So. . . I blew up my motor

I was climbing a steep grade in third gear and started losing power. By the time I got to the top the motor was making a lot of noise. Parked and checked it out, sounds like a valve colliding with a piston but not entirely sure. Got towed home and now I am working on pulling the motor. It still runs but it will probably seize if I keep trying to drive it.

My question is while I have the motor and transmission out is there any maintenance or other repairs that I should be looking for when the engine bay is empty?

 

How far are you tearing down?

 

If it were a steep hill maybe the engine was starved for oil in the oil pan.

 

Tom...... tell your sister i think she is cute

 

I don't see how a steep grade could cause the valves to hit the pistons, unless you buried that tach past redline. And even if they did, I don't think it would run after that. usually when a valve hits a piston, something shatters.

But, if I were taking my heads off, and cost was not a factor, I would consider deglazing the cylinders and installing new pistons. Maybe higher compression ones? Might as well change the spark plugs, coils and plug wires while your in there.

 

I agree that climbing a steep grade could not blow up my motor, however my truck has some extenuating circumstances. . . My timing is all messed up because the previous owner swapped the distributor motor into my coil ignition truck with a very jerry rigged job, the camshaft position sensor is not installed which is necessary for proper timing. You can read more about this awesome conundrum here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/190897-missing-camshaft-position-sensor.html

 

Going to pull the motor/transmission and remove the head to check out the damage. If the pistons look allright at first glance I will probably remove them to check out the rings and make sure the cylinders aren't scored. If everything checks out I will have the head rebuilt and re-install but I have a feeling I am just going to end up having to put another motor in it. I can get a used one with 60,000 miles for $1400 off enginesandtransmissions.com.