Shall I do the big end shells at the same time?

I have a leaking oil pan gasket and will change as soon as I've done my top end head gaskets. As the sumps comig off i was thinking of changing the big ends. Its not knocking but the shells are so cheap its seams a good oportunity to change them. Its done 120k and has been well looked after. Whats the fors and no's ob this ?

Just replacing the big ends is only half the job..what about the mains??
If it's running quiet, leave well alone. If you really want to see what the condition of the big ends are like, just remove a few end caps..remember where they came from and which way round they fit, and have a look at the shells. Don't remove the shell from the cap.
Job worth doing is to clean the strainer out.

Big ends mean engine out which is staying put at the moment (I hope when I find a gasket and not a liner problem ). Are te rods stamped so they go on the right way ?

When you hav ethe sump off

strainer worth cleaning out and draining the sump out

( check out the pics in my album of the one that i have in bits at the minute )

If you are dead set on doing the job

top tip is to dot punch the number of the cylinder on the end cap, just in case they get moved dislodged

or muddled up by your helpful mate

But have to agree with irishrover, dont touch it if it is running ok

Thanks for the top tip on the strainer. Im going to give them a good fiddle so feel ny play in any of them. Is there any rods that fail more than others ?

Provided the engine has regular oil changes they are bomb proof as far as the bottom end and pistons go.You shouldn't be able to detect any play. If the bearings were on the way out they would be knocking and the oil pressure would drop. There are no particular big ends that are prone to going, generally they all go together plus the mains as a result of all the metallic crap which would be floating around.

If it aint broke...don't fix it.