Engine problems- help please

I have a 98 Camry LE with 107,000 highway miles on it. Today driving up the interstate, more specifically up an incline in the interstate the engine acted like it was cutting in and out and then went on. Then i started hearing what sounded like rocker arms hitting the valve cover. Before I knew it I was at the top of the hill and coming up on the intersection. I decided to get off and pull into the local mall thinking i would have the oil checked again since I was embarking on an 85 mile trip. In front of the shop the car seemed to sieze up and shut off. We pushed it in, and the mechanics thought it might need a battery and possibly an alternator. Long story short, we got it to start but it sounds freakin horrible like it's about to throw a rod at idle, even more, when you give it a smidge of gas, it seems to lock up the motor and it kills it. Has anyone heard of such a thing? what could cause something like this? what potentially should I do? Should I look into having the motor cracked to see what is wrong, or should I just find a motor out of another wrecked car? Affraid to start the car anymore b/c I know it sounds bad enough to know that more damage is about to happen. not sure how to procede. I feel like I should be contacting Toyota. Only a 107,ooo miles and I should not be having this problem. Also in case some of you are wondering, i change the oil ritually every 3500 miles and I even looked at it today. It looks brand new even w/o having it changed.
Open for suggestions.... not going to be a good X-mas I think here!
:confused:

have you changed your timing belt? It's recommended by toyota to be changed at 90000. If the timing belt broke, then your looking at an internally damaged engine. Big bucks!

Have you ever had the timing belt replaced? If not, it is possible that your timing belt jumped a tooth or two. I don't know what this can sound like, but even if the engine was swapping pistons between cylinders, it usually runs until it totally locks up. Just guessing of course.

The obvious possibility is your engine oil pump or a main/rod bearing died. It doesn't explain why your engine dies when you give it some gas. You can get your oil pressure checked at idle and see if it's normal. If not, it is the pump or bearing.

Good luck - have someone check the timing belt (valve timing) before you throw the engine away.

If the timing belt broke, then your looking at an internally damaged engine. Big bucks!

If the timing belt broke, the engine wouldn't run. Also, it would not damage the engine. It is a non-interference engine.

Timing belt may have jumped a tooth or two. Engine should not be toast.

Hey guys... thanks for your responses. I did have the timing belt changed at 70k per the dealer suggested time to do it. The motor is turing over and runs fine at an idle. Oil pressure is normal, and the oil looks brand new. However the best way I can describe what the motor sounds like wneh you give it gas is this.... a metal bucket with gravel inside being spun at a high velocity. Sounds terrible and when you do give it gas it usually sounds like that and then dies, kills the motor. I am having it owed to a guy that works on foreign motors this afternoon. Any ideas where a guy could find a toyota motor in Ohio out of a wreck? Desperate to get this back on the road! I'm near Cinci Ohio.
Thanks again!
Cam98

If it is one of the main rod bearings... what is involved and what kinda of costs would i expect from something like that? Is it a major job to fix? I was thinking i might be the main crank bearing possible? What's the likelyhood of this bearing going bad, and in the process causing other internal damage from abnormal abbrasion? It does have an aluminum block does it not?

Is it a six or four cylinder?

It's 4 cylinder.

The motor looks like you could eat off of it is what the mechanic said, after looking at it. That's why i can't believe this is happening. This car has been nothing but babied! Always in the garage, always well maintained! No reason for this in my book!

Well I found out today that the engine has a spun rob bearing is what the guys in the shop found. They tried starting the car and it would start but sounded terrible. So the went a step further to get a better look and sure enough it has a spun rod bearing. That translates into a new motor. So they are dropping a 98' engine with 34k in her for me now. Not sure why this has happened but needless to say I am disappointed in my Toyota! These cars are supposed to run for 300K with regular maintenance which it has always had!

Thanks for all of the feedback guys!

cam98,

Slow down a bit here. I believe these generation 4 5SFE motors have an extended wauranty on them due to the sludging problem. Do a search on this site for "sludging problem", learn as much as you can about it, and then call Toyota corporate in California at 1-800-331-4331 and talk to customer service. You will need documentation of regular oil changes so be prepared to provide it.

Good luck.

Mike