After a rebuild it takes a LOT of time to build oil pressure. The oil pump is empty, the oil filter is empty, the oil cooler is empty, the oil passages are empty... A fresh rebuild can be destroyed on the first startup! I pulled the glow plugs on my 7.3 after the rebuild and I cranked it over multiple times before I got oil pressure. Once it got oil throughout the engine it built up over 20 psi just cranking!
Another thing to watch out for is click type torque wrenches. They can go out of calibration. When tightening up my rod nuts, I thought something didn't feel right (calibrated arm
) I pulled out my old flex beam torque wrench and found the click type one was out by over 20 ft lbs!
The click type torque wrench can't just be tossed into the tool box after the job. It must be relieved, but stored with some tension on it. Typically 10 -20 ft lbs.
As for going through rods, the engines that I have performed autopsies on were either severely used or abused. These are damn tough engines! I drove my 7.3 for over 300 km after it over heated and blew a head gasket.
It actually cracked the head! I must say I have a lot of respect for these engines.
Too much timing (advance) is also very ******* the wrist pin bushings and rod bearings.
All that being said, it still sucks that your engine threw a rod.