Well, that didn't turn out well. I made a ~80 mile round trip in the truck and when nearly back home, noticed the engine knocking. But I did get the exhaust pipe installed. After tearing into it today, it turns out two rod bearings were down to the copper, and beat up bad enough that they didn't fit in the rod cap correctly. My apparently self-inflicted wound was trusting that the rod caps hadn't been filed down and not checking the bearing clearance. The two crankpins are grooved as well, so the plan is to take the crank back out to the machine shop to get reground. I'm just stimulating the economy by buying more parts. And practicing rebuilding engines. Moral of the story - Check EVERYTHING!
Here's some pics of the carnage.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
But I did get the exhaust pipe installed. 
After tearing into it today, it turns out two rod bearings were down to the copper, and beat up bad enough that they didn't fit in the rod cap correctly. My apparently self-inflicted wound was trusting that the rod caps hadn't been filed down and not checking the bearing clearance. The two crankpins are grooved as well, so the plan is to take the crank back out to the machine shop to get reground. I'm just stimulating the economy by buying more parts. 
And practicing rebuilding engines. Moral of the story - Check EVERYTHING!
