What will happen with a broken rod?

[WishIHad$$$]

Hey guys, my g/f is trying to get her first car, and there is an '86 firebird for sale that she can get for $500. it has 99k on the engine, an A4 2.8L v6. The body looks great (just dirty) and the interior is not too shabby at all.

The only problem is, the engine has a knock which 2 different people say sounds like a rod. If a pushrod is broken, what will happen to the engine? The camshaft won't be able to open the intake/exhaust on that one cylinder? Now she doesn't want the car just because she thinks the car will break down on her. I think you all know how cheap engines are for 3rd gens (V6 or V8) and I really don't want her to save and spend ~$2000 on the same car she could get for $500 with some work.

So would a broken rod cause her to break down? Or would it just knock and be operating on 5/6 cylinders?

[3.4 slow to go]

It could eventually break up & then you'll have metal chunks knocking around the rotating assymbly. ....& the IM stuff ;)

[WishIHad$$$]

Yea I checked on it, it does damage to the crankshaft as well I think.

...Still....$500 and all it needs is an engine.....

[Jerriko]

?
When someone tells me that 'it sounds like a rod', I always think of piston rods, not push rods. A pushrod will be any easy thing to fix as long as the motor hasn't been run that long in that condition regardless if its an intake or exhaust. A piston rod make noise would be from the bearing going out. That could require replacing the bearings, and maybe the rod and crank. Much more work and money. You didn't say in your post what kind of rod these other people said it was. Either way, get the car and install a different engine.

[FbodTrek]

Yup, connecting rod. Either way, another 400-500 bucks and you can throw just about any of the 60* V6 motors in its place (2.8L 3.1L 3.4L)

[WishIHad$$$]

Thanks guys, you are right it wasn't a pushrod. It has a 2.8L transmission in there, I'd have to see about what would bolt up to it and what wouldn't.