cause of engine failure
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
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From: redding, ca.
cause of engine failure
I recently had my distributer gear replaced after it blew up and then a month later it happened again except it took out the cam gear. I had the same mechanic work on it and he replaced the timing gears, cam, distributer, and oil pump. He told me the cause was my 35 inch tires with 3.55 gears. Is this possible? It seems to me it would hurt the crank if it was lugging that bad. Any oppinions? I need to prove to my wife that I need to keep my tires. $800 bill all said and done. I think I got screwed.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,903
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From: Copley, OH
What engine? What year?
You didn't get screwed all that badly. Pulling all that stuff and replacing it is a bit of a chore. I'm not sure it's $800 worth but that's probably not way out of line. As to the cause, your mechanic is full of it. Those tires and gears don't load the distributor gear any more than stock. All the load on the distributor gear comes either from friction in the distributor shaft bushings or the power required to drive the oil pump. More than likely your oil pump was on its way out the first time you lost a gear and it finally died and took the gear with it.
You didn't get screwed all that badly. Pulling all that stuff and replacing it is a bit of a chore. I'm not sure it's $800 worth but that's probably not way out of line. As to the cause, your mechanic is full of it. Those tires and gears don't load the distributor gear any more than stock. All the load on the distributor gear comes either from friction in the distributor shaft bushings or the power required to drive the oil pump. More than likely your oil pump was on its way out the first time you lost a gear and it finally died and took the gear with it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 3
From: Centerville, Iowa
Going to bigger tires stresses axles. It lowers your torque multiplication at the wheels, which is why you 'bog' down with a big tire swap without gearing change. Bigger tires will lower your mpg (usually) just because they present more unsprung weight and more surface and contact area. However, your rpm's should drop accordingly as well. I think if you go up like 3 or 4 sizes..its equivelent to having gone from 4.1 to 3.73 or so. Big tires are the reason that people buy 4.56 gears 
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 752
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From: Kalispell, MT
in order to go to bigger tires, you basically need to go with a lower gear ratio, to re-gain your effective gear ratio....with 35" tires, i would suggest switching to a 4.10 gear ratio to regain your effective gear ratio....if you need more info, go to superlift.com, and check out their link on "Gearing Up for Taller Tires"...it's got a chart and mathematical formula to help you out...but in truth...the money you will spend on the third member for front and rear axles is NOT really gonna be worth it, especially in your wife's eyes...i'm not even married and i know this...you'll end up going back to smaller tires, i fear...
MontanaFord
MontanaFord
