96 ranger 4x4 3.0l 5sp manual blown motor

[Hfelix2k10]

Bought it for a couple hundred bucks with the change it had a broken timing chain missing harmonic balancer and broken tc cover. Turns out the camshaft is bent still turns over. Im trying to get this thing running im looking for a 3.0l motor any recomendations or is it worth taking a risk getting into the motor. Im not a mechanic if i know what im looking at i can utube it. I would really love to do a 302 swap finding a donor vehicle and keeping the price under 1k. It just seems so hard to find any descent information on the forums everything seems contradictory. Any direction/links for useful info or parts/motor links greatly appreciated. Location Montana

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Best bet, spicially with limited mechancal skill is find another OBDII 3.0 in a junkyard and drop it in. Tons of them out there and if say pry 400-450 bucks will get you a good one.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would sure like to know how in the world the camshaft got bent. I don't believe I've ever seen it...

I do agree with rusty... find a suitable replacement... drop it in.

 

[adsm08]

Camshafts are pretty brittle. I've seen them snap in half before, but never bend.

 

[pjtoledo]

can you give us a better description of the "bent camshaft"? pictures would be helpful.

 

[Curious Hound]

Maybe camshaft is straight but block is bent.

 

[Oxxon]

Hello and welcome to the TRS.

 

[Hfelix2k10]

Well i havent taken the motor apart to look at it. Edit i did mean crankshaft.

 

[racsan]

Well if you were closer to ohio I have a ‘97 3.0 id give you. Bent crank makes sense, don’t know how a cast iron cam could bend.

 

[Hfelix2k10]

Im over in Montana