1986 tacoma timing issue

So I purchased an 86 Tacoma 22r and I noticed from the beginning it had very little power....after driving it for a little here and there it got worse to the point it would sputter and barely go over 30 mph....so I pulled the plugs and cylinder 3 and 4 the spark plugs are slightly bent and there is no gap....I thought maybe it was a mistake from installation of the previous owner and i replaced them.... 30 seconds of perfect driving then back to what it was doing before....pulled the plugs and what do ya know....bent just like before....any ideas on where to start? I know these are interference motors and the timing is obviously off....if anyone knows these motors and could help a fellow out I'd appreciate it thanks!

 

I don't know crap about engines, but I wouldn't expect the piston head to hit the spark plug electrode at any time during its cycle in a working engine. The spark plugs are stationary, how would engine timing change that?

Maybe there's slop in the connecting rod bearings? Or there could be debris above the piston head? I would stick a snake cam into the spark plug hole and look around.

 

Yeah the pistons definitely shouldn’t be bending the plugs. There is something very off. Are you sure the right plugs are in there and they’re the right length?

 

The timing chain is a tooth off. That’s how mine was acting when it was off a tooth.

 

Didn’t know they made 22r Tacoma’s in 1986

 

w

photos of plugs please? and did you get NGK or at least denso plugs? Did you gap them yourself correctly? Do you have any knocking or tapping sounds in the lower block? (lower end noise inquiry because the thought of a spun rod bearing may cause some extra vertical tolerance causing the plug bending)

I would guess theres either a connecting rod issue or your plugs are incorrect length. Its odd that its only two plugs however. Does it look like the plug holes have been redrilled due to plugs being stuck in it at one point? its possible they were stuck, got retapped, and now seat just a millimeter to two too far down.

 

The first fuel injected 22R-E engines appeared in August 1982.

 

I second the plug length thought, are the crush washers on the plugs?

 

No Tacoma in 86, but in 95.5. Pre 95 were refer to as truck or pickup, not Tacoma

-Verify the plug you bought are correct for the 22r and not for the 2rz? Maybe you're telling the parts person it's for a Tacoma instead of a truck/pickup? You said 86 Tacoma, they think you meant to say 96 Tacoma. You said 22r 2.4l, they hear 2rz 2.4l. It's possible.. Haha

-Off a tooth wouldn't cause the piston to hit the electrode. It'll just fire before or after tdc.

-22r/22re were known for blowing plugs out from head. Verify if the head's been rethread or have time sert or helicoil install prior. Maybe it was install incorrectly?

 

I would imagine pistons bashing the top of the plugs would cause decreased power...no gap, no spark. Interference motor has nothing to do with spark plugs. Start by replacing spark plugs. My bet is the timing is fine. I don't think the engine would even run if the timing were off AND pistons are beating the shit out of the spark plugs. Just my two cents.

 

?? 22re have nothing to do with Tacoma.... Still not refer to as a Tacoma as @ryans4x4 mention

 

The Toyota Tacoma did not exist until 1995. The Toyota Pickup is what you’re thinking of.

 

1985

 

thanks!, I must have bad data

 

So I replaced the plugs and 30 seconds into the drive the exact same symptoms came back that you would associate with plugs having no gap...pulled them off and same exact thing...piston is just barely tapping ever so gently the plug and just barely hitting it....the plugs were from auto zone and we looked them up and were the stock ngks.....I know some said the timing being off a link or maybe the plugs were re tapped and are now lower....new plugs came with a washer

 

It's a nearly 34 year old truck. Much could have been swapped out in that time. Possibly not the OEM motor/heads? If I were in your position, I would start by gathering as much data on the exact motor in your truck. There should never, ever be contact between the piston and spark plug. I don't know how much clearance there usually is between the two, but if I were in your position I would find out. If it's close enough to be compensated for by a thicker washer, there's your solution. Again, I would bet money that your diminished performance is caused by damaged plugs. I think the conductive materials within a plug are brittle(i.e. any "bending" is actually fracturing internally) and you're not getting hot spark. Either way, its a problem worth solving.

What kind of shape is the rest of the truck in? Not that it matters, I'm just trying to get an idea of whether it seems like a Franken-truck or not.