I just bought a full engine w/a bad rod bearing.
Would this cause the block to become damaged?
Would this prevent me from rebuilding the bottom end(howell kit)?
Or would it just need to be machined somehow??

replacing the rod bearing is not to hard. unbolt the oil pan to expose the crank and pistons. you can throw in some new bearings right there by takin off the bottom part of the connecting rod

but yes, a bad bearing is not good. you cause major wear on the crank, etc...
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96 talon esi-t
san clemente, ca

You'll definitely need to check out the wear on the crank. One way to do this is to replace the rod bearings like turbo8u said, and if in a few miles they spin again...well, you've done damage to the crank and it's time for a new one. But the howell bottom end doesn't come with a crank, so keep that in mind. Most of the time a spun rod bearing means new rod bearings and the possibility of a new crank, but you may luck out with just the bearings.

You wouldn't need a new crank unless it's really scored bad. You can have the bad crank journal turned and use an oversized bearing if it's not scored to badly. You would have to have the crank machined before you buy the rebuild kit so you know what size bearings to get.

Yeah, what he said ;) I'm just lazy and would rather just buy a crank.

He's right though, you can get it machined and buy the proper oversized bearings.

>Yeah, what he said ;) I'm just lazy and would rather just buy
>a crank.

$300 crank vs $50 worth of machine work.. hmm..

Good to know. Thanks. I think the machine work is the way to go.
I have the engine at my house taken apart. I am going to take apart the bottom end, and bring the crank to a local machine shop and have it done. Then i have to save up for the bottom end kit. I want to do it right the first time..no cutting corners.

If you want to pickup a little more power, get them to lighten the shaft.

You certainly picked the right screen name Mr. 1sweet98Talon! You have definitely got that shit right!


Sorry to be off-topic, but I learned something myself and haven't seen that car before to my knowledge. :P