so i didint quite know where to put this so i put it here, mods you can move if you like..

like the title says ive been on the search for a toy ever since i sold my S.A.S 86 last year, ive got about 2k to spend so ive been looking in the 1k range for a weekend wheeler it doesnt have to be perfect cuz its prolly going to get cut and bashed anyway and still have 1k to put into it for small mods

but everything ive been finding either has a blown motor, no title, or they want WAYY to much...

but alas i found an 85 SR5 22re 4x4 completly stock and in really good shape for 1600 not too bad a slight bit above my price range but doable, only problem is it has a really bad top end knock and not alot of power...


i went and looked at it and it starts off starting fluid but once its running it idles on its own, but you give it any gas and it has a rediculous knock and no power, and if you goose it enough it sounds like exhaust is poping in the manifold..

heres the actual questions...

u guys think the knock is possibly timing chain slap??? is it that loud?? ive replaced my timing chain and guides and all that on my 86 but my guides werent broken i just had a bad tensioner

and the poping in the exhaust, could the chain be streched enough to still have the exhaust valves open when the cylinder fires? again mine wasnt that bad

i told the guy no but im seriously thinking of picking it up...

what do you guys think?

 

Plan on rebuilding the engine worst case, so I would offer no more than 1k if everything else was decent

 

i talked him down a little but he wont go any lower than 1600, he wants 1800...if its just timing chain maybe broken valve spring thats doable but i really dont want to buy a truck to put a motor in it

 

i highly doubt its a timing chain if its a knock,not a tick.i agree with crawler.is it a SAS or IFS?

 

its an 85 solid axle, i have no probs SASing another rig.....just would rather not have to and yeah its an acceleration knock, soon as you race the motor its knockin but it sounds like its coming from the top not underneaith so i dunno..

might just say screw it and buy a 76 2wd and sas that lol

 

While it's easier to buy the 85, it would be sick to have a SAS'd pre-79 rig! My vote will be for the 76 build!

 

yeah i actually bought one when i was younger (perfectly fine truck for 500) and raped the motor out of it to put in my 87 (temp) ohhh how much i wish i could kick my own arse

only prob with the 76 is no title....anybody got a spare title n vins

 

since we cannot hear the noise, its hard to tell if its a mechanic sound ( rod knock , piston slap etc) or a fuel or ignition knock.

from what you describe it sounds to me like a fuel problem.
a bad timming chain is most noticable on start up. you will hear a rattling sound until the engine builds oil pressure and tightens the chain.

here is what i would do.

check fuel pressure, . or at least the regulator for leaks, fuel filter etc
check the timming with a light if its out i would look into why.
I would pull the cap , rotor, plugs and wires off and inspect for worn or damaged parts.
a compression test is always a good thing
if all that is ok i would pull the valve cover. with it off i would verify the timming is correct, and also look for any broken valve springs etc. also a good time to check the valve adjustment.

that is what i would start with. if the frame is solid that thing would be sold already up here in canada. so i would buy it thinking it needed an engine...