How Bad is Rod Knock?!?!?

[TbombsGen3]

this is probably terrible question, but about to buy an 89 na w/jdm turbo swap....guy says has some minor rod knock, but drives fine....the price is great, even if I have to replace engine....but i need to know how highway worthy this car is....have to drive it from NY to FL!!!

Thanks guys

[Tercel GTS]

You'll destroy it before you get to FL. The best thing you can do is put it on a train or a truck. If you want to stop it by Savannah I'd be glad to look at repairing it.

[repinS]

Rod knock is rod knock. The damage has ALREADY been done and the car shouldn't be driven.

Plus, with the sheer loudness of typical rod knock, you'll know that the car isn't drivable. (I'm assuming you haven't seen/heard the car yet)

[Jeeves]

Rod knock means a full rebuild or you replace the motor.

In effect the motor is toast. I've seen motors last seconds after they've developed I've seen 'em last days. Either way, it's death to the motor. Period.

[Wreckless]

Rod knock will get geometrically worse every time its run and at constant rpm on the highway I'll lay cash money that your block will have 'custom observation holes' within 100 miles caused by the knocking rod telling the crank and rest of the rotating assembly "Aight Peace bitches, I'm out"
To be less cryptic, as it knocks more the connecting rod endcap bolts will eventually break and the rod will go....somewhere bad. Valves, block, crank, one/some/all will be destroyed.

Find another car.

[351wstangglx]

pretty much

it's not a question of IF the motor will go, it's when

[Jeeves]

I would definately say it will not make an NY -> FL journey.

[Tercel GTS]

Rod knock doesn't always mean the engine is toast though. If caught early enough you can replace the bearings and polish the crank and all is fine. I've seen this done quite a few times. One case my boss did this to a truck that had never had an oil change, not one. One of his construction buddies trded the truck to our shop and we opened the oil pan to find a solid gel of oil. After polishing the crank and installing the correct set of bearings he drove the truck a few weeks then gave it to his 16yr old son. The 16yr old gave it hell. No problems though, even after 4 years of his abuse. Yeah, it wasn't turned up like this guy will turn the supra, but it's def worth a shot.

[TbombsGen3]

Thanks for the advise guys. I guess I will just trailer it down. will let ya'll know how it goes

[CryoSlash]

if you drove it, youd be pushing it all the way...

[Tercel GTS]

Lots cheaper to put it on a truck I'd bet.

[o_0]

I know a good place in atlanta that will give a good price on a engine

[Tercel GTS]

And another in Augusta.