That '96 F-150 threw a rod on the highway last Wednesday at 70 mph

I was hauling a load of scrap metal from a job near Phoenix when I heard a loud knock and then bang, the engine locked up instantly coasted to the shoulder. Pulled the oil pan off in my buddy's shop the next day and found a hole straight through the block, rod cap was sitting in the bottom. Had to source a junkyard 5.8 from a truck with 150k miles for $400 and spent the weekend swapping it in. Anyone else had a motor let go without any warning signs beforehand?

2 comments

2 Comments

jasonallen1mo ago

Man, a hole straight through the block? That is some next level catastrophic failure right there. I've heard stories of rods coming loose but punching through the side of the engine is pretty wild. Your mileage may vary but $400 for a junkyard 5.8 sounds like a steal even with the work involved.

sandra_bennett591mo ago

Oh man @jasonallen, ain't that the truth, I had a 302 spit a rod right through the oil pan on the highway once.