I saw on another post that engnbldr has complete crank kits for about $200<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />. For that price + rings (maybe pistons) we can maybe afford to do the bottom end. Pulling the block out and paying the machine shop to do all the bottom end work was going to possibly cost me more $$$ and wasn't gonna fit our budget. Now we can tear it down and plastigauge it. If it needs replacing like I think it might then we can afford it.

If we need it installing a new crank will be nice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Rings and maybe pistons aren't too much more about another $150. Between me and my friends helping me out we got a telescope, micrometer and a piston ring compressor. Just gotta pickup a cylinder bore and hone too which shouldn't cost to much more.

One snag though. I was told we will have to pull the block because the crank won't clear the axle to come out of the block. I've got about 2" of lift. Is it easy to get the crank out of the block with the block still in the truck or will this be a PITA?