89 ranger 2.9 ticking

[rangerhirider]

I have a 89 ranger with a 2.9. I know most of them with some miles on them will have a lifter tick. Mine has a 130,000 on it. You can start it when it is cold and it will tick, then go away. When you run it, it will tick very loud once it is hot. Could this be something other than a lifter? Should i keep driving it or do I risk really damaging something?

Thanks in advance

 

[Psychopete]

I was in a similar situation when I had a cracked head. (IMO, a REAL oil pressure gauge could verify low oil pressure) The water had eaten away my bearings and caused the symptoms you describe. It's wasn't so much the lifter itself, but lack of oil to them since the clearances are bigger and less oil is getting to the top end. Oil pressure also read extremely low on my stock gauge when ticking was at it worst (off the highway).

I've also heard of the lifter bores wearing and causing some of the ticking. Also rocker arm shafts tend to clog up as well.

If you have good pressure, it's possible that the fix might just be in the top end.

Pete

 

[rangerhirider]

The guy i bought the truck from had the oil pump replaced and the heads all gone through before i got it. for some reason he didn't put new lifters in it while he had the heads off. It has only about 1000 miles since this was done. He just wanted to get rid of it so i picked it up pretty cheap. The oil pressure is also right where it should be.

 

[spdcrazy]

i'm in the same boat as you. cept mine does it more when i go up hills...