Looks like it needs more than that I'm afraid fellas. Had a nice long chat with Toasty while walking the rest of the way home.

Here's the events for today:

Started the truck this morning around 10am to try to find out where the front engine whine was coming from and pulled the IAC to test it. Put IAC back in and put air intake tube back on. Yes, the black hose was hooked back up.

Left the house around 12:30 to go meet Toasty, pick his brain and show off my new toy. Toasty drove my truck. I drove his wife's rig to compare power levels. Her truck with 35's has significantly more get up and go than mine. Especially now.

After leaving Toasty's place, I headed home, since I was brain dead enough to leave my shop keys at my house, and couldn't get Lloyds tires out of there. Decided, what the heck. Might as well see if it passes emissions. It did.

There is a long section of road from the emissions station to my area. Typically everyone does 65. So was I. Was shifting in and out of OD thinking maybe this engine sat for a while and just needed the ol' Sun City tune up. That's a retirement community out here for those who don't know. Basically hot rod the engine a bit to "burn the gunk out". Revs at 65 in OD about 3K. Revs out of OD 4K. Nothing excessive in my opinion.

Had the air cranked and the tunes blasting but noticed a ticking sound at 4k that I hadn't noticed before. Kept it in OD at 3k and it quieted down. Made the turn onto a side road and my ticking became a loud knocking and a big loss of power. Tried limping it home but knocking became louder and engine died. Will turn over but will not start. I'm not much of an engine guy, but I've never heard an engine sound like that. So, I'm waiting for my Dad to show up with his truck and a tow strap to at least get the rig home and go from there. Any ideas on where I should start looking?

Called the guy who sold me the Montero. A few insincere "I'm sorry"'s but claims he has no history of the engine prior to getting it. Fair enough, that's understandable, but I don't think he's going to help in any way. He says he resealed the engine. Put a new head on the drivers side due to the intake butterfly ruining it. Reman intake and that was it. Never checked the bottom end, or pulled the oil pan he said.

Pretty frickin' bummed right now for sure. Hopefully it won't be catastrophic, but knowing my luck with vehicles the past few years, I can see where this is headed.