New Used Ranger, needs work, need HELP!!!!

[laser411]

Ok, so I had a little time to run the engine a little trying to get a code and when I rechecked the radiator it did have a little bit of oil sludge in it. So now from what I understand could be a Cracked head, bad head gasket, or cracked block (REALLY hoping not). Is there anyway before I tear it down to distinguish which it is?

 

[Rearanger]

Hot compression test will help to determine what head(and cylinder) if not both. If it's just a HG then you can do a cheap and just replace the one that's blown. But you will not know if it's a cracked head or HG until you remove the head in question. Usually on a HG it's a good idea to have the head tested for flatness and cracks. But before you go ahead, tell us what the hot compression is in each cylinder, it may not pay to get any head work done as you could have bought yourself a truck that needs a new engine.

 

[backroad101]

When I got my head gaskets done I was told that the heads were designed of aluminum so that in that situation, they would crack before the cast iron block

 

[Jason_J]

When I got my head gaskets done I was told that the heads were designed of aluminum so that in that situation, they would crack before the cast iron block

Heads and block are both cast iron.

 

[stmitch]

You can spend lots of money throwing different parts at it, that may or may not fix your issues, or you can get a used 3.0 for ar couple hundred bucks and eliminate all of the hunting for problems. Around here taurus motors start at around $200 from the local yards. You'd probably spend that much or more on new cylinder heads.

 

[backroad101]

Heads and block are both cast iron.

Sorry, I have the 4.0L

 

[backroad101]

You can spend lots of money throwing different parts at it, that may or may not fix your issues, or you can get a used 3.0 for ar couple hundred bucks and eliminate all of the hunting for problems. Around here taurus motors start at around $200 from the local yards. You'd probably spend that much or more on new cylinder heads.

You could swap a different motor in to get you working then, as time and money allow, slowly rebuild you old 3.0L and swap it back in. Then you could prob resell the junkyard motor for close to what you paid for it.

 

[Jason_J]

You could swap a different motor in to get you working then, as time and money allow, slowly rebuild you old 3.0L and swap it back in. Then you could prob resell the junkyard motor for close to what you paid for it.

You have a good point here, I sold my blown motor for $130.

 

[laser411]

I don't really have the money to pay labor for dropping in a new motor or the knowledge/tools to do it myself, however new things have happened. started it up today and had the abnormal vibration still happening, was going to pull individual plugs like my cousin (mechanic) told me to do to find the offending cylinder. the block was shaking too much while running for me to do it so i cut it off, then thought about letting it run long enough to throw a code so cranked it back up, smoke was gone, vibration was gone and i drove it down the street, no lack of power or anything and no misfiring. now there's only a slight knock sound, less then a piston knock, more then a lifter, anything I can do to diagnose where its actually coming from or whats causing it?

 

[92 street truck]

might consider checking the timing if the chain jumped it could cause the problems your talking about

 

[laser411]

Ok, so, reviving my OLD thread, emphasis on old lol. Took the engine apart, found the following, One steam cleaned piston right in the middle of the right bank of cylinders= blown head gasket, opposite head had a chip in the middle cylinder but looks like it held its compression and fluids fine, tons of rust and debris in coolant channels (even after several flushes), So Removed water pump to fins that the fins were rusted and chunks missing, replaced. now heres the thing, over the months the truck has been apart, ive lost several miscellaneous bolts and parts, any ideas where to find em? tried junkyard. list follow:

1 water pump bolt (the larger one, got stuck into socket.....permanently)
Accessory bolts (alternator, brake booster, etc.)
Radiator bolts and the gromet like things
1x pushrod (dont ask, i dont know how the heck i just lost ONE lmao) replaced with heads from a ford windstar found in junkyard.
god only knows what else >..>

anywhere i can just get these new?