1994 Ford Escort LX - Worn out rod?

[Jman]

My car has now been standing for quite some time and I figured I might as well try and learn something about cars from it.

It has 141k miles on it and according to the mechanics I brought it to, all it needed was new cables and a tune-up to cure all the shaking it was doing whenever we let the engine idle (also, the Check Engine lit up on my way there). That did not solve the problem but they told me one of the rods were worn out, so what happens now is that the engine still vibrates and if you rev the engine it produces a loud knocking sound. For fixing it they would charge about as much as the car is probably worth so I just brought it home... To my questions...

The rod we're speaking of is the one connecting the piston to the crankshaft? How impossible would it be for me to change it? Should I replace other things as well since this seems to be a major repair job.

I am an engineer, not a car mechanic. I have managed to replace the generator and drive belt but that's as far as my car knowledge goes... so I do realize that this might be way above my abilities but perhaps I'll learn something along the way of breaking an already broken car.

Thank you for your time!

[mark v]

Yeah the only way I would recommend is to do a full rebuild.

Yes piston to crankshaft, there are bearings involved with this too. Since it is knocking the crankshaft may have a spun bearing on it. This is not an easy job unless you know what you are doing.

If the body is in excellent shape I would do an engine rebuild.

[christopher 1340]

I am a mechanic as well as an engineer and know the ford escort very well, this is a big job, not for someone who is inexperienced, lots of tools aare required as well as knowlege or rebuilding techniques. It's n ot impossible, especially if you are a mechanical engineer, with the right manual, patience and tools, you could accomplish this. My fanter-in-law who is not a mechanic just rebuilt his mopar with a 400 cu/in engine into a very nice hot rod, it took him 2 winters but I was there to see it start and run he did a very good job. I don't know if you have the time to invest in your car to learn how to do this but if you you I can tell you it is a very rewarding experience to know you took something completely apart and put it back together in the right order without any left over parts and it works .