Timing belt job just done. Blown engine or savable? This is interesting guys!

[katit]

I get list of new tools I'd like every job. But forget and just get it done with what I have most times. Last year I spent ~$10K on shop supplies. I now must get ride of sometime to get any thing new in, just out of space.

I do have expansion dreams. But takes $$$$$
...
The other issue is time. I spent the week on this and not done yet. Don't even know if efforts will bare fruit.

At one point in life I was doing what you do but with BMWs(on a side). Had steady customers, etc. Was thinking about shop. Truth is - if you like what you doing - keep doing it. Making it a business is very different. You will have to charge as other and you won't mess with cars like this one. You won't spend hours and hours on those "front knuckle services". It's only done because you like it.

And only people who really love their cars will pay for time you spend doing it.

You will find that restoring brake systems, electric motors, etc don't make any sense because when you save customer money in parts and it fails - they will come back unhappy. So, there is huge difference between doing service to enthusiasts and getting bigger shop.

You will find that straight jobs that you don't like to do probably make most money. Anyways, if it's hobby - keep it this way. I did and I'm very happy as I still wrench on cars and enjoy doing it.

I am thinking about getting my own tire mount and balance machines as its only thing that I take my cars for and it's expensive, time consuming and they still can screw up.

 

[2001LC]

I hear you!

The shop I'm currently contemplating, is here at my home. I'd like to cut through back of my garage and build a shop in the back. Shop would have room and height for a lift. I'd like wash/detail area a paint booth also. I've a lot of dreams for it. It's kind of like when I need a tool. I make do with what I have.

But if I was to open a commercial shop, as I've been approached too. It would not be like the typical shop. It would be a restoration quality shop. It would be time and materials and not this book rate stuff that put guys under the time crunch..

 

[2001LC]

So @Moore80 came through, with a used cam. Thanks Will!. Cairo drove up north and brought it back for me. Gave me little time for my GF and our walks. Also so time to go ahead and tear down to redo the timing belt job. I did not remove water pump. But son no reason too.

I pulled the knock pin from old cam. It was not easy MacGyvering, but I got it out.

To get knock pin out of donor camshaft. I first used, my largest vise grips without teeth. It did squish end of pin a bit. I was hitting vise grip with chisels and 5lb sledge hammer to shock loose. Each hard hit the vise grips slipped off pin, damaging end of knock pin. I then switched up to vise grips with teeth. I created a fulcrum with pry bar and worked it out. Knock pin was very tight in the cam.

I then used a brass dwell to pound into the cam in the 05's head. I put damage tip of pin in. This made sure I got in very snug and had plenty of undamaged to be square in the cam. With best side of pin out, it made sure clocking of cam to sprocket true. I also replaced the sprocket as old knock pin slot was enlarge form shearing knock pin off.

Donner camshaft has scoring on bearing surface so not concern with cam. It's perfect for my needs.

I'm going to hang on to donor cam for a while. I've got some pins come from Toyota and I may order the 5UZ pin. Just in the one a in million chance some needs one in the future. It would be nice to have a part number.

I set knock pin into target camshaft with a brass dwell.

Perfect. SWEET.

I was very happy with end result. I've perfect and did change balance. I feel it as good as it was per timing belt job by this mechanic that botched it.

 

[2001LC]

Old sprocket knock pin slot

Donor is perfect. SWEEEET!

Just like it never happened. At least as far is cam, knock pin, sprocket and clocking concerned.

But, will engine run!

I'm now at 98% sure I've save this mess


I'll know later today. The coveted $80 a tube Toyota FIPG 1218b has been curing (I like to do that over night).

So I'll button up and report to back later.

 

[3_puppies]

only real costs so far are labor? still going to be cheaper than an engine swap.

nice job.

 

[2001LC]

only real costs so far are labor? still going to be cheaper than an engine swap.

nice job.

I've got about 40 hours in not included research and posting. It was a tough week, I already had to much going on..

One of the big reason I want another shop is room. I've two now, I should have in shop. But with just one stall, it's one at a time. A non running or one on jack-stands long term like my restores projects really hangs me up.

But this was a special case and I could not resit the challenge. So I pushed all else aside for the most parts. I did get a few other things done, just not as much as I could have with large shop and a lift.

We did have other expenses, also. Cairo had a 100 miles drive to get the cam. I also found the fan bracket should never have been reinstalled so replaced that. I also found and corrected other stuff, I'll get into later if I've time.

 

[2001LC]

I'm very happy to say it started right up. Then smoked like crazy. Like sea foam fogger in 5 cars at the same time. Holy moly


I'm facetiming with owner Cairo.

 

[fossil66]

What a great ending!! Have to say I didn't see this coming after the first few posts... Strong detective work and execution on a solution!!

 

[3_puppies]

One of the big reason I want another shop is room. I've two now, I should have in shop. But with just one stall, it's one at a time. A non running or one on jack-stands long term like my restores projects really hangs me up.

But this was a special case and I could not resit the challenge. So I pushed all else aside for the most parts. I did get a few other things done, just not as much as I could have with large shop and a lift.

I'm in the same boat at home, 1 bay and not a lot of inside space, luckily I work 3 miles from where I live and can bring stuff there and work on the weekends.
I should have my addition added on this summer, at least I can then have 3 rigs under roof with a lift and small overhead crane

 

[2001LC]

So smoke was so bad I had to open front and back door and turn on fan. It knocked at first then sounded better with time. We've really bad oil from gasoline getting in cylinders. Owner had added a can of 44k in this tank of gas, prior to the botched timing belt job. I suggested we may want to pull both CATs before start up. But Cairo said no, based I my saying it may be over kill to do so. My concern was so much loose carbon from the soaking the cylinder and intake manifold got. Even the back of throttle body was gummed up and all was going to hit O2' and CAT at once..

