Very sick 1st Gen: Engine issues, clutch drag & slip..

[TxCowgirlInCo]

Wanted y'alls input on something: what goes through your mind when you think about the following:

4.0L OHV less than 150k miles. Previous: Slight, steady, slow rear main leak - no other running / drivability issues. Vehicle out of owners possession for period of time and believes 'something happened' with it.

Fast forward: 250 miles later: full oil change (was somewhat overdue) / tune up done with new FPR, fuel filter, New IAC, New PCV, New air filter, MAF cleaned, ICM swapped out. Fuel pressure checked and within spec as well as holding pressure 30 min later. Compression right bank: 150,150,160 compression Left 135,160,160. New tensioner, New high output alt, new belt less than 100 miles ago.

Newest symptoms: Really leaky rear main, major Belt flap..checked tensioner, belt and alt alignment and still getting no chirp but definite visual flap.

Intermittent clutch drag & clutch slip (clutch pack replaced less than 10k miles ago), excessively low oil pressure, hard to cold start, stalls out intermittently when driving, and the doozie: found both silver and gold particles (lots) in the oil which was changed 20 miles ago. Checked dip then pulled oil plug and it was a copper downpour. ugh.

Thoughts?? Thanks everyone!

 

[Centaurious]

I hate to say this but, ignoring the drive-ability issues it sounds like the crankshaft is not running true. if the bearings are worn to this degree then I would be looking at a re-manufactured long block if you wish to keep the truck going.

Something bad happened to cause this much wear. Low oil pressure/level would be my first guess. It sounds like the main bearings are toast and are spinning with the crank.
The oil pressure gauge is a glorified idiot light and does not show actual pressure.

As far as the drive-ability issues I would check the crank pickup and see if it has the needed clearance from the balancer.

These engines are extremely tolerant to cooling issues and irregular oil changes and bottom end issues are almost unheard of in my experience.