91 240sx with 95 ka... started and idled then died, now won't start

[stuckatcuse]

Hi- I just swapped a s14 engine into an s13. I changed over the distributor, intake manifold and associated sensors. I started her up the other day (open headers) and it sounded great. I finished up the exhaust today, and she started right up again. I let it idle and the idle crept down to 700, exactly where it should be. The throttle was very responsive (in neutral). So after idling for a while, I hear this metal jingle sound that seems to be present at idle and go away with any engine speed. There is also a fairly loud clicking sound. I took the oil filler cap off and I feel exhaust pulsing out the valve cover thru the oil filler hole. I let it idle more and probed around with a mechanic's scope (a stick). I couldn't localize the jingle sound or the clicking. The jingle sound seemed to be loudest when I put the stick on the timing cover. I'm wondering if I have a cracked piston or something. No check engine light and no low oil pressure light or anything. After idling for 5 minutes or so the engine just died. I tried to researt it. I noticed the car was at an angle and the fuel tank was below 1/8 so I put in a gallon of gas. I tried to start it again and it sputtered a bit and refused to start. I added enough gas to bring it to almost 1/4 and it still won't start. I'll put a bit more gas in tomorrow and hope it just ran dry; the low fuel light is still on. Compression is between 165 and 175 in all cylinders, which is pretty close to spec. I guess my engine isn't blown, but I still don't know why it won't start.

Anyone have any ideas?

[mr_wizard]

You sure that jingle isn't a loose timing chain guide? I just swapped a 97 ka into my 91 240 myself, I have a loud *** timing chain guide issue after the motor warms up. Timing chain guides on KA24DE's are notorious for having issue's like this.

As for the motor not starting, try checking your fuel pressure. Also, are you getting spark?

[stuckatcuse]

You sure that jingle isn't a loose timing chain guide? I just swapped a 97 ka into my 91 240 myself, I have a loud *** timing chain guide issue after the motor warms up. Timing chain guides on KA24DE's are notorious for having issue's like this.

As for the motor not starting, try checking your fuel pressure. Also, are you getting spark?

I hope it's the timing chain guide, but I thought that was more of a problem in older ka engines (S13's). I have spark, but the spark plugs look terrible. The electrodes are worn down to points and the gaps look huge. I have spark from the primary coil wire, and I checked the first plug, so I assumed the rest were sparking.

Today I plan on attaching a long hose to my fuel filter and running it into a gas can. I'll crank it to see if I get a steady stream of fuel out. I'll also pick up some new plugs, since it's about $7.I'll keep people posted.

[mr_wizard]

My motor has just under 60k miles and has timing chain guide noise. I had a KA with 175k miles on it and no timing chain guide noise. Actually, make that two. So it's random. Anyway, did you re gap those plugs?