This is an indicator that your timing is off. Have you tried to time it?

Remove #1 plug. Crank over engine until #1 piston is at TDC ON the compression stroke (yes, that DOES matter!)

Take out the distributor, remove cap, align rotor to #1 spark wire...put dizzy back in.

If all is well, it will fire up.


Also, if your not 100% sure its getting gas, just pour some down the carb while its cranking.

Good luck!

 

Yep, I have tried to time it probably 20 times over the past week with no luck whatsoever. I'm beginning to think I have valve problems which would explain the air coming back through the intake and carb. Only thing left to do is pull the head and find out I guess.

 

Hmm, weird. Well, I wish you the best of luck! And report back to us what you find!

 

Thanks and definitely will do!

 

Mystery solved! YAY! now Siiigh

Blown head gasket and bent valve. Not sure what I'll do at this point. Part of me wants to fix it and part of me wants to just start parting the truck out. No telling what else is messed up in there or what caused the bent valve.

 

How many miles on it? If you're handy enough, just rebuild the engine...I mean you could find a truck that's rebuilt already, but for the price...these trucks are old. If you're picking one up (and for cheap) this kind of stuff is kind of expected and part of the whole thing...

 

400,000+ miles on the truck is what the odometer shows. Who really knows...


Update:

I decided to tackle the issues because what better way to learn and appreciate your vehicle than gettin dirty?

Spoke to Ted with Engnbldr, he really hooked me up on this one and I really have to thank him for that!
Ordered the top end rebuild kit, timing chain kit w/ metal guides, and new valves from him. Should be here next week.

I'll tear it all down this weekend and have the head decked while I'm waiting for it to get here. Man I feel poor now.
Crossing my fingers, this will be a first for me! I also want to thank everyone who has thrown out ideas and tried to point me in the right direction!

 

Not the master kit? Might as well rebuild the bottom end, too. Anyway, good to hear! It is a great way to learn, and you'll feel really good about the truck once it's up & running.

 

I thought about it but I'm new to this and don't have an engine hoist or stand. The pistons look pretty good so I'm gonna risk it and try to just take the "easy" way out.

I'm going to try to do a write-up on the entire process as well.

 

When the head is in the machine shop, you may want them to re-cut the valve seats. You can check the valve guides by sliding the new (or old) valve in the guide, and then try wiggling it around. If there as any play, it's probably a good idea to get new guides. I figure that if you are going to take the time to fix it, do it right so you don't have to take it back to the machine shop. I work at a machine shop so if you've got any questions I would be happy to answer the questions to the best of my ability! Good luck, I'm still trying to work out all the bugs in my 85 4runner. Just never ends.

EDIT: More than likely your block is okay, just make sure to get the engine head a good working over and you should be fine.

 

Well I'm not sure. Tell me what you think:

Note:
I never introduced any liquids to the cylinders.
It's not fuel.
It's not oil.
The pistons are rusting, scorched, and deformed in several spots.
The rings are disintegrating.
The valves were alright, but pretty nasty.
Valve seats were off.
Rockers were worn down in ways never known to man.
Several head bolts were torqued...well they weren't tight at all really.
The list goes on....
Poor engine.

 

haha MAN if that thing could talk!

It'll probably burn a little oil, but as long as there was some in there to begin with the bearings are probably fine.

If not, atleast the head will be fixed! THen you just gotta get a new bottom end. Junkayrds man, I'm tellin ya! Most of these things are in there because of the top end or crappy automatic trannies. And for some reason, all of these trucks suffer front end damage. Never got that... no such luck in finding a decent used bumper for these things.

 

Haha, if only! Poor little guys seen a rough life.

I'm going junkin' this weekend to try and find a new bottom end. If I can't find anything I like or want to remove myself, I'm going to just have it bored over and honed. Completely undecided right now though.

Funny you say that because I hadn't noticed until reading your post. The two I've owned both had front end damage, and most of the ones i see in yards and running around have front end damage or missing bumpers. That's awesome! I've got a buddy with an old cj-2a. It has a steel front bumper - he calls it his nature break.

Maybe I should just start a buildup thread for this little guy. Guess I'll do that this weekend.


I leave you all with the nature break: