<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />Found a 85' D50 4x4 2.6L 5spd.With auto hubs for $200.00.Now what the guy told me is that the guy was driving home from work & it quit on the highway. Had it towed home ,they thought the timing chain jumped a tooth?Could this happen & how?I took the valve cover off ,took #1 plug out to check TDC with the timing mark on crank seems to match up. But didn't check cam timing.
Silent shaft chain is still there & intacked. So could of the timing chain tensioner spring be the problem guilds ect... your input on this would be greatly appreciated. THANKS. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Check the basics first: fuel and spark.

It's always a easy fix and it's always $200 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Never trust the former owner <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

And I never ever saw one actually jump a tooth on the timing chain, and even if it jumped one tooth, it would still probably run.

Crank it with the coil wire grounded (check for spark to the dizzy now by sticking a phillips head into the dizzy end of the coil wire, and while holding the PLASTIC PART, hold the shaft of the p-head about 1/4" from a ground, and crank it and the spark should jump hot and blue and a fast frequency. If no spark, it's either the coil (not likely), no 12v to the coil + (maybe), or the igniter in the dizzy (or it's wire connections - mine went bad a lot).

I think I still have my 85 truck FSM....

After you spark check it, Hook up an oil pressure gauge to the sender port where the dummy light switch is, or at the alternate main gallery tap just behind the timing cover. With a fully charged battery, crank it until you see oil pressure on the gauge. Don't crank it for more than 30sec at a time without at least a pause. I've had it take a newly rebuilt 2.6 without a primed oil pump take almost 5 minutes to show pressure. This one should be quicker. If no oil pressure, the motor is toast.

I envy you. My 85 truck was one of the best cornering vehicles I've ever owned when it had the tootsie roll tires on it and had the turbo motor for a little throttle steer action. Looked really tough, too, with the 4 headlights...

Well thanks for the info ,might be bringing it home this weekend on the car trailer & get some troubleshooting done.I'll let U guys know how it go's. Hoping for the best,cause after I went to look at the truck the fuel pump went in the car as I was leaving town.What was suppose to be a 2hr.trip ended up being a 11hr. trip from HELL <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

with the valve cover off and #1 at TDC were both #1 rockers on the heel of the camshaft lobes? (both intake and exhaust lobes should be pointing down in a upside-down V shape). Also pop off the dizzy cap and confirm the rotor is pointing to the cap tower where the #1 plug wire is connected. The cam gear teeth are pretty deep, it would take a lot of chain slack to jump a full tooth and i couldn't even imagine the racket you would here right before that event...maybe his fuel pump went bad too!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Well ,got the truck home on Sat.all went good . <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />Got the truck parked by my 89'& didn't do anything else.Next morning came around & I couldn't handle it any longer the suspense was killing me, pulled the valve cover off to check the cam timing. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />Got #1 piston to TDC crank pully mark on 0 & rotor in the dits. lined up with #1 plug wire <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />Looked at the cam gear &the dowel pin is at the 12 "O" clock position or just a hair from being dead on center ,then everything seems bang on <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />So I 'm hoping now I just check for spark & then check for fuel?Crossing the "ol" fingers & toes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />I can't see it being anything else? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

HELP!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />Well, Well, Well...I had some time to do some more trouble shooting yesterday. I charged up the battery and hooked it up, turned it over, pulled plug and got spark. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Ok, then put some fuel down the carb, turned it over again, no fire, not even a cough. I checked the carb, fuel is now being pumped from the tank & squirting every time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Ok, I pulled the plugs again, dry as a popcorn fart ( all 4 plugs <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Did compression on #1 35psi, #2 40psi, #4 40psi. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Okay that doesn't look good. I checked to see where all the fuel went after pumping the crap out of it and still had dry plugs. With a flashlight I found all the fuel sitting at the bottom of the intake. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. The rad, hoses & fan are off. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Noticed some cloud like smoke coming from the water pump outlet & thermostat hosing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />. I turned it over again and there is pressure (exhaust) coming from thes two places. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />HEAD GASKET <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> I checked the old rad in the back of the truck and ran my fingers over the fins and they just disintegrated: rotten to the core. OVER HEATED? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Now what??????. Have a few <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> and get <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" /> & THAT'S A FACT JACK! Need some INPUT GUYS: Tanks, Daaaaaaaaa tell me a story mummy. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

QC, it's not too bad from here. Yank the head and pressure test/dye crack test, surface, valve job, or new Clearwater head, Felpro turbo head gasket and truck head gasket set, radiator recore, pause, consider turbo swap, decide yes, and join the wheeeeeeee club. Better than the first cold one on a hot day....