I have a 95 tracker with the 16 valve engine that ran poorly when I first purchased it a few years ago. I soon found out why it ran poorly, there was serious timing issues with it. I had a garage redo the bottom end for a not so inexpensive $1500, anyways fast forward a few years and about 10k miles and now it doesn't run much at all. It starts, and idles roughly, but smooths out when you slightly rev it, very little gas. It appears to be grossly out of time again, with the bottom belt pulley noticeably wobbling around. I am assuming this is due to poor installation of the crankshaft bolt as discussed here in other threads. I am evaluating my options, do I try to fix the pulley, or just buy a used engine/tranny combo from another tracker, or look for a tracker in better shape than mine.

I can get a new engine for 1500, but that still leaves me with a slipping tranny
I can get a used motor and tranny combo from a wrecking yard but who knows what condition it will be in
I can get a used 95 4 door with 4 inch lift in what appears to be much better shape than mine for around $1500 OBO
Bear in mind, my budget is very limited here.
Would it be worth my while to try and fix my crankshaft bolt again and just get the tranny to get me driving again? I am slightly skeptical on this , as the previous repair has failed.

sounds like to me if the other car is in better condition it might be a good idea, but if you dont want to spend money try and fix the pully if you can.

Timing belt pulley or the fan belt pulley?
The timing belt pulley is on with the big bolt, the fan belt pulley is on with
5 smaller Allen head (hex head) bolts, so before you do anything drastic
you might look at that, also, what level of work can you do on this truck?
Because I don't think the trans is bad, just needs a valve body cleaning,
how many miles on the truck? Did you change the fluid in the trans and it
started slipping? It's common with neglected transmissions, new fluid knocks
the old crap out and it gets junk wedged into the valve body workings.

Wild

Timing belt pulley or the fan belt pulley?
The timing belt pulley is on with the big bolt, the fan belt pulley is on with
5 smaller Allen head (hex head) bolts, so before you do anything drastic
you might look at that, also, what level of work can you do on this truck?
Because I don't think the trans is bad, just needs a valve body cleaning,
how many miles on the truck? Did you change the fluid in the trans and it
started slipping? It's common with neglected transmissions, new fluid knocks
the old crap out and it gets junk wedged into the valve body workings.

Wild

not to highjack the post, but I was goning to clean my 700r4 trans. how would I go about it?

not to highjack the post, but I was goning to clean my 700r4 trans. how would I go about it?

Just change the fluid, ATF has a very high detergent package, that's why a neglected
trans gets messed up when the fluid is finally chanWhat you have to be ready for is if
you can R and R the valve body and clean it so it will work again

Wild

R and R ?

Rest and relaxation 

No it means remove and replace, at the dealer it means take off
the old part and install a new part, they don't have time to mess
around with cleaning or fixing parts.

Wild

Timing belt pulley or the fan belt pulley?
The timing belt pulley is on with the big bolt, the fan belt pulley is on with
5 smaller Allen head (hex head) bolts, so before you do anything drastic
you might look at that, also, what level of work can you do on this truck?
Because I don't think the trans is bad, just needs a valve body cleaning,
how many miles on the truck? Did you change the fluid in the trans and it
started slipping? It's common with neglected transmissions, new fluid knocks
the old crap out and it gets junk wedged into the valve body workings.

Wild

Havent found an engine / tranny combo yet, might just go to another vehicle entirely.
The timing is definitely way off, and the accessory belt pulley is wobbling due to the entire assembly at the end of the crank not being properly fastened from the looks of it the bolt has backed out some. regarding the trans, it has been giving me issues for a few years now. There is just so many problems with it I might be better off getting out of it entirely. which is a shame, since the transfer case, brakes and axles are in such good shape.