I've been reading through this forum trying to diagnose my '89's issue.
For a while now, on startup it's had the rattly sound until it warms up, then it's gone away.

My mechanic mentioned that I'd be looking at a timing chain down the road, as it was starting to slacken.

So anyway, all of a sudden a few days ago things changed and before long I was getting a bit of engine ping on accelleration, which got worse and worse until today driving home - very little power and then started stalling and sputtering.

Would this actually be the timing chain finally pooched? The oil looks OK. Temperature gauge constant. Fuel economy fairly consistent.

Another mechanic (really old guy, old school) listened to it running, and of course when I took it to him it was running fine... he mentioned if it was actually the timing chain, you'd hear it constantly, which I don't.
He mentioned the engine ping I'm getting could be from a crappy batch of gasoline.

 

Sorry to the old school guy, but I doubt bad gas would cause it do it constintly. Unless you are getting alot of bad gas Lol. A bad timing chain sometimes makes noise, sometimes doesn't. (From my experience) but then again, I'm only 17 But I think if it were the timing chain who was the culprit before, it wouldn't have stopped the rattling after being warmed up? Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

open your valve cover and check with a flashlight, physically move the driver's side of the chain to look at the driver's side timing guide.

also, when was the last time you had the timing chain replaced?
When was the last oil change?
our trucks take 4.5qts with oil filter (20/2r/e)

I have a bigass filter on mine. upon start up, i'll hear the valve train for a short few seconds as the oil filter gets filled and then finally sends oil out to the head.

 

Maybe its running lean causing the pinging and sputtering. Not getn enough fuel.

Is it a very light rattle? Might be ur timing chain guide being hit by the chain. Does it have enough oil?

 

Bearings

Maybe your con rod bearings are going out. Dont drive it any more till you figure this out. First try to pin point the rattle. If its in the lower block most likely bearings. An old school trick is take a screw driver and put the butt to your ear and use it as a stethascope. Just put the metal end on your timming cover and listen.

 

it sounds like maybe just the timing tensioner is going out, I just did my timing fairly recently because it was starting to rattle and seemed to have excessive slack when I pulled the valve cover .

When I actually tore into it, the aftermarket timing tensioner was the only thing actually messed up. I still changed out the whole kit with a engnbldr kit.

and I learned why engnbldr uses a oem tensioner in his kit that day

 

the excessive slack allows the valve timing to be off and then the truck runs bad..

yeah, engnbldr is the way to go
ENGNBLDR.COM Engine Parts Network

 

Sorry guys, my internet's been down the last few days.

I haven't taken the valve cover off yet, but my gut feeling is the tensioner is the culprit. How big of a job is this, in terms of hours? The parts alone I don't suspect are very expensive...

One other thing that happened that day was, after starting it up and driving it a few hundred feet there was a loud whine as if something let go. Kind of freaked me actually.
The performance and pinging got progressively worse and worse until after about 10 miles of driving I was finally home, and it crapped out on me as I was pulling into the driveway!

It's kind of a bummer as I'm looking to sell it -just bought a '97 Tacoma 4x4.
I was totally going to sport this thing up, using some ideas from this forum (4x4 fenders, grille, etc,... Cragar Soft 8 rims, etc) but at the same time kept my eye on the Tacoma prices. Turns out a decent deal on a Tacoma came along.
I must say though that this forum really is a wealth of information and if my '89 isn't pooched and I get her fixed up I'll turn the new owner onto this site.
I just hope I'm not making a big mistake in letting the '89 go because it's been such an awesome little rig.

 

Id say check all your vaccine lines and make sure there's no leaks may not be it but what your describing could also be caused by a vacuum leak

 

a broken timing chain guide leads to the chain wearing through to the water pump = water in oil = self destructing.

As long you have tools, time, and patience, it can be done correctly and quickly. Mine took a while since I was 15/16 at the time.
it looks intimidating due to the lack of space (removal of radiator opens up so much space).

it'll be nice to have a jack and two jackstands (if you PLAN to remove the oil pan if there are pieces of the guide in there that you want to remove).


it honestly can be a one day thing.

1/2" drive breaker bar with 19mm socket for the crank and a torque wrench. a friend that is mechanically inclined whenever you need help. a tube of RTV. a timing kit from engnbldr.com. metric tool set. jug of Toyota Red coolant. 5qt case of 10W-30 and a nice quality filter (Bosch, PUREOne, Toyota). shop towels. cardboard to draw out stuff and plug removed bolts into so you don't loose it. tag everything, label it all.

it's straight forward tearing it down. putting it together, just making sure everything is in the right position.

 

Thanks nam, there might be a few options in the works - a buddy of mine might be interested in it AS IS.

I'm going to miss that thing, though... been a wicked little work truck. The full set of Bilstiens I bought for it rocked as well.
I have nothing but high marks for this generation of Toyota and the 22re motors.