Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Hey guys, I've been reading the forums a bunch and have been stoked with everyones knowledge and all the advice. I have a question for everyone. I recently purchased my pajero. 1992 2.5 intercooled turbo. The thing is great and I was absolutely loving it until....Driving down the highway last week and it began to shake pretty good. Slowed down my pace and then the engine just shut off. No loud noises no crazy smashing noises or anything, just shut down. Once we got it home and had a look it turns out the camshaft pulley bolt and pin had sheared off. Now this seems simple enough to replace. Popped in some new ones and go about re-setting the timing. The problem is, everything else turned fairly easy but I can't move the camshaft at all. Any tricks or things I should worry about. Should I try moving the cam and crank together? Could there be something incredibly wrong under the valve cover? Thanks for the help guys its always appreciated.

Sorry to be the bearer of lousy news, but I suspect that engine is an interference one, meaning that valves and pistons try to occupy the same place if timing is lost. Some engines are not, and if a timing belt breaks, the engine merely dies until you replace the belt and it's happy camping. But most are interference, and the results of timing loss can be damaged heads, valves, pistons, possibly all three. I suspect you can't move the cam because bent valves are jammed in place. The head will have to come off. If you're lucky (it's hard to use that word in this kind of situation) new valves and maybe a few guides, and you're off to the races. But it's possible your head is damaged, and it's also possible (though less likely) that you'll find a hole or two punched in a piston. I'll let others chime in here and confirm which type of engine it is, but I would be very surprised if it wasn't an interference engine. Breathe deep.

interference engine we are...
sounds like the cam shaft would not be rotating while everything else would be...how did you get it home? tow?

check under the valve cover. maybe a lifter broke?? spring broke? causing you to not be able to rotate...that would be a very nice solution. that could still lead to a valve being bent (but maybe only one...)

if nothing is wrong there, take your time. set all timing marks to where they should be and put your timing belts back on (if they are off). if you can't turn over the engine by hand you're in trouble and a tear-down is in order. (you've got interference somewhere)

Cam likely won't be able to rotate against bent valves jammed in guides. Doubt you will find much without pulling head.

Well guys, Thanks for the tips and these are all things Im really worried about. I spent the afternoon pulling the valve cover off to have a poke around. After setting the timing marks on the crankshaft and Injector (both of which turned easily) I had a look at the cam shaft and am not excited about what I found. The rocker shaft was broken near the back which cracked a couple of cam bearing caps. The cam was seized into the first and second Cam bearing caps and the oil seal is ruined. Also, the second journal on the head is scored pretty badly and I'm wondering if I could just get it machined or if I have to replace the whole head. The latter would be really poopy the former much better. Does anyone know if I have to host pictures on another site and link them here so I can show everyone?

You won't know where you are at until you pull the head, unfortunately. That will tell you all you'll need to know, I expect. The big concern is what's happened on the other side.

Sad news ... sorry about your paj engine.

Your question about posting photos: yes much easier to post them on a remote site and put link in your email here. It is possible to post them on delica site, but they need to be made itsy teensy tiny size.

My favourite go to person for engine advice is Butch at CVI. Shop number 604-247-0500 and don't leave voicemail just phone until someone answers, which probably now is not till monday. They rebuild engines, so he really knows.

Hugs to your paj. christine.

If all you need are parts for the head (head isn't cracked etc) I have a used head with good cam and valve gear that I replaced simply because of a crack in the head casting. Let me know if you want anything off this thing.

TardisDeli wrote:
Your question about posting photos: yes much easier to post them on a remote site and put link in your email here. It is possible to post them on delica site, but they need to be made itsy teensy tiny size.

Drink the Delica.ca Koolaid nothing wrong with that photo size...oh wait it is not 1986...

it was the camshaft pulley that failed?

Check the crankshaft pulley before you spend any money on this motor....I think the camshaft failed due to the timing being lost....so did the tensioner fail? did the crankshaft pulley fail? or what?

answer that question before going forward

After looking at things a little closer it looks like the cam had siezed into the cam bearing caps. This is what caused the failure. Looking like a new head is in my future.

MattieB1 wrote:After looking at things a little closer it looks like the cam had siezed into the cam bearing caps. This is what caused the failure. Looking like a new head is in my future.

why did the cam seize?? oil issue? low oil? blocked passage? crank getting oil?

Yes, that's very strange. Better figure that out before going any further.

So I'm going to be replacing the head, cam, rockers, and valves. Anything else I should be looking into while its all apart to make sure this won't happen again?

New Belts, Tensioners, Cam Shaft, head gasket, Waterpump, thermostat, timing , engine seals and pulley's, keys, while you have it apart. The labour to do this additional work is not much compared to doing it in the first place.

The other part that may be worth considering is the oil-pump and oil flow if lack of pressure that caused your issue in the first place.

regards,

JR