1996 3.0L XLT 2WD Automatic.
I posted in here before about compression loss and crank no start. Anyway still messing with it. I took the cam sensor off and watched the tab on the synchronizer while cranking engine, and it did not spin, so I took the synchronizer out and it appeared fine. Stuck a scope down into the synchro opening to watch the drive gear for it while cranking and it does not spin. Before all this I replaced the timing chain and both head gaskets while attempting to fix what I thought were timing/compression issues that were causing the no start. Anyway, while changing the head gaskets I did notice the cylinder 3 valves weren't going up and down when I manually turned over the engine. So I'm assuming these issues point to a broken Camshaft, could anyone verify? thanks.

 

is the passenger side valve cover off? if so are the other valves moving? if cyl 3 isnt moving and the others are I think it is broken if none are moving I'd check the cam chain to crankshaft connection.

 

Yeah it's broken. Can the bearings be replaced while the engine is still in the truck? Can't finds much on my vehicle specifically. Tha is for the reply though. Got tired of wondering so I tore into it this morning.

 

do you think it wasn't getting any oil? ive never seen something like that unless it was a race motor. I dont really know for sure but im guessing you can replace the cam bearings . if you can get them out you should be able to get them in.

 

looks like the 4th cam bearing wasn't seated properly ?

 

I'm hope it was getting oil. When I first got the truck at the beginning of the year it had a loud lifter tap at start up. I changed the oil to Mobil1 synthetic with some Lucas and it quieted down. But after I put synthetic in I had oil pressure issues at idle. So maybe that caused a problem. Funny enough it broke while I was just idling. I was trying to get air out of my coolant and heard a pop, kinda like the AC compressor kicking on, and it died. Been trying to figure it out in my down time for a month and just stumbled on the answer yesterday. Broken cam was last thing I considered.

 

for me I dont think the oil would do that. may be some thing clogged an oil passage to that one cam bearing? and looking at that cam picture you can see that something was going on with that one cam journal. to me it looks like it seized up and that broke it? id ck all you can before you putting it back together. can you pull the pan?

 

I've never tried removing the pan on this truck. I need to due to a minor leak. I know you have to jack the engine up a few inches. I'll give it a go.

 

I sent your pic to a friend thats a real motor guy. but here's what I think. looks to me that that bearing spun on that cam journal and that would keep it from getting oiled and the back part sized up and broke? I'll let you know what my friend thinks.

 

Awesome I appreciate it. Kinda nervous to put it back together since you mention clogged oil passages. I don't have the means to pull the engine to thoroughly check everything. I do plan on trying to get the oil pan off tomorrow though, I'm sure there is a bunch of bearing matter I'd rather not recirculate.

 

remove the oil filter and cut it open look for metal. the filter will get most of all the little stuff I wouldn't think there much in the way big. look at the cam put it back together see if any thing is missing