Shock absorber mounted to engine

[C.Fuller305]

I have a 1994 ford ranger 4.0 v6 and I’m in the process of doing a top end rebuild on the motor. I noticed there is a small shock absorber attached to one side of the motor. I have never seen it before and I don’t know if I should replace it. If I need to what is it called (picture shows the shock)

 

[Uncle Gump]

It's a vibration damper

Most folks just take them off

 

[rumblecloud]

I have the same motor. Took mine off several months ago. Haven't missed it although I may replace it one day if I get bored.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^^ on all the above
When the 4.0l OHV was first used in the 1990 Rangers engineers thought a damper would be needed because of the higher torque of the 4.0l, so added the small shock absorber/dampener
It was eventually dropped

 

[rumblecloud]

I thought at one point after removing it, that it might be useful as a damper on start-up to absorb some of the initial torque.

 

[Kira]

Remember, if you enter your Ranger in a concours d'elegance, you want that damper there.

 

[don4331]

The 428 in the Mercury Montcalm we picked up had a chain to limit engine rotation when you stomped on it!

The rubber in engine mounts isn't very strong in tension and once separated the engine gets pretty jumpy.

 

[gw33gp]

I use solid mounts in my race car. I don't care if it vibrates the car. I just don't want to waste torque twisting the rubber motor mounts and don't want weight shifting around in the corners. Some racers also tie in a bar up higher on the engine to the chassis to reduce movement even more.