you can use 4.0 pistons with 4.6 rod and crank you gain about a 1/2-3/4 of a point.
unless you super man you did not bend that rod, that rod had to be swinging to get bent that way

 

I'm definitely not superman but I did use a long bar turning the crank, or trying to turn it. The metal is confined to the area right around that piston, so I may indeed have broken the piston by brute force because the journal was wedged firmly against it. If you look at this picture on the right side of the piston that is a flat spot where it looks like the piston was shaved a few revolutions.



Dro, what do you mean by a point?

 

I believe he means less than a point. Half to three quarters. I'd say you'd be fine if that's the case.

I'm with Drow, no way you bent that rod. You'd have to be putting out more power than the engine itself is capable of producing without significant modification (ie forced induction on a lot of boost).

 

New piston/rod and bearings arrived. Waiting for head gaskets, oil pump, and bolts. I'm off to the parts store for some brake cleaner to wash out the engine.

I am sorely tempted to reuse the head gasket and bolts that have 8 minutes run time on them!

 

Just a quick update. Parts are in. Rebuild and transplant will be Saturday. I have the house to myself all weekend.

 

hoping for better results this time

 

Fingers crossed. Did you end up using the 4.0 pistons or the 4.6 pistons?

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I am at the piston choosing stage. Here is where I am.

 

You guys are right. No way I could have done this manually... I couldn't do this with a sledge hammer:

 

Will be sitting on the fence before sending mine to you for a rebuild. Kidding aside, something out of the ordinary happened and not likely to occur again. Hope all goes good and looking forward to that news.
......