD truck, maybe 4W. As others stated, spun bearing usually tares up the crank journal.

@txaggie Hope the shop makes good for you.

 

[fast 99]

Feel your pain. After installing literally hundreds of engines I have come to the conclusion rebuilt engines are a crap shoot. For a time every rebuilt engine I installed had one issue or another. Some minor others requiring replacement. Factory rebuilt or new was better. All you can do is muddle on.

 

[Edelbrock]

I have know old school mechanics that would replace just the bad bearing, and polish the crank. They said its not a good fix for every engine, but with any luck the crank is not damaged. Only way to find out is to pull the pan and check. I have never tried it myself, but I can say that I have seen it done successfully. As for rebuilt engines being a crap shoot - I agree. As opposed to rebuilding my engine, I would always just find a good used replacement that that good compression, oil pressure etc. At least you know that its a good running engine, and not as much of a gamble a as rebuild.