i have a rod knocking / piston hitting the head. i know that i need main and rod bearings... but do i need a crank and does my cam bearings need replaced? i just need to know because i only have 300 dollars and i need to know whether i should fix it or save up and find a 500 beater to drive its my only car and i got 2 kids and a wife and unemployed i can do the job myself just need to know what price and what i need to fix it
thanks

 

You'll need a lot more than $300 will get you.

 

If you have a rod knocking I don't see why you couldn't do it for about 500 or so, gasket kits are very expensive, but everything else is relatively inexpensive. OEM style rod and main bearings, rings, Gasket Kit, Oil and Filter, Coolant, is really all you would need, as long as you haven't drove it an messed up the crank journals or the rod journals they can be cleaned up to almost new condition usually with some emery cloth....


If you did somehow have piston to head contact, which would really only happen if you broke a timing chain then your probably better off buying a beater...

 

I agree, you don't always have to spend a lot of money. Years ago many engines were rebuilt, while setting in front of appartment complexes, using modest hand tools.

 

as soon as it stopped ticking and started knocking i stopped driving it so maybe i wont have to buy a crank