Need help tire-kicking

[rusty ol ranger]

That's illegal and immoral.

You drive a fiesta.

 

[Snoranger]

I wouldn’t buy anything from that place because of this:

If you put a list of “keywords” that have nothing to do with the item you’re selling... **** you.

That being said, I don’t like the 4.0 SOHC. It was a terrible design. I’ve seen way too many timing chains try to escape through the valve cover.
They had a major issue with the bad design, tried to fix it with a bandaid, then gave up and discontinued the engine... what does that tell you? Yes, the newer ones are better but a normal shit is better then diarrhea.

 

[Dirtman]

You drive a fiesta.

You drive an escort!

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I wouldn’t buy anything from that place because of this:
View attachment 34071
If you put a list of “keywords” that have nothing to do with the item you’re selling... **** you.

That being said, I don’t like the 4.0 SOHC. It was a terrible design. I’ve seen way too many timing chains try to escape through the valve cover.
They had a major issue with the bad design, tried to fix it with a bandaid, then gave up and discontinued the engine... what does that tell you? Yes, the newer ones are better but a normal shit is better then diarrhea.

That's what I was afraid of with the SOHC.

The irritating thing is that I'm looking for the exact same truck layout, 2008+ with the 2.3 for a commuter truck for work. Yes, I know the 2.3 wasn't available in the fx4. But same general setup, x-cab, 4wd, manual, etc. The fx4 in this case is just a nice bonus.

 

[Dirtman]

The 2.3 didnt come in 4x4... all 4x4's had the 4.0.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That's what I was afraid of with the SOHC.

The irritating thing is that I'm looking for the exact same truck layout, 2008+ with the 2.3 for a commuter truck for work. Yes, I know the 2.3 wasn't available in the fx4. But same general setup, x-cab, 4wd, manual, etc. The fx4 in this case is just a nice bonus.

I dont think the 2.3 was in any 4x4 after 01, or maybe 98.

You drive an escort!

Not any more. I finally hit puberty.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

The 2.3 didnt come in 4x4... all 4x4's had the 4.0.

Oh ffs ford.

And let me guess... A 4wd conversion or engine swap would be a stupid amount of work.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Oh ffs ford.

And let me guess... A 4wd conversion or engine swap would be a stupid amount of work.

Prolly cause youll never find a duratech 4wd tranny.

 

[Dirtman]

You could make one from parts of a 2.3 trans and a 4.0 4x4 trans if you have nothing better to do with your life...

Kinda like wiping before you poop though...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Or just buy a lima "powered" 4x4

 

[sgtsandman]

The truck looks to be well taken care of. I like that it has the vinyl floor. The price you are thinking about offering would be fair. Like the other's said, the main 4.0 SOHC issues had been addressed by 2008. Any repair history would be nice but since it appears to be a dealer selling it, they probably chucked any documented history of the vehicle as soon as they owned the title. One plus, is the 2008s still had rear drum brakes. Much less headaches with those than the discs they put on in 2010 and 2011.

 

[Dirtman]

I like the rear discs...

 

[sgtsandman]

I like the rear discs...

I find rear discs to be more maintenance intensive than drums. I understand the concept and desire for rear discs. The road splash from the front wheels onto the rear being the weak point of the concept. Something that drums handle better being that they are more sealed against the elements. Come this spring, I'll have had to change pads and rotors twice since buying the truck. Something I've never had to do to a drum equipped vehicle in the same time period. Both the '98 Ranger and '99 CR-V were 15+ years old before I had to change anything on them. Time will tell if the 2019 is the same as the 2011. It does help that I have someone who can drive the 2019 while I'm deployed and minimize corrosion build up as a result. Not so much with the 2011, even if it wasn't parked on the base while I'm away on deployments for months at a time.

 

[adsm08]

Figured the 8500-8750 range was a good deal.

What's the lifespan on the SOHC, and average total miles before its dumb timing chain needs to be replaced?

The timing chain itself is rarely, if ever, the issue. The hydraulic chain tensioners are the problem. They have a spring to hold tension when pressurized oil is not available (like during cranking) that wears out. That plus if the maintenance was poor the tensioner can not hold good pressure against the chain, which allows it to slap against the guide, eventually breaking it. The tensioners themselves are not expensive, nor difficult to replace.

I picked up an 04 Explorer earlier this year, 200K on it, and it had a slight rattle above 2000 RPM. I slapped some new tensioners in it and BAM, rattle gone. The tensioners themselves only cost me about $70, but that's employee pricing. Time to install is minimal, and no special tools are needed, just a 27mm socket and a 27mm wrench.

On the Explorer they are out in the open, on a Ranger the front one may need the intake, or at least the throttle body, removed, but the Explorer intake is very different.

While those issues were mostly worked out by 05, I would still consider the tensioners to be a long-term maintenance item. I'm getting ready to do my dad's when it gets warm again, and he'll have about 175K by then.

 

[Dirtman]

I find most of the time when drums don't need maintenance for a long time it's because they weren't even working. Yea they do last longer between replacing the shoes or drums but they need to be taken apart and cleaned, lubed, and adjusted just as frequently if not more often than discs in order to keep functioning properly. And I never had a wheel bearing issue on a rear disc vehicle.