'92 V6 - bad sound and now bad compression/no start

Hi all, first post here...
a couple of days ago my daughter was getting ready to go to work. She started her '92 V6 4Runner (unknown mileage as odometer has been broken for a long time). It started normally (it isn't the strongest engine in the world but has been totally reliable since she bought the truck 9 months ago) and after idling for maybe 1 1/2 minutes it made a sound she described as if something metal was dropped and the engine stalled. It would not restart. I checked, it seems to crank normally and there was spark and tailpipe smells like gasoline but not even a hint of firing.

I did a compression test and got these numbers:
#1 130
#2 40
#3 120
#4 30
#5 130
#6 42

That would tend to make me think maybe somehow the cam timing on the driver's side bank got messed up but the thing that is totally confusing me is when I went to check the oil the end of the dipstick is bent and I am pretty sure that wasn't the case last time I changed the oil a couple of months ago. What could have messed up compression on one bank and bent the bottom of the dipstick? Whatever it may be, I am guessing it is time to rebuild or maybe better yet, does anyone make a kit to drop in the 3.4 V6? In any case, she needs a vehicle and this doesn't sound like a quick fix so looks like time to buy a 'beater' car until I can get the 4Runner back in action.

I have a fair bit of mechanical experience but the only automotive engines I have ever rebuilt were 1960s Ford V8s.

Thanks for any insight you may be able to share.

PS - I have never owned a Toyota in my life and never worked on one until my daughter bought this '92 4Runner. All I have done to it so far is replace the CV shafts and add manual hubs (plus general maintenance like brakes, etc.) but I gotta' say that I am pretty impressed with how this thing is built. I have a lot of 4x4ing experience and I think that with either limited slip diffs or lockers this thing would be almost unstoppable, although sadly I haven't taken it off-road yet.

 

The bent dipstick is normal. The bend ensures the dipstick can only be inserted one way. On 3VZ-Es, it's almost ALWAYS the driver's side head gasket that gives out as it runs hotter than the passenger's side because of the silly exhaust crossover design. Since cylinder numbers 2, 4 and 6 are low, it'd be a logical thing to check. And conveniently, the distributor runs off the driver's side camshaft so that's a shortcut to check for correct engine timing. As for the odometer, it might be leaking capacitors on the speedometer circuit board, corroding it. Most can be repaired.

 

Welcome

 

Thanks for the info about the dipstick! That is a relief.

My timing light is broken but I am going to get a replacement and check ignition timing (to see if possibly the timing belt/driver's side cam could have jumped a tooth - does that ever happen on these engines?) The odd thing to me is how to explain the sound of dropping metal she heard when the engine went from running normally to not running at all. In my experience, leaking head gaskets cause symptoms like poor running, loss of coolant, etc. but the problems tend to come on more slowly and never cause a sound like dropping a hammer into a metal bucket (I didn't hear it myself, unfortunately).

I'm thinking next steps are get timing light, check ign. timing. If if is radically off then suspect timing belt or cam problem. Maybe pull drivers side valve/cam cover. I wonder how many hours a timing belt job tends to take for this engine in a 4Runner.

Thanks again!

 

Fortunately, a timing belt job for this engine is very well-documented on forums and YouTube. The time depends on "while yer in there" stuff like cam and crank seals, belt idler, etc. (and stuck fasteners, of course). Keep us posted.