Its all good man, A push rod is the name of the device that rides on the lifters that pushes the rocker arms that push the valves open on an engine. A connecting Rod is the name for the rod that connects the crankshaft to the piston ;-)

So now when you hear those people calling a connecting rod a push rod you can slap them in the face with your new found knowledge. A push rod is completely different than a connecting rod and they should NEVER use that term to describe it that way.

Depending on how far away from Indianapolis Indiana the original poster of this thread is, theres a guy selling a 04 90,000 mile 5.7 Hemi on craigslist for $1600 and he offers a month warranty on it. That'd be cheaper than a rebuild, I've had a friend buy an engine from him and he is legit.

 

I am Actually dealing with a very very similar noise and have been doing the research before tearing down the motor. I can post a video of the noise I have but it sounds almost the same, With a connecting rod though shouldn't there be evidence of shavings in the oil....loss of compression in the cylinder, or even a tone change when the truck is put in drive and put under load at a stop? Ive had mechanics from around the area look and listen to this noise and everyone is baffled. just sounds to tin sounding to be lower end but im just seeing what everyone else has experienced.

 

For what its worth on this older post, the sound in the video sounds like upper engine as in valve train to me. The 04s had well documented issues with valve springs collapsing and eventually dropping said valve into the motor destroying it.

Usually, when the these Hemi's hydrolock or experiences a bottom end issue, the result is a rod through the oil pan or out the side of the block.

Pulling the valve covers ASAP to visually inspect the valve train would be my first step given what I have seen and heard here.

Don