That's a good option out of several.

Option 1:
Drop oil pan, remove front cover
Replace main bearings, replace rod bearings, replace oil pump gears, replace timing chain if needed


Option 2:
Remove air intake
Remove upper intake assembly
remove valve covers
Inspect/repair/replace rockers
Remove lower intake
Inspect/replace cam + cam bearings
Drop oil pan, remove front cover
Replace main bearings, replace rod bearings, replace oil pump gears, replace timing chain if needed


Option 3:
Remove hood
Disconnect wiring harness
Unbolt transmission from motor
Pull motor
Disassemble as required:

• to inspect crankshaft, machine as required.
• to replace rockers, cam, cam bearings, main bearings, rod bearings, and oil pump.

Replace any bad motor mounts
Inspect/replace harmonic balancer




Other?
More?
Less?

 

So basically my block, heads, pistons, piston rings, and connecting rods are fine but the rest of the motor is suspect?!

 

You cant change or adequately inspect main bearings with the tranny installed, so might as well pull the engine out.

Rod bearings are suspect because you just changed them and now you have oiling issues. You need to pull it apart down to a long block anyway unless you want to do compression/leakdown, oil pressure test, listen for noises, etc.

So I would say options are:

1. Do more diagnostic work. Depending on findings, fix problem or go to #2.

2. Tear it down to a long block and do more diagnostic work. Depending on findings, fix it or go to option #3
​​​​​​
3. Pull long block out and do full inspection and rebuild.

 

I agree with rod bearing (or related parts) being #1 suspect too (due to only thing replaced very recently "only 2000 miles"),, but it's a blind guess until inspected,

 

X1 ............. do as much diagnostic work first as it's far easier and cheaper than a rebuild but don't forget to checkout your oil pressure on a proper gauge whilst doing all the diag. As far as main bearings, you can only pull the lower half of each bearing but you'll need to replace them in sequence and then torque them all when complete. IMHO if the lower shell is worn the upper shell will be similar or worse.

 

Even removing one cap to inspect is a waste of time. Even if the bearing looked fine you'd never reinstall them in the same position. The wear patterns would be slightly off on ever bearing.

 

I would suggest the rasping sound you heard could well be a broken oil pump gear set.

Been there, heard that.

 

Maybe the obvious, but check the oil pressure with a gauge before taking anything apart

 

I would do a compression test, sounds to me like you have a dead cylinder.

 

Thanks everyone.

I keep coming back to wanting to inspect the crankshaft for wear and balance, plus replace the camshaft bearings, and if I can't figure out a way to ease my mind about those things then I'm going to pull the motor and do a full rebuild, except that my heads and piston rings are obviously fine.

If I go the full rebuild route, what would y'all suggest that I do/test while I still have the motor in and could (but probably won't) start the motor?