But after awhile it seem okay. So I took on HWY after clearing all DTC. I did get a DTC for BK 2 S1 (O2 senser) after getting on the HWY. I ran at high RPM of 4,800 for 7 minutes. I did not feel real good about oil condition, so high RPM was not advisable. But needed to burn off the fouled O2's and CATs. The 44K had really loosen up the carbon. As as fuel blew back into intake, loosen carbon was likely coming out.

I'll bet bk 2 intake ports and cylinder head has not been this clean since mile 1. Gives me a future idea for clean carbon.

I'm in the same boat at home, 1 bay and not a lot of inside space, luckily I work 3 miles from where I live and can bring stuff there and work on the weekends.
I should have my addition added on this summer, at least I can then have 3 rigs under roof with a lift and small overhead crane

You building the addition, or having it built?

 

[2001LC]

After warm up and before HWY run test drive.

 

[medtro]

I've got about 40 hours in not included research and posting. It was a tough week, I already had to much going on..

Would it be cheaper to swap in a used engine?

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Wow! What a read! Excellent sleuthing and commendable support from the forum.
Paul your suggestions were so helpful the last time I did my timing belt and this truck and it's current owner are lucky to have you save the engine

 

[nissanh]

You rescued a good running engine. WOW! I too like to see what went wrong instead of throwing an unknown engine there. Congratulations!

Owner had to spend more $$ and time due to an incompetent mechanic. Tell the owner to take the truck to the mechanic and show him it was his fault that caused his truck to almost lost an engine. Also do a google review to caution other car owners.

 

[JB2004LC]

Great work Paul! 100 owners are lucky to have you around. Especially us 100 owners in CO.

 

[2001LC]

Thanks guy's. I had a feeling this was going to be interesting. It was more so than I first thoght.

This year started out interesting huh...

They story matters!

Last I heard owner had not and did not want to talk to the Mechanic. He said they mechanic, keeps texting him. I suppose the Mechanic is sweating it. I would be... He'd surely be relieved to knows he's off the hook for engine and install. Mechanic is asking the name of the shop he had it towed to. I said; Tell him, he can see his work in ih8mud. he's is only one that knows why the camshaft bolt was not torqued. I do feel for him! I do feel, he's responsible for cost. He was given opportunity to correct the issue, and made a bad call.

Owner made the right call taking from him. Otherwise this would likely be setting waiting for a engine. If he can't do a simple timing belt job. I'd not want to see a swap especially form a 100 series, out of his shop.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Great finish and very impressive work. I have been following along.

I was a helicopter mechanic in the Army in a previous life. When stuff is not properly assembled and torqued it means lives at risk.

 

[abuck99]

Nice work Paul and good wrap up video.

Im guessing the other tech prob used a 12v drill driver to teardown and assemble never touching a torque wrench. And prob not having a cam gear holder.

Any way great save- youve averted a boatload of heartburn and $$$ expense for the owner.

 

[2001LC]

Great finish and very impressive work. I have been following along.

I was a helicopter mechanic in the Army in a previous life. When stuff is not properly assembled and torqued it means lives at risk.

Thanks!.

Us pilots (I, fixed wing) seem to be more deliberate in our work. Old school navigation took very precise calculation, taking in many variables. Otherwise as you say, people die.

As a stock broker and analyst, it was peoples money if I did not cross every T and dot the i. Even then, I had to look beyond clues most see, to the little over looked clues.

Nice work Paul and good wrap up video.

Im guessing the other tech prob used a 12v drill driver to teardown and assemble never touching a torque wrench. And prob not having a cam gear holder.

Any way great save- youve averted a boatload of heartburn and $$$ expense for the owner.

Thanks Andrew, means a lot coming from you.


I did find more stuff.

Mechanic was given all seals to replace. I would have advised Clint no need too and better left alone IMHO. I just don't do unless I see a weep. Then yes replace it. But I never have seen one even weep.

Here is the crank seal does that look replaced 20 minute max run time on dry city streets.. I say no. So did not do the easy one. This now looks more than..... what tried!

I found some fan bracket bolts front and off AC compressor. Perhaps he was thinking about a next job replacing it. This fan bracket was shot and should have never been installed. During a Timing belt job it's a part. On it's own it labor and parts. Not only had oil leak in read seal but to spin it one could easily feel it trashed. So why install. No part on hand and not wanting to tie up job for a part. When a second job is at hand. Or just doesn't have a clue or what to look for. IDK.

Fan bracket seal is leaking see the wetness. Spinning it felt ready for Recyclable Bin.

No 1 idler had no sealant on threads that I could detect and Mechanic said when ask no sealant use except dielectric grease on water pump gasket and FIPG 103 on water inlet.

No 2 Idler felt tight as I back off a 1/4 turn. But took 1/2 turn to torqued back down. I pulled and found thread where sealed. But must have just been finger tight. I resealed and torqued

 

[2001LC]

Water inlet at O-ring may have and existing leak. Not his fault. But I can assume he did not take proper set to clean and give O-ring it's best chance of sealing.

I found a scuff on surface of the O-ring indicating it may not have been lubed on assemble. But could be disassemble mark?

But water inlet was not cleaned and reconditioned as this one should have been.
That is not grease and seal did not and should not show signs of FIPG (No FIPG should be)

There is more guys. It all points to more than just being tried.

I give this Mechanic a failing grade. Sure few do restore work as i. But this is not stacking up to just tried.