Hey all

Just got an 85 xtra cab a few months ago with the 22r carb--everything's been great so far except for this clicking sound I hear from the engine at certain rpms. I don't have a tach, but it seems to happen between about 2k-3k rpm, almost never above or below. It sounds exactly like one of those ratchet noisemaker things:


Any thoughts?

 

need more info

You have to narrow down where the noise is coming from. Rev your engine with the hood up and try yo pin point the noise.It could be a number of things.

 

It's hard to pin-point, to be honest. It seems to be coming from the front/passenger corner of the block, but it could be anything in that area as far as I can tell.

Wish I could be more exact with that, but thanks for your help.

 

Put your hand on the fuel pump and rev the motor?

 

could be vavle clack, check your gaps

 

Is it the timing chain slapping the cover?

 

Timing chain or valve tick come to mind. U can start off there.

 

pull the valve cover and inspect the chain.Look for slack and check guides. its a good start. and while your in there check tapits.

 

Okay, I checked the fuel pump. No issue there.

Timing chain is kind of what I was thinking too. I will check that this weekend and let you all know how it goes. What does a new kit run?

Thanks again for the help.

 

Wow, so just got off the phone with a local shop--$1000 to replace the timing chain??

The parts are like $45 on eBay, and I know what's involved and how labor-intensive it is, but that quote seems a bit ridiculous to me. Maybe I'm wrong though? Anyway, I have a couple more questions:

1. If there is slack in the chain when I pull the cover does that mean it needs to be replaced entirely or can it be readjusted?
2. 86extTURBO mentioned 'valve clack'--what is that exactly? And how would I check it?

Thanks again guys. Sorry for the double post and for asking noobish questions.

 

there is an auto tensioner, if there is slack its cause the guide is broken ( which happens a lot, its a common thing )

the valves are easy to adjust, you are half way there with the valve cover off, if ya search on here, im s ure someone has done a write up.

my service writer says 1000 is about right, not too high, now the lowest also

 

My mechanic was guna charge me $150 to change the chain, guides, tensioner and sprockets

 

Timing chain

$1000 bucks thats crazy for a 22r. Its not a tough job. I can walk you thru it if you need.

 

Listened with a stethoscope today--definitely the chain.

I guess I will try to get it swapped some weekend soon but it might be tough with weather and getting people over here to help. I don't have a garage which complicates all car things.

As for now, my understanding is it's not too dangerous to drive around with a rattling chain except that it could go at any time and of course that would be a huge mess. This is my daily driver, so I need it to get me places.

Am I wrong? Should I be riding the bus until it's fixed?

 

Hard to say if you should still be driving it without hearing how bad it is. I had one actually where a hole through the timing chain cover which was a pain because then I had to source one of those too. If it's not too loud then you are probably pretty safe.

If you have any reasonable mechanical knowledge then you should do it yourself. Get yourself a Haynes manual for these trucks, they are the most helpful. Other than that ask questions here, it's not that hard to do and there are plenty of guys on here willing to walk you through it.

 

Here bookmark this site and click on timing chain when you open it up.
Engine

 

Oh and you don't have to remove the oil pan. You can get away with just taking out the oil pan bolts into the cover or at worst cast loosening the rest of them.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

I did most of the work this weekend. One of the guides was just 60% gone when I opened it up; chain had eaten through part of the cover too but not all the way. Got the new stuff in and started putting it back together but I broke one of the tensioner bolts off in the block

Have to go get a center punch and bolt extractor now before I can finish. Plus I need to pull the oil pan now that I know how eaten up the guide was.

Thanks again for the advice and links--they've been very helpful.

 

Whooaaa just looked at this link... This is amazing--Wish I would have looked at it before I started :/

 

broken bolt

Be careful trying to extract that broken bolt. if your hole is not centered you can fak up the threads and then you're screwed because there's only two bolts on the tensioner. I had to take my head to a machine shop after I tried all of that and it didnt work. He welded onto the broken bolt and took it out. cost like $45.