Timing Chain(s) Jump?

B

Bubby

Registered
1997 Mark VIII
121,000 miles

So yesterday I'm heading to the motor vehicle center to register my '69 Mark III I've just purchased. I'm stopped at a light and notice i have stalled, no shuttering or anything, just glanced down and noticed no RPM's. I turned the key and it started fine. Drove about .2 of a mile down the road and heard a grinding sound from under the hood. I immediately pulled into the lot of an office building where the car died. Got out, checked the oil and coolant, all was good. Tried to start the car again and it started but ran very rough and unbalanced. Shut it off and called the tow truck. Had it taken to the garage i deal with for the things i don't feel like doing. They said they started it and drove it into the shop and it ran very rough and unbalanced. They suggested that it may have jumped a tooth but they don't get into ripping engines apart anymore. So... what should i do? Bring it home and start tearing her down? Could a tensioner have worn and allowed this to happen? Like i said, there were no signs of any problems prior, car always started and had plenty of guts. Any help is appreciated!
 
Perhaps the tensioner guide broke? These are interference engines, meaning IF the chain(s) did jump a tooth the valves would be into the pistons and it will not run.

I would suspect something amiss with a valve spring or rocker. That's something that could be fixed relatively easy before it's too late. Try to determine which side is suspect and pull the valve cover and inspect.

If there is a tensioner issue, the front cover needs to come off. Not a job for a rookie.
 
So which car did this happen to?

I'm in Forked River, NJ, and could do the work on the side, if you can't find anyone else.
 
Kinda sounds like a fuel issue, or maybe a missfire. Check fuel pressure. Check the easy stuff before you go ripping into the engine :)
 
If it's a 69, I don't think it has tensioners, and the sprockets and chain are pretty easy to change.
 
Sounds like it could be a coil on plug issue, idle control valve. I think the engine is an interference engine, so if one of the 4 chains jumped it would be evident.
 
The mechanics also said it didn't seem to be building up vacuum because the brake pedal stayed stiff.
 
I guess bringin it home and pullin the covers is the best place to start after I see if it spit out any codes.
 
I'll open it up and keep ya posted! Thanks to everyone and maybe there will be a '97 mark viii parts car listed soon enough! LOL!
Bret
 
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