It would have had to go quick not to notice. Anyway sorry about your luck..no one needs the added cost of a motor these days.

 

From the sounds of it, the massive oil leak may have been caused by an internal component making an escape attempt through the block.

And it's entirely possible for an engine to throw a rod or break a wristpin and still run, not well, and not for long.

I personally limped a Chevy 250 six home with the #2 rod sticking out through the block, it sounded like a cinder block going through a wood chipper, but it ran for 15 miles like that.

 

Sorry to hear the news. Let us know what the cause was if you find out - I think this may be the first catastrophic failure we have heard of.

 

My dad made my mother drive a old Studebaker '49, I think, 25 miles to the dealer for trade in with a piston rod sticking out the side of the block.

 

Looks like it's coming from around the ?timing chain case? on the left side?

My wife's dad (who owns/operates his own shop) thinks I ought a bring it up on the hoist, find and fix the leak if it's not too bad, then drive it with the knock until it blows up XD. He said he had an engine seize up once because he got in a hurry and forgot to fill it with oil during a change, and rocked it until it broke free, put oil in it and it ran for another 5 years. This should be interesting...

I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures when repairing stuff, but I'll do my best to keep you all updated.

 

No offense to your father-in-law, but that sounds like a waste of time and money.
I recall a saying from EMT school. "No sense in covering a bullet hole with a bandaid when all the damage is internal." The same logic would apply here.
Besides, if you did this, why would you want to worry every time you drove it if it would even make it to the end of the block.

 

No offense taken.

He's just suggesting it because he's had luck in the past with doing something similar and the vehicles continuing to run for years after. I'm just at a point where I really don't have the money to replace the entire engine or even get a different vehicle. So, I look at it as what have I got to lose. If it breaks down later, then I guess that's just the way it goes. If we get it running, maybe I'll get lucky and hit a deer with it and insurance will total it out! Haha.

I know some of you are shaking your head at me when I say we are going to try and salvage it, but I'm so strapped for cash I'm desperate to try and attempt the impossible. Plus, I see it as a learning experience. As for time, I have all kinds of time on my hands, especially this weekend. 3 days off for me!

 

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, keep us updated.

 

The advice MIGHT work - the father of a friend of mine was alleged to have driven a model T from Philly to Chicago with one of the main bearings replaced with leather from his belt. He's since passed and I cannot attest to the veracity of his tales, but knowing him it seemed plausible (if not likely). I drove an old SAAB 99 with wicked rod knock for a couple thousand miles (used straight 50 weight oil) until I was done building my new engine.
One suggestion - if you're strapped for cash don't let yourself get sucked into the "every cheap fix on the planet" trap that ends up costing more than a replacement engine - Cobalts and HHR's (to a lesser extent) are plentiful in the scrap yards - might be time to start trolling for one that was clobbered in the rear or rolled for a donor engine rather than spending time and energy on a bodge that's doomed to fail (eventually).

 

*Update*

We found the oil leak which was coming from the crank pulley seal. Put in a new seal, but never was able to try replacing the rod bearing. Had no choice but to drive the car to work as my wife needed her car that day. On the way home, I made the mistake of running my cruise control out of habit and while going up a big hill, it kicked it into high gear. Needless to say, it turned my slight knock into a never ending rattle.

Ordered a used engine from a salvage yard with 62k miles for $900 (cheapest around my area). Was going to put it in myself but so depressed about it that I don't even want to look at it. Gonna let a local guy do it and then decide whether to keep the thing or get rid of it just for the bad memories.

Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions and tips on the matter. Really do appreciate y'all.