I have 2 3rd gen blocks sitting on our shop floor with huge windows in the side of the blocks. Both were good running engines from what I understand and the rod came through the block at about 200k km in both of them. So far one of them we took apart looks like the rod bearing went out of it and the owner kept driving it until it came apart. Not sure about the other one yet. I have heard that the rod bolts stretch in some 3rd gen engines causing the bearing to go out. Anybody heard of this or know why these things keep coming apart?

 

........ I smell an urban legend ...........

 

I have not heard about that, but I'd like to hear some info on it...

 

Interesting first post. Welcome to the forum.

Anyway, I recall seeing a thread once where someone spun a rod bearing on a 3rd gen. It had quite a few miles and was pulling heavy, with a performance chip.

It didn't window. It just knocked pretty good until the owner pulled the oil pan. If I recall the thread had photos.

I've read lots of 3rd gen forum postings, and that is the only one I recall right now about a bottom end bearing problem.

 

Say it ain`t so.......................smells fishy??????
We are talkin about a basically BULLET PROOF ENGINE===OPERATOR ERROR NO DOUBT?
more details please and WELCOME

 

Buddy of mine here at work, 03', 250,000 miles, just like you described, heavy towing with chip,,,,, only difference is, his wife was driving it to the store, turbo went out, sucked oil out of the motor,,,,, rod/ rods knocking the next day, bought a new crank and bearings, honed the cyl. put it back together,,,,

This is ,according to him, how it happened, but said it runs good again.

 

I didn't drive either of the trukcs at any time in thier life so its hard to say what kind of abuse or non maintenance they had. I know that one was a dually and the owner used it to pull quite a bit but it wasn't chipped. Also I'm quite sure that niether of the motors were ran out of oil when I have time I am going to take them apart and look at the rest of the rod bearings and torque the rest of the rod bolts. We have another truck in our yard that knocks quite bad but its still running. Haven't had time to take it apart and look through it but we suspect it is a rod knock also. I will try and get some pictures up soon here.

 

These engines are not known for windowing the block. I would like to know more about the history on the engines in question. Wonder if these engines have been seriously over revved.

MikeyB

 

Sounds like a FRAM oil filter was used LOL.... What kind of oil filters are on these engines. The only windowed block I have heard about and seen pictures of was an engine the freeze plugs went in the head. It was a highly modified engine though. Look for Big Swole on CompD.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to add this. If you bend one of these 3rd Gen. crack rods it will snap like a twigg and window the block.

 

a failed bearing won't put a hole in the block. Granted, it will spin the bearing and ruin the crankshaft.
If a rod bolt fails, it will be readily evident that it was the source of the failure. Where did the connecting rod fail? Crankpin/rod cap end, wrist pin, or mid-beam?
Got any pics of the suspect rod and bolts???

 

My friends 05 3500 windowed the block at around 60k miles. All he was running was a triple dog on low levels for increased towing performance. The truck was never abused or dogged. It is rare and usually only hear about it on a heavily modded truck. Everyone knows that the powdered metal cracked cap rods used in the CR's are weaker than the forged 12/24V rods. I just chalked my friends up to a possible defective rod.

 

That's why I plug my engine in at anything below 0*C (32*F). Giving a cold engine load is not good for bearings etc and I always cool the turbo before shutdown. Can't treat these things like a gasser in any way part or form. How often did the dude change the oil?

 

UPS speced out a bunch of P1000 series package vans with the ISB's in them. We towed quite a few with blown engines, rods through the oil pans and out the side of some blocks. They managed to blow up a bunch of sprinter engines also. If you want something tested to see what it can endure give it to UPS, they will find out what it can take.

 

If you could, post up some pics?

You might also look at the oil passages closely.