long distance troubleshooting, Calgary

[3_puppies]

1988 62 3FE, series broke down in Calgary. He left MT and made it south of Calgary. Started not going over 30mph then got worse. He ended up leaving the rig and flying home to Alaska.
I was thinking fuel filter, I am going from what I am being told about the issue. The guy looking at it replaced the TPS, tested the AFM, tested a bunch of other sensors.
He states the timing is jumping around, thinks the timing chain is the problem, no timing chain on this engine. Trying to assist but I think the guy looking at it is not familiar at all with the 3FE.
no check engine light.
Anyone know of someone close by in or around Calgary, that is familiar with a 3FE?
The guy is suggesting an engine swap right now.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Any guys with gasser experience. Thoughts at this time are distributor. Need part number and availability 1988 FJ62. Are they common and still out there?

 

[Godwin]

Timing jumping around sounds like whoever is checking the timing doesn't know how to do it properly. If the E1 and TE1 are not jumped, IIRC, the timing will be seen to fluctuate.

 

[Mark W]

I am talking to the owner of this rig also. (A few minutes ago latest contact).

I will not slam the guy working on it, but it sounds like he has tried all sorts of stuff to figure out the problem and has come up dry. I Agree on the timing chain comments/timing jumping around comments... WTF? Anyway, it is not a Cruiser specific shop, so maybe a bit of slack can be cut.

I am hoping to find him a contact for professional services in the general area of Alberta that the vehicle is in. Offering suggestions is easy, but I can't even see, touch, hear, smell... or TASTE the rig over the phone. Much less fix it.

If you know a mechanic or a shop in the area, to recommend... of even kinda sorta close... PLEASE share.

FWIW, based on experience with these rigs, fuel filter is HIGH on my list too. Simple... and currently being overlooked it seems.


Mark...

 

[3_puppies]

I am talking to the owner of this rig also. (A few minutes ago latest contact).

I will not slam the guy working on it, but it sounds like he has tried all sorts of stuff to figure out the problem and has come up dry. I Agree on the timing chain comments/timing jumping around comments... WTF? Anyway, it is not a Cruiser specific shop, so maybe a bit of slack can be cut.

I am hoping to find him a contact for professional services in the general area of Alberta that the vehicle is in. Offering suggestions is easy, but I can't even see, touch, hear, smell... or TASTE the rig over the phone. Much less fix it.

If you know a mechanic or a shop in the area, to recommend... of even kinda sorta close... PLEASE share.

FWIW, based on experience with these rigs, fuel filter is HIGH on my list too. Simple... and currently being overlooked it seems.


Mark...

I told the owner about you, I'm glad he was able to get in touch with you.
no check engine light, so no codes being thrown.
I had another WAG about the loss of power, maybe cats getting plugged?? but I didn't think that would cause any issues with idling

 

[Mark W]

I told the owner about you, I'm glad he was able to get in touch with you.
no check engine light, so no codes being thrown.
I had another WAG about the loss of power, maybe cats getting plugged?? but I didn't think that would cause any issues with idling

I have been out of town/out of touch a lot lately, but yep, he found me.

I did encounter a clogged cat once years ago in a '60. That could definitely cause this sorts of problem. The two separate cats would be diff than the single or in line cats of the earlier and later models, but yep... a possibility for sure.

He mentioned that the mechanic working on the rig commented about "red hot" exhaust... that is making me consider cats for sure. To be honest, until you wrote this, my mind was not going that direction. I am a little embarrassed.

 

[3_puppies]

I am going to call him shortly.

 

[Mark W]

I told the owner about you, I'm glad he was able to get in touch with you.
no check engine light, so no codes being thrown.
I had another WAG about the loss of power, maybe cats getting plugged?? but I didn't think that would cause any issues with idling

Oh yeah... the owner gave me the impression over the phone, that it idled ok...

Mark...

 

[Mark W]

I am going to call him shortly.

I talked to him. sounds like that shop has pretty much given up on the job.

Mark...