So I bought a used motor

[TJM]

Man, I'm not sure. It doesn't sound likely, more like it was loose already and just worked its way out.

I wouldn't entirely give up on the old engine, or if you don't want it I might be interested in it. It would take a lot of time and labor, but again that could be fun (if you're into that sorta weird thing - beats anime fetishes I guess )

 

[Akulla72]

Man, I'm not sure. It doesn't sound likely, more like it was loose already and just worked its way out.

I wouldn't entirely give up on the old engine, or if you don't want it I might be interested in it. It would take a lot of time and labor, but again that could be fun (if you're into that sorta weird thing - beats anime fetishes I guess )

Well, when its all said and done and I have something that runs and if you want the motor your welcome to it if your willing to come get it, I don't have a timetable on when I'll finish this though.

 

[TJM]

Well, if I ever end up in your neck of the woods, then definitely. Not sure where you are in Indy but I don't get out that way often.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

It currently resides in the back hatch of my 4runner, didn't want to get rid of anything because I wasn't sure what parts I might need.

Is it possible that I had a stuck lifter or valve and with me driving it the short distance the oil pressure built up and knocked it loose?

I say more than likely you driving it down the road did do the trick on getting the noise to go away now my next move would be to drain the oil and replace filter and inspect for anything chunky. I'm not saying u will find such but it would be good measure to make sure. I think your not going to find much.

 

[Akulla72]

I let it sit all night so it would be a cold start, fired it up this morning and it runs fine, at least until it gets to running temps then the idle gets a little rough.

So my plan at this point is take it down to the muffler shop, get a new muffler put in it, hoping this will make it easier to tune, since currently the muffler has a 10'' crack in it, its not loud but I can tell that theres some back pressure issues going on, after that, its going back to the shop on Monday and they can finish tuning it up, going to tell them to drain the oil and inspect it and put full synthetic high mileage in it.

It has some other issues, crawled under it to look at the frame, everything is clean, no major rust, but it needs sway bar links in the front, one is broken loose and is just flopping around, I'll do this my self, both passenger front and rear need axle bearings/seals, probably rear brakes since one is soaked in oil.

From there tires and a alignment, and I'll start ripping out the interior for replacement.

Things are looking up, thought my luck had run out on this one.

I appreciate everyones help and advice, much thanks.

btw I live in Georgetown Indiana, about 10 minutes from Louisville in regards to the motor, I have no place to store the spare motor, so in the next week or 2 its going to need a new home.

 

[KidVermicious]

Sounds like a bad rod bearing. This is why you let the shop order the motor. If it's bad you don't have to pay shipping & second install. It's between the shop & the engine seller.

This. So many guys on this board tell you "oh just order a JDM motor and have a shop put it", which is a terrible idea, and the OPs situation is why.

People, if you're going to take your truck to a mechanic, it's because you don't know what you're doing, so you need to trust him to take responsibility for the process start to finish. If you don't, you end up like the OP - thousands of dollars into a process that's gone wrong with no idea where it went wrong and no recourse against anybody.

Mechanics cost money. Good mechanics cost even more. If you're going to involve a mechanic, be prepared to pony up for it. If you don't want to pay to have the job done right, roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

 

[Akulla72]

This. So many guys on this board tell you "oh just order a JDM motor and have a shop put it", which is a terrible idea, and the OPs situation is why.

People, if you're going to take your truck to a mechanic, it's because you don't know what you're doing, so you need to trust him to take responsibility for the process start to finish. If you don't, you end up like the OP - thousands of dollars into a process that's gone wrong with no idea where it went wrong and no recourse against anybody.

Mechanics cost money. Good mechanics cost even more. If you're going to involve a mechanic, be prepared to pony up for it. If you don't want to pay to have the job done right, roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

I agree for the most part, but I'm a full time student who lives in a apartment, and its not feasible for me to pull a motor in my driveway, as for the shop they quoted me $4400 for a remanufactured motor, not including installation, so I thought at the time I was doing the right thing by ordering a advertised low mileage motor from JDM, not knowing the background of said company and the previous experience from other buyers.

Hopefully at this point it was just a stuck valve or something and I'm in the clear, after this whole ordeal I could use a little good luck.

