3FE FJ62 Engine "backfire" ideas?!

[PolkLandbruiser]

God knows I couldnt go a month without having to wrench on my cruiser. I've got another problem, this time in the engine.

I had an "accident," more less an attempt on my life. Short story, the passenger side front tire (37X12.50 SSR) come completely off, breaking the studs, while driving through Lakeland after someone loosened the lugnuts off 3 of my wheels. Since then, I've had countless problems, this being the worst.

the engine started making a banging noise immediatley that only got progressively worse as time went. Once it was louder than my glass pak exhaust, i decided to track it down. It was coming from my intake, I guess "backfiring" from it. I removed the valve cover and to my dismay, two of my pushrods are bent, with one being completely apart from the "threaded bolt/nolt" that connects it to the valve rocker arm. I'm hoping my lifter isn't broker, but tell me if I'm wrong.

The rod was being thrown into the rocker arm, so that also worsened the noise I heard. I put it all back together, just removing the one rod all together. While I know not wise, it's still getting back and forth to work on 5 cylinders just fine, just pretty slow now. Do yall think the lifter is broke? If I replace the rods and adjust the valves to proper gap with a thickness gauge, will all be well?

Let me know if you've had a similar problem cuz I need to be prepared if the whole engine's gotta be stripped down the block (again!).
thanks

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

My only advice would be to remove the pushrod cover and inspect the lifters.
Im assuming you have a FSM it's not hard at all. Just make sure you have a new gasket to replace the old one. When I did mine the old gasket was like baked ceramic. Also one of the 10mm bolts is a mutha to get at not to bad getting off but a PITA to get back in. If your looking at the cover (passenger side) it's at the upper right corner. Directly under the A/C compressor bracket. My wife had to get her tiny hands in there to get that one started for me. Also be prepared to remove the Distributor. Good luck .

 

[Cruiserdrew]

My only advice would be to remove the pushrod cover and inspect the lifters.
Im assuming you have a FSM it's not hard at all. Just make sure you have a new gasket to replace the old one. When I did mine the old gasket was like baked ceramic. Also one of the 10mm bolts is a mutha to get at not to bad getting off but a PITA to get back in. If your looking at the cover (passenger side) it's at the upper right corner. Directly under the A/C compressor bracket. My wife had to get her tiny hands in there to get that one started for me. Also be prepared to remove the Distributor. Good luck .

I removed everything to replace the side cover-distributor, oil filter, all heater hoses, alternator and bracket, fuel lines, the works. It's still a sucky job, and 30 year old cork is hard as a rock and firmly glued to the engine block.

Your backfire is likely due to the fact that the bent pushrod cylinder is not burning its fuel charge, it gets dumped in the exhaust manifold and the excess air from the air pump burns it. At a minimum, those rods need to be replaced, but once repaired, I would do a compression test and make sure there is not a more major issue in that cylinder. Something caused those rods to bend, that is highly abnormal.

 

[PolkLandbruiser]

I did an almost full engine rebuild just two years ago on the ole 3FE and haven't driven it 10K miles yet! Was down to the cylinder head...had it resurfaced and the valves done at a local shop. All that is still looking A-OK. I know all about that one bolt on the pushrod cover though...

thanks for the wisdom...I'm going to remove the cover, inspect the lifter, and replace all the rods. Found em at cruiserparts.net for like $5 a piece.

question though...what do i need to look for on the lifters? a broken/fractured lifter? possibly just bent? I've tried studying this in the FSM and it doesn't quite prep me for it (the lifter part, not replacing the rods...no sweat).

Sad thing is I'm going to replace the 5spd in an old 92 shortbed 2wd ford f150 of my buddy's to drive around before I get to the cruiser. I know what needs to be done on the ford and i'm afraid once I rip into the 3FE, more problems will arise and it'll be down the block!

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

Not to sure about the lifters, I'd giv'm a visual inspection look for cracks, dings or any kind of tooling marks from a rod that may not have been riding in the center of the lifter. I've never had mine out but I would imagine that there tough little buggers and would be hard to damage. Keep us posted .

 

[PolkLandbruiser]

will do...i'm replacing a tranny in another truck to drive, then tearing into it. My gas sucks and it's even slower, but the 5 cylinders are still gettin me around! lol