Rough Running 60

[TRDWrestler]

My son is a new owner of a 1986 FJ60, it is running rough and we need some direction. The first two cylinders (front to back) are not firing...I can pull the plug on both of these, no change in the idle or the way it runs.
Plugs have been changed, wires distributor, and rotor.
All vacume lines have been replaced.
Did a compression test on all 6 cyc, 138 being the lowest, 150 being the higest (dry), put alittle oil in and compression went up 5-8 lbs on all. Leads me away from a valve leak...
PO installed a header, disconnected smog pump (still in place)
I'm leaning towards a leak in the manifold...help!

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Any chance you have those two wires switched backwards? John

 

[NocalFJ60]

What kind of plug wires did you use? Make sure the are pushed on all the way. Has it ran right since you replaced the vacuum lines?

 

[brett76]

What kind of plug wires did you use? Make sure the are pushed on all the way. Has it ran right since you replaced the vacuum lines?

no doubt. getting these plug wires on can be a bitch.

 

[TRDWrestler]

I have Toyota manuals, so I've double checked firing order, and the position of the wires. I used a timing light to check firing of these two wires coming off the distributor, both light up. When the plug wire is up close to the plug you can here the spark "snapping" as the spark hits the plug tip. I'm confident it is getting fire...
This condition has existed since purchase, the vacume line change out was just one of the items we addressed because of this and because they were original and needed it.
Thanks for the response...keep it coming !

 

[NocalFJ60]

Change the plugs on the first 2 cylinders back to some old ones or new ones. If you can't see the tip, it could be a bad plug and grounding out instead instead of arching at the end of a plug. What kind of plugs?

 

[TRDWrestler]

Plugs are ND,
and I already did the swap with other known good plugs.
Thanks NoCal Keep it coming, I don't mind the questions...

 

[Bookseeb]

tightening coil connections or could be something whithin the distributor itself.

 

[hank14]

Did you do the distributor replacement yourself? OEM parts?
Are you assuming the 2 cylinders are not firing because it doesn't run any different with the plugs pulled?
Can you see spark at the electrode when the engine is cranked?
I would be suspicious of vacuum and emissions system problems. I bought my 60 in what I considered to be excellent shape, and it's got a ton of things I need to do to it.
I had to bypass the EGR to get it to consistently
run right.
Where in TX are you located? There may be a good cruiser resource nearby.

 

[TRDWrestler]

Hank14, Bookseeb,

Original OEM Toyota Dist.
The plug has fire at the electrodes,
These two plugs are black, not wet, not oil fouled,
black from rich fuel mix and or incomplete combustion...
I viewed an old thread on this web site about vacume, I have
a guage and did check it at idle, running about 18-20 hg??
I can pull any of the other wires off their plugs and you can
tell the engine is missing, these two pulled off together don't make
any change at all...
There is an exhaust leak at the head/manifold that we will be
fixing real soon, this leak is at the opposite end of the block, thought'
I would mention it...

 

[NocalFJ60]

Did the cruiser run fine when you bought it or did you buy it like this? Have you checked the timing and adjust it so the BB is on the pointer. Sounds like you are getting a spark but there is nothing there to use it. You could pull the distributor and use the manual to check and make sure it was installed right. I think it is your timing.

 

[CruisinMT]

also check you plug gaps, they aren't always correct right out of the box.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! This is really starting to sound like someone else on this list that forgot a shop towel in the intake. It ran like crap until the valves finally chewed it all up and spit it out! If you have compression and spark, then it's not valves or rings. Maybe it's just the timing way off? Why would it be only the first two cylinders? Even with a vacuum leak, it looks like it is getting fuel, due to the soot on the plugs. It sounds like the intake valve on those two jugs are not opening enough to allow a full charge of air/fuel in for complete combustion. Bent or worn valve stem, way loose lifter settings? That could happen and you would still get good compression readings, due to the valve being closed 99% of the time. John

 

[CruisinMT]

Just be sure to check everything over twice if needed make sure you have all the little things taken care of and if it still doesn't run right start looking for bigger problems. I swore at my fj40 for many days when it ran like crap. Turns out my gaps were off and a plug wire was out of sequence.

 

[TRDWrestler]

The cruiser was purchased running as is, PO had someone else work on the desmog, and the manifold gasket leak probably followed. I've made several adjustments of the timing using a vacume gauge, no help or change there to those two, the other 4 cyclinders burn fine.
I've looked at the gap, no issue there.
I'm still open for suggestions, but I do want to say thank you all for so much interest and help. I'm a rookie as a member, but I've been a sideline viewer for quite some time.
Really didn't expect this much attention, it is appreciated !

 

[NocalFJ60]

Really didn't expect this much attention, it is appreciated !

Welcome to mud. You will figure the problem out.

 

[hank14]

Maybe you could PM FJ40Jim the carb guru. He knows quite a bit about the 2F, and even rebuilds the distributors.

 

[Sarcastro]

just my .02 but I would say check the valves on those two cycl... it could be that they have loosend all the way up, so they'd be closed and give good compression

 

[TRDWrestler]

Well it's been awhile, just haven't had time lately to repost. I wanted to let everyone on this thread know that my Son and I found the problem with the two cyclinders not firing (burning) completely. My son and I took the carb off and did a rebuild on it, while looking for a rebuild kit, I ran across an article on CCOT's website about the secondary carb diaphram causing fuel to be dumped into these two cyclinders. What is described in that article is the exact problem I had. We replaced the diaphram, did a complete rebuild on the carb, R and R'ed the manifold gasket and presto whamo we have a fine running machine! It still needs a valve adjustment, but dang it runs good, like a 60 should!
This is the article out of 4WD mag.
Thanks again for lending an ear.

Performance" Article in "4WD Toyota Owner" Magazine

 

[REKCUT]

I love it when a good plan comes together!