Failure of one journal could be due to a number of things, incorrect torque settings, insufficient lubrication when installed, poor bearing 'crush' from the rod eye, excessive wear on the journals (this would be evident on the other journals as well), so many different things could have gone wrong. I remember when fitting my own bearings, I had done one or two and as tightening another pair of the (new) rod bolts, and I got a 'feeling' about the amount of effort I was applying to bring the torque wrench to 'click', I loosened the bolt and rechecked the torque wrench setting, looked ok. Unwound and reset the wrench and tried again, somehow it did not feel 'right'. I stopped and after some running around managed to borrow another wrench, sure enough the tool had failed mid way during the install!!
If I had been inexperienced then I have no doubt, I would have kept applying pressure waiting for the wrench to click and instead the bolt would have broke/stripped.
You are lucky though, many owners would have ignored the noise and the result is the block is invariably wrecked as the rod breaks through the side casting. Depending on your finances then a second hand engine (with the bearings replaced) still may be the way to go. I note your comments about the valves being hit but no damage, that is very rare indeed.
regards
Dave
If I had been inexperienced then I have no doubt, I would have kept applying pressure waiting for the wrench to click and instead the bolt would have broke/stripped.
You are lucky though, many owners would have ignored the noise and the result is the block is invariably wrecked as the rod breaks through the side casting. Depending on your finances then a second hand engine (with the bearings replaced) still may be the way to go. I note your comments about the valves being hit but no damage, that is very rare indeed.
regards
Dave