Padlocknm

Alright so here's where it starts-
A month ago I bought this truck.
I bought it and it was running ok, no bad noises. 361k on odometer and 61k on a rebuild, I was told. I drove it about 25 miles home and man was it running rough. Sounded to be missing a spark plug.
About 3 miles from home a noise developed. Loud coming from the top front of the motor. I got it home and parked it. My 'mechanic' told me it was more than likely lifter noises (valve and rocker the idiot meant) (keep in mind I'm 19 and this 'mechanic' was supposed to be a close family friend.) I went on to give it a complete tune up oil change and valve adjustment. Low and behold the noise never went away. I called my 'mechanic' friend back and as he was on his way over I noticed the driver side timing chain tensioner was broken. Not all the way but enough to be causing the noise. My mechanic then told me not to worry and it was just going to be a loud noise, it wouldn't hurt anything. My DUMBASS believed him and started her up and took it for a test drive. Less than a mile down the road she dies, I open oil filler cap and smoke is coming out.

I did try to crank by hand***

Suggestions on where to start?
Is the engine itself still good? I don't think it even got time enough running to overheat. I'm pretty mechanically inclined... Is a rebuild possible again? Is it logical for me myself to try? I've been looking at a few threads over the weeks but I haven't heard of anyone dumb enough to run it without a tensioner. What more than likely went wrong?

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Most likely you have a good idea where to look .

Timing Chain came off or it broke one of the gears now a a piece is keeping things from moving .

In any case things need to come apart.

It appears your family friend had no idea about your engine it happens

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

My guess is the chain broke and has bound up at the bottom of the timing chain cover. I would pull the valve cover off and see what it looks like.

Padlocknm

I need to get my engine to TDC... And if I don't how would I put this all back together?

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Why at this time do you feel the need to set the engine at TDC ???

I thought it was Seized ??

Did we miss something here ??

Like you found the trouble and now Have all the new parts ??

Padlocknm

Sorry for being confusing..
Every thread I've read says when replacing timing chain, TDC...
So what I just rip it apart? I need advise:

millball

You do not need it set to any particular position in order to take it apart.

Only important when reassembling.

No worries.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I am sorry if this engine was alleged to have been rebuilt ??

It sounds like someone dumped this problem child or they were just really clueless!!!

See for whatever reason rebuilt seems to be a catch all phrase for any work done to the engine .

Could be the valve cover and oil pan gaskets were changed good enough to call it rebuilt.

Your kinda stuck between a rock and even bigger rock.

This is the thing you really don`t know what you have till things are pulled apart.

If the timing chain or parts failed after 60,000 miles what else is wrong pray tell??I would hate to see you spend $$$ repairing the timing chain to find the rest of the engine in poor shape.

Pull this engine find a good used one ??

Rebuild this one so you know what you have?

Is this a project vehicle so it can sit for some time or do you need it up and running .

Find some local help that lives the Toyota Life!!

If you were at all Close to me I would be glad to help in person.

Padlocknm

Alright here's the update-
I've got everything ripped off down to the TC cover
It is a project of sorts, it has no need to be up and running as I have 2 other beaters for me and the wife.
Can I do a rebuild while it's still in the bay or is it not worth it? Should I just pull it? I don't want to buy something used I would much rather put my own time an the same amount of money in this engine- I'll get much better return that way.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

You just have the parts off the engine that you need to remove to look at the real problem.

Your next step is to pull the bottom pulley The one on the crank shaft off

Your the oneon the scene doing the job .

It is your call just what your going to do.

Best of luck

Padlocknm

Well my question is, for intents of doing a rebuild would it be best to pull it?

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Yes pull the engine !!!

while it can be done in frame .

If the block is perfect it is so very frustrating removing pistons with the engine block in the truck .

Installing the crank in frame is also very interesting at least 2 people

Seems unless I missed something your not sure just what is wrong ??

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Just curious how much you paid?

Hard to take a block to a machine shop with it in a vehicle

nbl300

iTrader: (1)

if i was in this situation i would take the timing chain cover off un rathel the chain if that is realy the problem if it was i would then pull the head just to be safe to see if theres any bent valves if not run it. but replace the chain of course. while you have the head off check the cylinder walls for scoring this would give a good indication if the engine is or was starved of oil. while you ve got the timing cover off take the oil pan off look for any goodies in the pan and take off a rod bearing cap or all 4 and check the bearing if theyre not worn out and the cylinder walls arent to badly scored not really a need for a rebuild unless it smoked like hell. or you could just buy a parts yota and get the motor out of it if your going to do the timing chain you are capable of swapping a motor.

Padlocknm

About 1,000$ I paid.
I know I don't know the problem but won't a rebuild more than likely fix it?

Padlocknm

I don't want to sound like an idiot.. I'm just here asking questions

donomite49

Instead of taking the motor apart and finding out what's wrong with it and making a game plan on what is best to do.
You can talk about it till the end of time or you can find out where your at.
..

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

I deleted your other thread for you. Just by chance it is a great motor that just had a broken timing chain and you did a complete rebuild on it, you just wasted about another $1000 on it plus the skills, tools, shop, and time to do it. That is about what you will have into it doing yourself. If you are going to have it done, the cost just went up dramatically.

First I would try to see what is binding it up. Pull the valve cover and see if the chain is at the bottom or holding it from rotating. If it isn't the chain, put a wrench on the crankshaft and try rotating it backwards and see if it will move.

I had a truck with a blown head gasket and it filled #4 cylinder with antifreeze. Once I found out the timing chain was not broken and the motor would turn in reverse, I pulled the spark plugs and rotated the motor and it blew the liquid out and freed the motor. It need a head gasket which isn't bad to do and lot cheaper then a complete rebuild. You need to find out what is binding it up.

Padlocknm

Terry I pulled VC and chain is in tact. I'm literally a few bolts away from pulling TC cover but it's snowing here in SW Colorado so progress is slow.
I'll update once I pull cover. Also thanks for deleting that thread for me my phone sucks and I got frustrated while trying.

RJR

First thing you should have done is pull all of the spark plugs. That's your best easy view into the internals of the engine, and they can tell you a lot about health. Next pull the valve cover and look at the camshaft and valve train.

Based on your symptoms, I would be looking for:
- Hydrolock due to a failed head gasket. Pulling the plugs will allow the water to escape and the engine should rotate again.
- A swallowed valve that has dropped into a cylinder due to a failed keeper. You should be able to determine that by looking at the camshaft and valves with the valve cover off.

Either way, the next step after that will probably be to pull the head. You'll know a lot more once you do that.