Engine stalled now jumping

[Ralph50]

I will give you all the hints that I can remember.
Car suddenly started to stall at the stop lights, never did this before, had just got gas about 8 miles before. Went to autozone got dry gas and octane booster. Started and was running behind autozone seemed ok so I was reving the motor when suddenly I heard lifter noise, that was new, then went away, reved if some more and heard some light ping and it stalled. Started back up but was jumping and barely kept running, almost sounds like hammering sound. Towed home, Today took off the timing chain cover, was sure that was it, chain is loose but not an entire tooth off. Now Im at a loss, checked the comp codes, 0401, EGR, this has been there for years. I will check for compression. I checked fuel pressure with key on at 35psi. About a month ago when accelerating the tach dropped to 0 for a split second then came back and motor seemed to die, ran ok after the hickup. Maybe crank sensor???

give me ideas!

[LMP]

35 psi at fuel rail is the only sign you give that this could be a 3800..but also a 3.4....so please give info about year . Dash board going dead...makes me remember of all thoses cases about failed ground near/in A pillar/under carpet. ALso check for full 14+ volts...low voltages cause similar problems. however, after a while, it would not start....
Waiting for more detailed info.

[Ralph50]

Well found the problem today after pulling the valve cover. Only 3 rockers are moving. Yep broken camshaft.
I will check the yards and see if they have this engine and trans. Im not sure how much work it is and will only do it if I can install from above. Too old for that under car stuff.

Thx

[LMP]

Then..that was most probably a 3.4..as broken camshaft is a known issue for that type.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=407222
Notice the camshaft for 3.1 is the same.
What was year model again...?

[Ralph50]

Sorry forgot to give the basic info
1996 Transport with the 3.4L
151K on original motor.
I started pulling the motor apart yesterday just goin crazy with the air ratchett, will pull the heads tomorrow cause Im not sure if the piston hit the valves on the dead part of the cam. Why not since at this point it should be quick. I feel there is an 80% chance I will junk the car. Will see. Do you know where I can get a cheap cam, autozone wants 200 bucks.

R50

[LMP]

...opinion is that this engine is non-intererence....as even the Z-34 DOHC version was not "supposed" to be...at least in the first series.
Anyway, you will confirm or deny that "hands on"....
for the cam...I checked on E-bay ..only found a 2.8 cam...may be I did not try enough...
It has been said in the other thread the 3.1 and 3.4 had same part number..not sure it would apply to the 2.8 also....as this is same block...This hollow camshaft is fragile....as alleged before, may be due to water intrusion from intake gasket leak ..

[Ralph50]

Today pulled both pieces of the cam out.
One of the camshaft bearings was loose and looks like it spun on the cam bearing surface. I think Im done with this beast, I will check Monday to see how much for a rebuilt engine, installed? I think this car will be junked. The problem is, to replace the camshaft bearings I need a special tool that reaches into the bore. Well upon investagation with a flashlight I see the bearing must be installed from the right side of engine. Guess whats in the way of the camshaft cover on that side, yep the transmission. So to replace the camshaft bearing I would have to pull the tranny. Amazing, this engine was tough to pull apart, so much in the way. I was slowly loosing coolant and when looking at the gaskets it looks like there might have been a few leaks in a few places. Oh well I tried, at least I leave no doubt when the junk yards tows it away, what was wrong.

R

[LMP]

Any pictures of that ?
Just for the record, did you pull the cam from the wheel well..? Would it have been possible if camshaft had been in one piece..like when one would want to insert a new one?..

[Ralph50]

Pictures of what?No the cam is in line the a major part of the structure. I raised up the motor and if I was going to replace the cam I would have had to cut through the wheel structure to gain access. I checked and that was acceptable if I had to. R