Question for David P. and other diesel experts

I have a 1973 MF135 diesel with the AD3-152. I bought it 13 years ago with about 200 hours on an engine overhaul. I noticed it smoked some then, but it started immediately and had good power. It still starts immediately but has progressively gotten much worse with oil smoke to the point I had to do something. Now the motor was overhauled by a local car mechanic and not a diesel mechanic. In talking to other locals in the area I found that he is cheap but not a good mechanic. The fact that it started and ran good led me to suspect he didn't get the oil rings in correctly as to why it had so much oil smoke. Anyway, I torn into it this week and found that there was a lot of things done wrong such as the front crankshaft oil seal in backwards and the rods put on the wrong side of the crankshaft. What is worrying me is that the rear thrust washers were laying in the oil pan and the front ones were in place but pretty worn and ridged. In the pictures you can see how worn the crank is where the washers run and the rear surface of the rear main bearing looks worn to the point that I wonder if the tab on the thrust washer can engage it. There is another picture of the front counterweight that was worn down because the crankshaft was going to far forwards. Do you think the rear main bearing and counterweight are still okay to use? The last picture is of he piston oil rings. They were so tight that they were not able to move freely. The one ring land has three rings over the top of the spacer spring but I thought there was only supposed to be two. So do you think my crankshaft is ruined? If one ruins a main bearing cap does one have to find a good used one and line bore the main bearing caps?

Block, cap, and crank all don't look good to me. Also noticed the third groove ring segments are installed wrong..

Unfortunately your crank is toast, the block is toast too, but being a 1973 build, I would imagine that it has a lip type rear seal? Useable engine blocks are easier to find for these later engines. As dieseltech has said the segmented third rings have been fitted incorrectly, which may or may not account for some of the oil smoke as well but there looks to be a lot of top ring land wear too. New compression rings fitted to badly worn piston ring lands are prone to breakage. The segmented rings are supposed to be "firm" in their respective grooves, as the tension between each ring is what maintains good cylinder wall contact. I'd be looking at a 2nd hand runner as a replacement if the budget is tight, or rebuilding with another block, crank and a rebuild kit. Just my 2 cents worth, Evan.

I wouldn't use any of it, better off with a good short block from someone reputable.

I can't believe that any mechanic with an ounce of sense could have got it so wrong. Did he work on it in the dark???? My learned colleagues have said it all any I can only agree with them. Try and find a short or complete engine and if it needs work you should now be able to tackle it yourself or find someone who can. Remember we are here to talk you through any problems.
DavidP, South Wales

I just installed a new engine in my 245, it had similar and probably worse damage due to the thrust washers getting chewed up. It is possible at least for the thrust washers that some of the damage was already there. The mistake would have come from someone putting new thrust bearings on a worn surface like that, they would quickly work their way out.

My engine ran perfect but was losing oil pressure after running awhile . I was pulling the pan to check some things and found a big mess of bearing shavings and pieces. The mains, rods looked great, it was all thrust bearing material. I still don't know why this engine lost oil pressure but at that point I was done with looking, beyond repair.