I actually feel ya in the descrption
tho sadly I haven't had the joy of taking apart my cougars engine
I'm simply afraid to do so x3

Totally is dude.

I had an 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650, I stripped the thing way down to replace a broken valve.
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Felt good to get that down and dirty with it

engine looks sick <3

omg chain timing u newb. >:

Chain timing?

Timing belt, I think he is referring to.

no that's the timing chain (im a a mechanic)

I know, but timing belt is what most people know of as the part for the transmittion (or whatever its for). I only know cause a friend of mine broke his timing chain, and he was suprised to know it was an actual chain, and not a literal belt, like most new vehicles. I also know that the moment a timing chain starts to go, replace it. If it breaks, you wind up with allot more damage than just the chain. ;)

I don't actually know what that does yet. When it breaks and I have to fix it I'll find out. I am really just learning as I go with this since its basically my first vehicle. I have never worked on cars before I got this 6 months ago. It doesn't help that this truck was in a frontal collision before it came to me. There are all sort of things that have cropped up from that that were never noticed by the mechanics that rebuilt it. In fact, in the first couple weeks we discovered that the radiator was mostly destroyed and never replaced.

So far I have had to fabricate new mounts for tail lights (the original mounting surface was rusted away) , replaced most of the cooling system, replaced a bunch of fuzes, replaced all of the vacuum hoses and both the PCV hoses and installed a new radiator and thermostat. I would say I am on a fast track to learning how to fix these things.

My advise is to find a mechanics repair manual for the truck. A timing chain breaking is the last thing you want to see happen. They can destroy an engine in no time flat when the break.

Sorry for the double, but I also wanted to say....wow. For someone that only started to fix a vehicle 6 months ago, you're doing well. Nothings better than being able fix any issue with your own vehicle, and it sounds like you can pretty much do that. :)

I somehow think thats not an immediate concern. I have a Max Ellery's repair manual.

good job drew, that's a lot more than most know that come through my work place.

Yeah, I don't understand why someone would get a car and refuse to learn about it. It's like owning a horse, you just have to accept that it will need attention and proper care only cars are more prone to breaking and often times more expensive. I really wish that I was able to say that I fixed my problem here but unfortunately I am still spraying oil :/ I think That the next thing to check tomorrow might be the air-filter to see if its clogged and causing the PCV's to just build up pressure in the valve cover. I am kinda running out of ideas though. One thing is for sure though. The next time I put in a valve-cover gasket I am going to get some silicone to use with it.

This truck has given me a lot of grief, but it always starts and runs. I will probably never want to own another vehicle than one of these toyotas. I just wish I was better at diagnostics.

where is it spraying oil from?

It looks like from the gasket I just replaced. It's a bit hard to tell though.

the air-filter would be unlikely to cause you problems. for that kind of issue

It might be.

All hail the Toyota engine!

Fawking awesome dude, I never had the guts to tear in to my Celicas 2S-FE, but i was really wanting to replace it with the 3SGTE engine. I had to get rid of the car before i moved back to Washington, so i never had the chance! D:

Keep it up foxie!

A few questions from a relative engine noob: Four banger? Helical gear on the left turns the distributor?

I'd say that both of those are probably astute observations. I am not 100% on that gear cause I haven't had to look into it but it certainly looks to be going into the distributor.