:cries: (Left on side of road)

yellow2000S/R · 11-07-2009, 11:03 PM

So I got my 1996 16v Tracker back together after the head rebuild, PnP, .015 mill, new seals and a new valve. Replaced basically all the vac/egr sensors then got everything back together, realizing I had distributor out 180* so I fixed that then started right up. Let it idle some then shut it off, dropped trans pan and changed filter, gasket, and cleaned the pan (nothing really in it, nothing on magnet). Topped the radiator off then as well.

Started again, let it warm up, set timing (was about 2*, adjusted it to 5*) drove around some, came back adjusted idle to about 800.

Then the fun started:
Took it for another spin. Went down a dirt/stone road and about a mile after getting back onto blacktop roads I developed a tick. Seemed to be coming from the rear driverside of the engine, I'm hoping that it's just the exhaust mani finally cracked all the way and is leaking now.

Coming back home about 1.5 miles from home (25 mile round trip) it died on me. It cranks over, no weird sounds. It'll run at basically 100 rpm or something (doesnt really register on tach) but it stalls after 3-5 sec and no throttle input will raise it and makes it stall.

Think the timing belt skipped somehow. It's a new Gates belt and pulley. Set the tension with the spring then torqued everything down. FML

yellow2000S/R · 11-08-2009, 05:27 PM

They say pictures speak 1000 words... started a topic yesterday about a tick that developed and then died a mile later after a 20 mile drive.

To sum it up, I PnP it lightly (to clean up casting basically), then took it to a machine shop and dropped $216 to get milled .015, valves and seats cut, then cleaned. Once I got it back I looked it over, blew everything out to make sure it was clean, then reassembled with all new seals, sensors, vac lines, etc. Cam lobes are scorched next to it (dry/brown in color in top of pic) from no oil as well. Rest of head/caps are fine, just this one.

Going to talk to machine shop this week to see if they can offer some $/see what the'll do. Oil and filter were replaced, trans fluid/filter/seal replaced, antifreeze all replaced. Developed a tick after about 20 mile drive then died a mile later (1 mile from home).

deeznutts77 · 11-08-2009, 05:45 PM

man that sucks. i have a head and cam for our motors, if needes

yellow2000S/R · 11-08-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeznutts77

man that sucks. i have a head and cam for our motors, if needes

The way I look at it is this... all bearings are compromised from having metal shavings through entire engine now, regardless of the new filter.

Time for a junkyard engine or swap it to a 2.0 or something. Time for research and then if I go with a different engine, sell off all the sensors I just bought.

Richard Craneum · 11-09-2009, 07:17 AM

I am wondering....

Did you got the right head gasket? It just looks so bone dry or that is just after cleaning for the pics.

If that is the way it looks, you might had the wrong gasket and an Oil Gallery was covered, therefore, no oil to lubricate.

fordem · 11-09-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Craneum

I am wondering....

Did you got the right head gasket? It just looks so bone dry or that is just after cleaning for the pics.

If that is the way it looks, you might had the wrong gasket and a Oil Gallery was covered, therefore, no oil to lubricate.

That is my suspicion also - at least the blocked oil galley part of it.

yellow2000S/R · 11-09-2009, 11:14 PM

Went through pics earlier... I put the head gasket on backwards (rear at front, etc). Guess I shouldn't work on stuff when I'm about to pass out from being tired.

Stupid mistake.

Time for a trip to the u-pull and get a head for $60. I don't see any metal in the oil/pan so it seems it was getting nothing up top. Then take the "new" head to the machine shop after I PnP again, to get milled .015 and all valves/seats cut. Then a new head gasket and try again.

fuzzy1 · 11-09-2009, 11:33 PM

Ouch, major drag... sry to hear. Good to hear you're not letting it stop you though.

Bex · 11-10-2009, 03:37 AM

We ALL do stuff like that (then afterward wonder how we could be so stupid). But you'll never make that mistake again!! And lucky that bits of metal not everywhere, etc.

CodyJ · 11-10-2009, 08:31 PM

At first I was going to say test MAF, but after looking at the pictures... I would say engine rebuild didn't go as planned. Glad you found out what happen. I would flush the motor good with cheap oil/filter 2x when you put the other head on it! Gooldukc.