I think I have a spun rod bearing but I could use some help with the diagnosis. The car is an '02 V8 LS with 112,000 miles. I have owned the car since it had 19,000 miles and the car is rarely driven hard. Here are the symptoms:

The car developed a loud knock one morning within a mile of leaving my house. The knock is very loud at start-up. The noise is not quite as pronounced once the oil pressure builds but still pretty loud. The car does not smoke or skip and no warning lights are on. One other peculiar symptom is that the car will cut off when idling hot and is hard to start.

Any other thoughts on what might be wrong with it?

Thanks,
Mel

Sounds like VCGs to me. I just replaced mine and it did the same things.

pagluy... huh?!?!

Knocking is caused by excessive clearance in a rod journal... NOT VCG's.

That is of course provided he's describing it correctly. There is a BIG difference between rod knock and spark knock.



I don't know your mechanical abilities, so this is strictly off what you say. But, it's hard to mistake something else for rod knock. Rod knock is a pretty distinctive noise. If that IS what you're hearing, it is what it is... sorry.

Look into swaping in a used engine; should not be too difficult and they can be had for a fair price. Should be alright with anything 2000-2002.

351 Windsor out of a bronco should be good eh?

Defintely not sparknock. I was just hoping there was something I was overlooking.

Basically, I am in the denial phase.

351 Windsor out of a bronco should be good eh?



Might take a crowbar to get it in and loss of most electrical do-dad's... but if that's his flavor...