After winning the stupid-boy award for leaving a bolt attached to the bellhousing, I finally got the 85' 22R-E up and out of the rig. Secured the trans and pushed it outside so I could prep the engine for tear down on the stand. With all the torque converter and flexplate stuff off the engine was still locked up tighter than a.....um something <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />. I got antsy and decided to pull the pan to see if the problem was obvious...and boy howdy let me tell you somethin. I have never seen anything like it before. #1 rod bearing was spun...but not just spun and wedged up under the other bearing halfshell....the topside bearing shell was no longer there. The cap bearing shell mated with some remnants and wedged itself topside. The topside bearing shell found its way between the rod and crankjournal...to the side of the rod. All this mess was nicely welded together. The rod cap is slightly distorted, the rod bolt nuts were a hair over finger tight to give you an idea of what kind of forces were at work here. Tonight I'll clean it up more and weigh the options with my good buddy Ted and see what we come up with. Crank is probably beyond grinding, rod is extremely out of round and will need replaced. Gawd I love this stuff! Some of the best times that $200 can buy. Eeeeeehaaaaw!

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

PS- Engine is all original and never been opened up. With the exception of the #1 rod assembly and front of the crankshaft...things almost looked like new. Not to shabby for 165K miles. Block stamping for bearings from factory: 44445, rods-2222. Definately a keeper. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />