Engine Trouble caused by driving without oil


Flex plates and rear main seals are pretty cheap. Should I just replace them and see what sticks or should I start just taking the engine out ASAP?

I do have to say that the flex plate went through hell. When getting the engine out of the engine bay the flex plate was definitely flexing haha Basically all of the weight from the engine was on the flex plate at times. I did quickly inspect the flexplate for cracks and didn't see anything major but there may have been some hairline cracks starting to form... I don't know if those vibrations could be explained by the flexplate though.
 
Is there a way to run the engine without the transmission attached? This would let me know if its the engine or not. Would the engine harness connectors need to be attached to the transmission for this to work?

This would save me time and money if this is possible. If the noise persists while the engine is not attached to the transmission then at least that part of the engine removal is done and I will know for sure.
 
I get the fact that you're trying you best. But at this point you really are just beating your head against a rock. There is less that a .1% chance your flex plate is an issue. That knocking sound, sure as hell sounds like a bad rod / spun bearing to me. Your best bet at this point, yank that engine and pull the oil pan.
 
From what I remember reading this is your replacement engine that you are having the knocking, right? Wow. Did you hear it run before you bought it. You started this change out in February. As Diezel stated, it may be time to take a different path. Maybe sell it & purchase one in better condition. I have to give you credit, you haven't given up yet
 
I get the fact that you're trying you best. But at this point you really are just beating your head against a rock. There is less that a .1% chance your flex plate is an issue. That knocking sound, sure as hell sounds like a bad rod / spun bearing to me. Your best bet at this point, yank that engine and pull the oil pan.

You're 100% right. What I will likely do at this point is buy a JDM engine and replace all gaskets including main seal and buy a new flex plate too. I want this truck for a while and I do NOT want to have to do this again. The biggest thing I have learned in all of this is not to half ass things. Thanks for your input it is definitely appreciated.

From what I remember reading this is your replacement engine that you are having the knocking, right? Wow. Did you hear it run before you bought it. You started this change out in February. As Diezel stated, it may be time to take a different path. Maybe sell it & purchase one in better condition. I have to give you credit, you haven't given up yet

I am going to keep on keeping on. I understand it has been a long while but there was a huge learning curve and stupid things that kept me from completing the job quickly (ie snapped/stripped bolts, work, budget, lack of tools, lack of knowledge) but I am confident I can get this thing in and out in about 3-4 days if I have an engine ready to go. I have all the tools and I know how to do the job now, things will (and have to) move quickly at this point.

Just in case I fail miserably, what is a good listing price for a truck like mine? One that has good frame and everything, runs, but has mystery knocking noise suspected to be thrown bearing near the crankshaft.

You could send an oil sample to blackstone labs and they can tell you real quick if there is bearing metal in there.

This is an outstanding idea. I agree with diesel that the engine has a spun bearing and I am just about ready to pull the thing now but I am in an argument with the junkyard right now about refund policy and they believe that they gave me a good engine b/c of their "comprehensive" leak down test. I explained to them that it has nothing to do with bearings etc and they wanted to exchange for another engine. I told them I didn't want another engine I wanted the one I bought because they told me it was good and it has the 88k miles on it. Anyway, I might send the oil for analysis to prove to them and anyone else who may get involved that the engine was bad.

Going to check pricing info now. Thanks for the idea!
 
How long has the oil been in there? A few miles, right? I'd give Blackstone a call and see if they think a UOA under these conditions would have any useful information. I have my doubts.
 
How long has the oil been in there? A few miles, right? I'd give Blackstone a call and see if they think a UOA under these conditions would have any useful information. I have my doubts.

I was thinking the same thing. I am also thinking that if the engine had the suspected bad bearing(s) when it was donated to the junkyard that there may be some glittery oil residing in the pan from that. I know when I looked at my oil pan when I spun the first engine that it looked pretty crazy and no matter how many oil changes I would have done I am sure the metal shavings would likely be visibly apparent and certainly apparent when analyzed by analytical chemistry techniques. That being said, I will definitely be consulting with them about it.

In fact, I work in a chemistry lab so maybe I can go ahead and do the analysis myself! haha

It's certainly a long shot but it'd be easier than tearing the motor apart.

At this point almost anything seems easier than tearing the motor apart, ugh! :crybaby:

BTW, just bought some seafoam. I'm gonna go for the extremely unrealistic hail mary approach tonight and see if miracles really do exist! I bought it mostly for my other car. I figured I could do both at once.
 
Update

I just read this old thread and went down memory lane. I remember when the junkyard engine was hanging from one of the trees that eventually fell on our house like it was yesterday. I remember how my girlfriend and I were dragging the engine across the backyard lawn (she is a keeper!) and all of the expert help everyone here provided (very grateful for all of you). I thought this thread deserved an update so here it is.

After installing the junkyard engine, the bearings were bad and failed after about 700 miles. Coincidentally, the TFR broke down right next to a SMOG shop. The mechanics saw her die and helped push it into their shop. They gave me a really great quote (~$2,000) for a new (used) engine replacement with about 90,000 miles. It took a while but they got it done and I have been zipping around without out problems ever since.

Two days ago I decided to buy another TRF (this one has a bad head gasket) and it will be towed (flat-bed) to my house today from Sacramento. I can't wait!!!

Thanks for the help everyone!
 

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