[s-cars] update on not replacing rod bearings

[Mike Fitton]

So you guys successfully talked me out of doing the rod bearings 
preemptively.  Stories of 300k on factory bottom ends were encouraging.

Just went out and decided to get started on removing and replacing the 
windage tray and old oilpan gaskets.  Get the windage tray down and I 
find one of my main bearing cap bolts sticking down about 1cm.  It's 
hand-loose and I'm able to take it out easily.  Only the top few threads 
are engaged.  I'm assuming it bottomed out against the windage tray and 
that kept it from dropping down into the crankcase and allowing all hell 
to break loose.  I heart you, windage tray.

So wtf, says I.  I suppose my first step is to tighten it back up.  Get 
out trusty 17mm socket, one handed, down at the base.  Head twists right 
off.  WTF, says I.  There was just enough of the threaded shank sticking 
out for me to grab on with some locking pliers and get the rest of the 
bolt out.  But seriously, wtf?

Aside from all that, it looks just fine in there.  Almost no sludging in 
the oilpan and certainly no metal shavings.  Very clean, and I think a 
testament to long-term use of Mobil 1, admittedly at the low end of 
premium motor oils.

The bearing cap looks on straight and everything.  I can get a new 
factory bolt at the dealer for circa $2.30.  Do I just pop a new one 
back in and consider myself lucky to have peeked in there?  Or...or 
what?  I'm starting to really lose it and don't trust myself at all to 
make rational judgment calls when it comes to this car right now.

-Cheers!
Mike

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