I have a 92 ex cab pickup with the v6 3.0 3vze. i have a really loud knock coming from the engine. its deffinetly not a ping or a tick. i am the second owner and the guy who had it before me, ran it out of oil once. i bought it for 2200$ dollars and thought i was getting a good deal. the knocking has been getting worse and worse especially on cold days. i have talked to my "mechanicaly inclined" buddies and they mentioned rod bearings or carbon build up. They said id be able to drop the oil pan and check the bearings? ive been lookin under there and it doesnt look like theres enough room.
any help would be appreciated

 

If it ran out of oil, its probally rod bearings. You will probally have to pull the motor to replace em.

 

Yep...no way to get to the oil pan unless you at least raise the motor and you're going to have to pull the motor to do the rods

 

would it be worth it to lift the engine replace them?

 

I would drive it as long as you can put up with it. If it is rod knock, you'll have to rebuild or buy a new motor anyway. Replacing the motor is either very expensive or very time consuming. Don't feel too bad, I paid 2800 for my super clean 91 with 120k and the motor mysteriously died 5k later.

 

steveic did u buy a rebuit motor or get one of the low milege ones?