I knew my '94 Xtra cab had a warped head and/or a blown gasket and I had already planned to buy a new or reman head. It was consuming coolant and had a steady, loudish "tick tick tick" at the #3 cylinder, sounded like the exhaust valve since the noise was on that side. Did a valve adjustment but that had no effect on the noise.

On Friday night a couple of weeks ago, I went out to zip down to the store. Truck fired up then immediately died and it took about 20 seconds of cranking to start it. When it did start, it ran rough and had an extra "knock" going on. Well, I'll shut'er down right quick and went in to tell the wife I needed to order a new head. She said "Hell, no. You need a new truck" and we went off the next day and bought a pretty, red 2012 Tacoma.

Now, I'm pleased to have a new truck, but if my wife has her way, I can't really use it as a *truck* any time soon... it's too new and too pretty. Plus, Toyota trucks appear to have been taking growth hormones since I bought my old one in '94. The smallest equivalent to my old Xtra cab is the base Tacoma Access cab which, while it has the best fuel economy in the "small truck" category, gets worse mileage than my old one.

Anyway, I need to resurrect my old truck so I'll have one to do my dirty work. Does my new "knock" sound like a valve problem to you guys? I don't have any reason to think its a connecting rod, but it kinda has that sound. Might be wishful thinking, but it seems to be coming from the top end, not the bottom. I am planning to pull the head this next weekend, but do you guys have any advice/opinions in the meantime?

 

No way to know for sure until you pull it apart. Do yourself a favor & get an engine puller & stand. Northern tool has both for about $350.00 total.