Rod Bearing Replacement?

I have 410k miles on the ol 4.0 in my 2010, and she has begun to use some oil. Due to my negligence, we got pretty low on oil a few weeks ago toward the end of the oil change cycle, and I believe I now have a rod knocking. It's not painfully loud knocking, but it's definitely there, and a Rod bearing is my best guess what's causing it.

Question is, if I pull the oil pan and see a worn / bad bearing, but the crank looks good, can I simply replace main bearings / rod bearings in this engine? Has anyone done this? I did some searching, couldn't find anyone talking about it - everywhere said a knocking rod is an engine out repair. But I've done this in my old tractor and it was all good. Is there something inherently different about how this engine is made, that this absolutely won't work?

At 410k miles, I don't think I'll invest in an engine out / engine swap repair for it. But I will put new main bearings in if I can do it with the engine in, and it'll get me another 50k miles. Let me know your thoughts!


- Backer

 

Have you accomplished the project of changing your bearing out? Any feedback because I think my 05 taco prerunner is having the same proble.