Restoring 86 Dodge Ramcharger plow truck

[DansRamCharger]

I bought this truck last fall for only $2,000. I repaired a few minor things including the plow which is now fully functional. Then I realized the oil pressure was low. So I decided to remove the old piston rod and main bearings. I was glad I could do this myself from underneath since I found others online who did this and provided good guidance. So, I found the #1 front main bearing to be very worn, though I replaced them all with standard size bearings.

I did each bearing one at a time and tightening each cap individually after replacing the bearing. I did this, because, about 25 years ago I destroyed an RV engine by mixing up caps. As a result it ran a few minutes, then a piston rammed into the cylinder and I couldn't later hammer it out. So, I gave the RV away to a church mission.

Anyways, this time, I rotated the crank after replacing each bearing and cap individually. When I tightened the #1 main bearing the crank would barely turn. So, I took this cap back off, removed the bearings, and ground the crank journal with some course emory cloth followed by steel wool to smooth it. After tightening the #1 cap again, the crank turned freely. Of course I cleaned the journal very well and lubed each bearing with engine assembly lube before putting them back in.

Now, the oil pressure is low when first starting, but after a little warm up the pressure goes way up. There is a ticking noise. The mechanic initially thought it was the lifters. But after explaining to him what I did, he said the engine is now junk. This made me laugh, because his shop is near my house and I'm running out of friendly neighbors. Anyway, it's with him now for him to diagnose. I think I just need to slowly break in the new bearings and see if the ticking goes away and oil pressure stabilizes. I like to hear any suggestions from anyone with similar experience.

I hope you enjoyed this story so far.

Dan

 

[daveomatic]

So your saying to took course sand paper and sanded the crank journal. Then you took steel wool to smooth it. Did you plasti-gage the bearing clearance first to see if you needed standard bearings? Chances are you are going to need to remove the crank and mic it to determine bearing clearance and have it turned and polished.

 

[krazykuda]

Did you at least plastic-gauge the bearings when you put it back together?

Welcome to FABO.

How about some pictures of the truck and engine???

 

[67Dart273]

There is No Way in Hell that a worn engine with high mileage should have a "tight" bearing when replaced with "standard." Either you effed up getting the shells in there and or seated, or there was dirt / debri involved, or the shells were somehow damaged.

"Breaking in" new bearings is not going to raise low oil pressure.

Hard to say, at this point, what you may have done.

 

[sireland67]

Maybe one oversize bearing was mixed up in the box of standard bearing.
You should not have sanded the crank.