doubt its a push rod most likely it would make a hella racket if it was. it would be slappin all around. like others said post some symptoms and go from there.

 

I had some overheating problems, was driving the car and the engine started making a loud clanking sound like metal against metal coming from the engine bay. I than lost power, as in it would barely do 30mph. Smoke starting coming out of the side of the engine. I was told the clanking was a broken/bent pushrod and the smoke coming from the side of the engine was probably a crack in the head, leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold hence making the smoke.

 

Whoa! sounds more like you dropped a valve to me.

 

how serious is that?

 

I'd say somewhere in between blowing a head gasket and spinning a rod bearing... So if you'd like to punch a hole in something it's completely understandable.

 

I seriously doubt you cracked a head. Probably just blew a headgasket. Dunno what the metal on metal sound is though, and for you sake, I won't speculate.

 

Probably they said a rod. Sounds to me like your motor is toast and that you need a total teardown to see what happened. Given your apparent level of expertise, you need to find someone trustworthy to evaluate and work on your car. Sounds like it is going to be costly.

 

when you say smoke started coming out of the side of the engine, do you mean out of a hole in the side of the block? I'm thinking shoebox is right. Somebody told you rod and you thought pushrod, but infact it is a connecting rod...much bigger problem. That metal on metal sound was half a connecting rod attached to the crank slapping around on everything in the block. Did anything lead up to this? Were you hot rodding when this happened? Or were you just cruising down the road when all of a sudden you engine fell apart?

 

Not sayin you're WRONG, but are you saying that his rod broke in half, shattered the piston, sent bits and pieces of that into the oil pan, and now 1/2 the connecting rod is sitting there flapping around hitting everything? Because if he has half a connecting rod, then there's a much more serious problem, so I feel that your theory is wrong.

I'd be *tempted* to think if he has pieces of a piston and half a rod in pieces in his pan he'd have clogged up the oil filter pretty well, and really known something went *bang*.

Not saying you're wrong, I just don't think you're right.

Oh, and this is the sound of metal-on-metal...piston hitting head This is when I spun my rod bearing. Right Click -> Save As.

http://paradox.shacknet.nu/dave88lx/formula/clack2.mpg

http://paradox.shacknet.nu/dave88lx/formula/clack1.mpg

 

i just spun a rod bearing in mine not long ago and that is exactly what it sounded like except mine had some squeaking too because the bearings wern't getting any oil. I have also thrown a rod. When that happened it did just as i said. Pieces of the rod and bearings went through the block busting a baseball size hole right on the side and some stayed in clanking around inside. If he said he heard metal to metal sounds and smoke was coming out the side of the block and he lost major power, he could have thrown a rod. Maybe maybe not. He don't sound like he really know what's going on with it so i guess we will have to wait and see.

 

Hopefully with plenty of pics of the carnage.

 

Subscribing to this thread

Carry on.

 

FastZinTennessee, i noticed that you need a block. Have you found one? I have an extra that i would be willing to sell. I live just north of huntsville right on the ten/al state line so it wouldn't be that far for you to pick up.

 

Yes I am still in need of a block. I will possibly be coming to the Huntsville area tomorow. I won't have a truck tomorow to get it back home if I were to buy it but I'd love to have a look. I will PM you in a few.

 

better start looking for a new engine. clanking=metal on metal=severe.

heres my theory on the clank

your car is running realy hot probably on crapy old oil and you keep driving... soon the temperature reaches a point were the oil starts to break down and loose its protection. next (still driving) starts to tick but rapidly turns into a clank as your rod or main bearings start to destroy themselfs and start becoming elongated almost oval clanking as a result of the up and down stroke and the huge clearance it now has. your oil pessure drops and you lose power very noticably. you finaly pull over open your hood and see alot of steam violently steaming out of your car. your engine is blown


it sucks and i hope im wrong but good luck anyway.