I am in a PICKLE!! 3FE Problem...

[Skitz]

I NEED the 3FE GAWDs here:


I just relocated from Texas to Connecticut for work and the transport truck dropped off my trucks this past weekend.

I have a 91 FJ80 3FE and I noticed it had a radiator leak. Since I'm living out of a hotel for the next 2 months, I have no tools/garage. I decided to drop it off at a random local shop to swap/repair the radiator.

The next day I get a call from the shop and they think something let loose on the engine during a test drive. They believe the CAM isn't spinning from opening the oil cap seeing nothing moving (assuming lifters or pushrods?). I asked them them pull the distributor and crank it, the CAM should be plenty exposed to see it. (I'm waiting to hear back on that)

HOWEVER, the shop is not comfortable working on this motor, they want to do more research and get back to me in a few days to see what they can do. Which is cool, I appreciate the honesty from the shop. The owner seems like a good guy from conversation.

MY GUESS is that the CAM Gear popped. When I had the engine rebuilt, I remember thinking that the CAM gear was plastic (not 100% sure) but the only way to check is to pull off the entire front end of the truck to get the timing cover... An added bonus is I believe the CAM Gear is pressed onto the CAM and I would have to pull the engine?.....

I would appreciate any other ideas?!?!

 

[maxamillion2345]

This is a pretty simple engine. If they can't figure it out... take it elsewhere. That's my .02 anyway.

The cam gear is steel. The valve cover is pretty easy to pull to verify if your rockers are indeed not moving.

I don't have a cam or timing gears but I do have a set of rockers/push rods if needed, just FYI.

Also, from personal experience, if you do end up doing any sort of engine work and you haven't fixed that oil galley plug in the head yet, go ahead and do so... My 3FE toasted all the rod bearings that way, but good for me because I got it cheap.

 

[Skitz]

I found this pic... My mind is playing games on me... I see both Plastic and Steel!?

 

[Alleycats]

What'd they do, run it without coolant or oil? Pretty hard to hurt a 3FE.

 

[maxamillion2345]

My bad, you're right, they are plastic. So verify if it's turning, if not that gear is probably shredded, begs the question why though? Check the oil squirter if you pull it down. And I do believe it's pressed on but I've been wrong before LOL.

You can get an aftermarket steel gear.

The 3fe repair manual doesn't talk about it but I'm pretty certain it's pressed on.

 

[Skitz]

I have no idea why it would of shredded (assuming it did)... I wish I was in the truck when it happened...

Go in for a radiator and come out with alot more....

 

[maxamillion2345]

Chains can break too - I've seen plenty, especially in SMC's. Even in 3FE's, which are gear driven, a known failure is where the fibre center section separates from the metal gear portion. For all these reasons, a non-interference design is superior in case of catastrophic failure. The downside is (typically) lower performance for the same cubic inch displacement.

.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Yeah, sorry man. Wish I would have kept a few more things off my engine before scrapping it. I'd have sold you a cam and gear real cheap. I found quite a few threads around mud talking about 3fe cams/gears and 2f. Search google for 3fe camshaft timing gear and you'll get all sorts of stuff.

 

[CJF]

Have YOU gone and looked at it?

I don't care how honest they seem, I would NOT trust them after getting a call like that. Do NOT assume they have even a clue what is (or isn't) wrong with it.

 

[CJF]

I would try to get in touch with some local MUDders asap.

 

[Golgo13]

if you need it, @69LC may have an engine for you...

 

[TrickyT]

It's extremely rare for the cam gear to go bad. So it's much more likely something else is wrong with this 3FE. You don't have to take much apart to do a basic assessment. For example, you can remove the distributor cap and see if the distributor is rotating. You can pull the spark plugs and see if the pistons are moving. There have been some bizarre engine failures documented here on mud over the years -- like the guy whose crankshaft broke in half leaving him with only three pistons that moved. I hope it's nothing too serious. And kind of suspicious that it happened during a test drive after a simple radiator replacement.

 

[Skitz]

Thanks for the awesome advice... Unfortunately I've been working late and haven't been able to get my nose under the hood...

I did find some local Cruiser guys and they gave me some good contacts... This weekend I should figure out what's going on...

 

[jonheld]

x2 what Tom said. "Something let go"? C'mon now. Does it crank? Is there fire? Is there fuel? Give me something to work with.

 

[Skitz]

It turns out it was the CAM Gear

 

[OGBeno]

Get a steel 2F cam gear. Direct fit.

 

[PZLCruiser]

Damn... sorry to hear about the bad timing with the truck and all. Welcome to CT by the way. Im in the middletown area but cant offer much help with the 3FE unfortunately. Never worked on one. Where about are you located?

 

[TrickyT]

Bummer. That gear is pressed on and won't be easy to replace. I wonder if something else didn't cause that breakage. Also, that may not be a Toyota OEM gear, as it looks a little different than this known-to-be-OEM gear:

 

[Skitz]

Damn... sorry to hear about the bad timing with the truck and all. Welcome to CT by the way. Im in the middletown area but cant offer much help with the 3FE unfortunately. Never worked on one. Where about are you located?

Thanks... I am in Shelton CT... I was able to get a good local shop to help me out while I'm relocating. Luckily its not my daily driver...

 

[PZLCruiser]

Yah nice to have a back up vehicle in times like this. Shelton is a nice part of the state, hop and a skip from the back woods to the city. Anyways, hope things work out and welcome to CT!