Short version is I had trouble turning my Chevy 1957 235 engine over by hand (it's never been started because the starter couldnt even turn it). I pulled the crank and had it turned 10 under. Installed the new 10 under bearings, plastigage checked out, and I started slowly torquing each cap to find the problem.
Turns out it was the 3rd rod. But, it just got really tight, and I have a bar I welded that allows me to turn my harmonic with quite a lot of torque. So I turned it, thinking that would free it up. Stayed very tight, but spun. so I took the cap off the 3rd rod, and I had spun one of the bearings. Completely shorn the tab off, and it had a pretty good nick down the center where it touches the crank. I'm hoping that a flake of metal just got in and caused the problem. I don't want to pull everything to get that rod checked at a machine shop.
Anyone ran into a similar problem and know what could have caused it?
And better yet, I've heard a lot of guys will just throw a standard bearing in there, mixed with the other 10 under that's still good. Some guys say it's a big no no, some guys say it doesn't really hurt. I was thinking I could just torque it a tiny bit more than the required 35-ft-lb to offset it. Of even find something to shim it with.
Any definitive opinions or experiences you guys can offer?
