[Gearhead999]

Is the oil coming through the crank and getting to #1 bearing?? How about the pump?? Good shape??

Weld the rod cap on !!!!!! You have got to be kidding....right. The heat, etc has to be a problem all over that procedure.

What about end play??

If everything checks OK. Pull the oil pan, pull the oil pump out, pressurize some motor oil in a cylinder. Take the pressurized oil and direct it to the port that goes to the oil pump and pump the pressurized oil up into the engine and see what's going on.

You have an oil problem....and for some reason you're not getting enough oil to #1.