 

[azcat90]

To be honest I couldn't tell you, I assume they knew what they were doing when they dropped it in, unless they put it in and didn't check, I'm not a mechanic ( guess I better start learning) so I dont even know if I can check this myself.

It's just loosening the timing belt top cover and turning the crankshaft with a big socket wrench until cam white marks line up with notches and then checking the notch on the flywheel pulley. Muffler shop should be able to do that easy enough.

 

[KidVermicious]

I agree for the most part, but I'm a full time student who lives in a apartment, and its not feasible for me to pull a motor in my driveway, as for the shop they quoted me $4400 for a remanufactured motor, not including installation, so I thought at the time I was doing the right thing by ordering a advertised low mileage motor from JDM,

And now you know why the shop wanted to install a reman instead of the JDM .

It's all good, sounds like you might have dodged a bullet. And you'll know better next time.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

I guess you can officially call this a happy ending sense everything worked out.

 

[poleclimber63]

As I've said in the past when the JDM engine subject came up, they are a crap shoot. You might get one that was well cared for, or an engine that was completely neglected, and then flooded by a Tsunami..

Back when I installed JDM engines for customers that wanted to go that route, the importers liked to claim the engines had 30K miles.

Good luck with whatever you decide. If you go for yet another JDM engine, I'd at least pull the valve covers and oil pan, for a cursory inspection, before installing another mystery motor.

I did a JDM swap last year and fortunately everything went fine... yes everything has to be swapped--- you're really getting a long block replacement. My original engine failed due to a rod bearing--- a really loud clicking! Sorry to hear of your situation, will be watching to see what you decide.... getting another one maybe??

 

[Grenvilleter]

It is really difficult to say where the knocking/ticking noise is coming from. Anywhere from the flexplate to the cam/alt/idler pulley to engine internals itself. You got it in and running and there is much that can be done to improve its performance but how about this- File a complaint to where you got your engine. Let them know you are dissatisfied with initial signs upon start-up. You will be in contact with them before your warranty runs out to give them your final decision on of you will keep the motor or not.

As the noise went away, it could have been a dry bearing that finally got lubricated or a host of many other things.
Watch it very carefully for fluid losses, and drive it ! As mentioned, change the oil and filter again, Do a compression check and evaluate it over a couple weeks rather than immediately dump it for another 2k expense of another r&r crap shoot. Any tune-up items you spend on should be recoverable for your next "new" engine if you go that route.

As a side note, I just got my bandsaw out after a 4 yr storage. It has big arbour bearings and was in perfect condition when stored. Upon starting it up last weekend, the noises the bearings made was horrendous for the first 15 mins but they finally come around to quieting down and doing their job.

The moral being, one of the hardest things on a piece of machinery is letting it sit idle for long periods of time.

 

[poleclimber63]

And now you know why the shop wanted to install a reman instead of the JDM .

It's all good, sounds like you might have dodged a bullet. And you'll know better next time.

I understood your decision.... however, there's always the risk with a replacement engine whether it be JDM or not--- even if the people supplying it give you some numbers. If you enter into a project like this you have to be prepared to pay. If you engage another party to do the work, there is an element of trust with what they advise. If they advised a reman for $4400 and you went JDM, with them installing it, you saved $1500?? maybe... that was a risk, as it could have been alot worse than $4400, if that engine was bad! Luckily, it turned out! As others have mentioned, going replacement is something you do, if you do it yourself (as I did-- great learning experience, by the way) or you get family or friends to pitch in!

Sounds like the hard part ($$) is past. Good luck with the rest of the project!

 

[TJM]

So where in Indy are you?

I might be in or around Terre Haute some time in the future, if you still have the old engine I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Can't be sure though. The scheduling is tough for that particular trip - lotta factors to count in

 

[Akulla72]

So where in Indy are you?

I might be in or around Terre Haute some time in the future, if you still have the old engine I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Can't be sure though. The scheduling is tough for that particular trip - lotta factors to count in

I live in southern Indiana, 15 or so minutes north of Louisville.

So far its been running ok, no more knocking, not leaking anything, has the engine light on so I know its throwing some codes, just needs a tune up I think and it'll be good.

 

[TJM]

Do you still have the other engine, the one that was all clogged up?

I didn't mean the JDL one (or wherever that one came from, I hadn't heard of them till now)