That funny rattle noise...

On a recent 3.5 hr trip to meet our new grandson, we had a small technical problem with the Subaru.
We were coming down from McDonald Pass, only 4-5 miles from the hospital.
As we came off the mountain and onto the flats in the outskirts of Helena, Mt the car started making a new noise...
Only when you let off the throttle, a noticeable rattle which would quit if you stepped on the throttle...
Liz is looking at me with questions in her eyes, and I inform her that the engine is about to "Throw a Rod"...
No knowing what this means, she is even more worried...
I explain, it is either going to explode through the block, throwing oil and water with lots of steam (very dramatic), or it will simply lock up with no excitement.
The Subaru gods were with us, and the motor simply stopped turning. Being a stick shift car, she just rolled into a convenient dirt parking lot.

Hmmm, not what we planned on for our day!
A phone call to our son led to Liz being taken to see the new baby.
I stayed with the car waiting for AAA to arrive.  
I rode in the tow truck to Missoula, and Liz drove the son's car to pick me up.
The following morning, I took a truck and trailer down to Missoula to bring Subi home.

Yesterday, I finished disassembling the motor.
For your viewing pleasure, the remains of a piston and connecting rod.

What caused this to happen?
Rod bearing failure. The rattle we heard was after the rod bearing disintegrated, the connecting rod now had 1/8" of unwanted clearance between it and the crankshaft... not a good thing at 3500 RPM's, but no worries, as it will only last a few moments...

A new short block is being assembled, and the needed parts are in the mail.
Subi should be back on the road in about a week.
Perhaps, I'll take her on a test drive over Macdonald Pass and go see my new grandson!

Ouch!
Could have been worse...how's the head look?

I swapped out one valve, but I plan to put both heads on the new block.

Sorry your truck let you down on such an important day. Did you actually get a chance to even see the wee boy?

Congratulations Grand-dad!

No, not yet, but I will soon.
Thank you. This is number five, grandbaby.
He is special, though, as his sister is 22 years old!
Bill had a vasectomy after his daughter was born.
His new wife is in her late twenties... it seems things grew back together.
The doctor said his sperm count was like a twenty year olds!
So this little boy really wanted to be here!
At least his grandpa Tom can get the car fixed and go meet him!