TonyB; I installed EGT & Transmission gauges back in May. I am thinking about oil pressure and even fuel pressure gauges. I appreciate you input on this, a lot of questions that need to be asked. I plan on getting this all answered, do not want to go thru this again. Did'nt know about a oil pressure test, thanks.

 

Are they going to pull all the pistons and check for scoring? I had a badly scorn pistion on a motorcyle and it made quite a knocking.

 

sorry about your bad luck, but unfortunatly something like this had too happen at some point, if you consider 190,000 of these engines are produced for dodge every year time the number of rod bearings times the number of years, well just since the cr debut that is 3.42 million rod bearings.....one that may have been "improperly installed or checked" out of 3.42 million is pretty good quality control in my books!!

 

I was just thinking, of all the threads I have read over the years, I think this is only the second spun rod bearing I have ever read about.

Too bad it had to be yours, but at least it sounds like the dealership is doing a reasonable job of getting you back together.

It sounds to me like it was just a fluke. Like posted above, if you build enough of something, there is bound to be one or two that fail. The dealership not having a hoist capable of lifting the Cummins speaks to their reliability.

I bet after the 6.0 came out, there weren't any Ford dealers that don't have an engine hoist on hand...

Off topic a bit, but you mentioned a trip to LaCrosse WI? I'm planning a run to LaCrosse in September to see family...

 

The service guy has been working with me real well, I'm impressed. I hope it follows thru. I figured the odds would kick in someday. I am still amazed when this went. It took about 3-5 miles from a "what is that noise" to a light tick noise to the point of stopping. Then driving 3-4 miles to get off the highway. I bet in a few more miles, the piston would have went to the ground. Every vehicle owned has always ran past 100k and only major operation was the tranny on the 99 Suburban. That is another story. The service department here answers all my questions, the guy has been calling me to keep me updated. I realize he is a "bullet stopper" for the company, he is doing a good job. I want to get a look when the short block comes in, get some pictures and get more information. This forum has helped a lot, thanks folks. I'll keep updating. I just need to get the truck back on the road to break it in For the LaCrosse trip. Jeff in TD; are you boating up to LaCrosse? We love it there. The Mississippi and those sand bluffs are great.
The pictures I took are up if you want to see the mess .

 

Waiting for the parts to get in. The 1/2 block may get here late in the day Friday. They will disassemble more then. They basically just dropped the oil pan to find the root cause. When they saw the #2 piston rod mucked up, they knew then it was FUBAR and needed new parts. Sounds like Monday before any action will take place on the repairing. Not bad.

 

Went up there this morning. They are waiting for parts still . According to them the truck will be done for this weekend. I took some better pictures of the pistions if anyone wants to see it. . This is a view of #1 thru #3 cylinders. The #2 cylinder has the spun piston rod. The next picture is cylinders #4 thru #6.. There are a couple other views of the motor top in my gallery.

 

One of three things happened, blockage in the #2 oil hole, burr in the crankshaft that came loose, or bearing had tight tolerances to begin with, and when it got heated, it expanded to much and the bearing grabbed the crank journal.As long as you get a new shortblock your good to go. Ive built many engines with reground cranks, and sometimes the specs. are all over the place, that's why a person blueprints an engine, factory tolorances are far from perfect.

 

Why does the #2 piston look different? My guess is the diesel was not igniting and just washed the cylinder. I just do not see why it would not ignite. It really does'nt matter, just courious (sp).
What happens when you "blueprint" a motor. Redraw what?

 

Blue printing ensures a well balanced motor that delivers the max amount of power for a given build. A true blue printing job will ensure and correct all machined surfaces ie that the lifter bores are at 90 degrees from centerline or the same for the piston bores. Also every clearence will be checked and adjusted so that each one is identical. Not one bearing at minimal and another at max tolerance. All pistons and rods will be balanced to the same wieght. Once all this is done a few extra ponies and RPM will be gained by the motor running the smoothest possible. No slight imbalances caused by production tolerances. Because of the time needed and the number of motor mock up assemblies needed to do a blue printing job it is generally reserved for race engines.

 

The number 2 piston looks like it has been smacking the head. Due to the excess bearing clearance, the piston was coming up past its normal travel. Hopefully the tech does a close inspection on the head and the valves in that cylinder.