Is the ticking a countdown?

[hobogunner]

I read quite a few threads on here about a ticking coming from the top of the J30 and basically got from it that VTC Solenoid springs were the primary culprit. I went ahead and replaced the set in my J and it didn't give me any result. I tried adding 1/2 qt of 20W-50 like recommended as well to see if that might help me out some and it didn't either, so I'm at a complete dead end of the diagnostic tree for myself. Figured someone who has more experience or knowledge of the J might be able to give me a hand.

What I've done so far (in order)-
Changed the oil (this issue started after I drove 1,000 miles in one day).
Introduce Marvel Mystery Oil into the system (Figured it might just be a stuck lifter needing some help.)
Replaced the VTC Springs.
Added in 20W50.
Checked computer for codes and got nothing.

I've also checked my injectors and spark plugs.

I still get a weird knock seemingly coming from under the middle of the plenum. I don't have a garage, so I'm really trying out the stuff that might fix it that I can do in an Autozone parking lot.

I'm almost ready to just sign off on her and drive her into the ground, but to let a 1993 J30 with only 177,500 on it slowly but surely die doesn't feel right.

Here's the original window sticker from my car, it was a nice find in all of its paperwork-

[rwhite]

there is a thread I posted a few days ago on this. Basically I thought it was a lifter, I even used a stethoscope and could swear it was under the plenum. I used marvel, 20-50, and Lucas and nothing helped. I finally gave in and tore the front of the motor down. All the pulleys and timing tensioner were bad. I replaced everything including new belt, water pump and hoses and it's back to running great again. If your gonna drive it until it quits it likely won't be long and you'll grenade your engine. At 177000 if all that hasn't been done I would bet that's your problem.

[hobogunner]

Well, I was really afraid of that. I do know it had a timing belt replaced by the dealer and if I'm remembering the paperwork correctly, it was just the timing belt (and based on responses from your thread that is likely the case).

Based on this write up it wouldn't really be too bad of a job, but I just moved and I'm stuck with a parking lot to work in. I know the immediate response there is "have someone else do it" and I certainly would, but if you figure 1100 dollars for someone else to do it on a car that has about 2300 (excluding preventative maintenance) in it....no matter how much I love my J, I can get one later in life.

That's the sticking point for me right now. It's my first car and it's lasted me 5 years, from the day I got my license to now. I never realized how attached people can get to certain cars until I started writing this.

If I had a garage to tear her down in, I'd go after it. Why did this decide to happen after I leave a place with a garage.
(I'd even go for a driveway, but I don't exactly have that convenience in an apartment.)

I should probably start writing a good eulogy since this will likely be out of my hands for a while.

Alright, back to the topic- Is there a way for me to test the tensioner from the removal of the top two covers? I'm certain it's not as simple as just pressing on the belt, I did that when I checked the springs and the belt was taut like it should be on the passenger side. (There was a stuck and stripped bolt on the drivers side and I don't have air or the right stuff to get at it so the driver's side cover's intake cam hump is on with RTV because I cut it off with a hacksaw blade to get to the spring.) I'll buy myself a good chisel set if you say I can check the tensioner from that side, though. Pretty much anything that will let me verify it before figuring out how to get access to a garage.

[rwhite]

You have to pull the cooling pipes to get the right side timing cover off. If you go that far you might as well do the belt. You can get the driver side cover off and check the belt deflection. If it's more than 1/4" the belt is loose. However if it's tight that's not a guarantee that belt is not jumping around on the tensioner. The only specialty tools you need for replacement are a torque wrench and a harmonic puller which can be rented for free from autozone. Other than that your normal shop tools are adequate. But you do need a.working space to drain coolant and get the car on ramps. Figure 10-12 hours if you have all the parts ready.

[hobogunner]

Well. Maybe I'm just too young to understand, but the J finally bit the dust today. It was the timing belt, it slipped off of the driver side's intake cam. There wasn't much I could do in my situation and I wouldn't have even had the parts to use yet if I ordered them. I couldn't stop driving her; she was my daily driver, so I was just never in a good spot. Now I'm in a worse one, but I'm too sad at the loss of a J to care much right now.

I have her parked on the side of the street to let me take pieces from her, so if you want a part for you J (probably not a good idea to want the engine) feel free to PM me. I plan on scrapping her within the next week, so try to talk to me beforehand. The only main parts I'm going to take out (even without interest)-
-both computers (ECU and A/T)
-the headlight assemblies
-the air intake system
-the door latch assemblies
-middle console arm rest
-driver door master switches
-A/C control unit (the rheostat/hazard side doesn't light up like it should, but it all works)
-all four wheels (had new Firestone tires mounted about 1200 miles ago)
-the gauge cluster

Those are about the only pieces that are pretty much J30 only that are even worth anything. Feel free to PM me as I said. Only thing I don't have is a decent brake booster (had to put my own stud in it since one popped out), stock Bose radio (both rears blew, then the head unit, then the in-door speakers), or radiator (top tank's plastic cracked and I kept sealing it).

(I don't know if a mod wants to split this post off into a new thread, don't really know how you typically do posts for a person parting out their J.)

[rwhite]

I'm sure if you post it in the classifieds and your location you could get someone to buy it for parts. At least someone that has the time and room to strip it down. Sorry about the car. Old cars kinda put you in a tight spot trying to decide whether to put money into them or start over. But you'll likely have the same issue with anything you buy used. They all take money and maintenance to stay on the road. It's a hard pill to swallow but we've all been there trying to decide if you put 1k into a car or spend that much and more for different one that is likely in the same boat.