Hey guys, I have a 2wd 94 extended cab with an ohv 4.0 and an a4ld. I'm just wondering if it's possible to do rod bearings with the engine in the truck. Its got 195k miles and runs great, no noises or anything, but on the last oil change there was a bit more metal on the plug than I liked to see. As I said it runs fine, but I want it to last as long as possible because I'm a broke high schooler. Any help is appreciated, thanks

 

You could do IF(big if) you could get the oil pan off, which is not likely

Problem is the oil pump and pickup inside the oil pan
The rear of the pan needs to drop down enough to clear the transmission, and then the front needs to drop down enough to clear the oil pickup

It is a 2WD so there is a bit more room than 4x4, but not sure there would be clearance

My 1994 4.0l OHV is past 400k with original main and rod bearings, so they did build them well, and I don't recall ever reading about spun main or knocking rod bearing on a 4.0l OHV, I am sure it has happen just not at all common

The 4.0l OHV can get a leaking rear main seal, have read about that, and you need to pull the transmission to access it, then it would be easy to drop the pan, so maybe wait a bit

 

I don't think metal on the drain plug is an indicator of bad rod bearings. They would have to be worn through all non-magnetic metal for that to happen. By then you would have some pretty bad knocking going on and you would have oil pressure problems.

I would be looking at wear on things like cam, lifters, timing chain, sprockets, etc.