Bad Valves? or lower Engine?

[mrfishjosh]

Ok, So i've got an 83 ranger 2.3L. It "died" some time ago... the carburetor as a bad bushing(main throttle bushing) and I think that has caused several problems, but My main questions is... It has a knock. When I bought the truck, the knock wasn't bad.you could only hear it when the throttle was "floating"(not accelerating or off, but maintaining const. speed) then was driving home and the knock got much louder. Much, much louder. Now it doesnt idle, and knocks like a Mother *. I am thinking its valve related? Compression is about 130 per cylinder. I'd love to get this thing working again to use as a play truck. Any ideas any 1? Thanks for the help!

Im sure you'll need more info, im just not sure what to say...

 

[Earl43P]

I don't suspect a valve problem with 130 psi.

Crank bearings, wrist pins, pull the oil pan and crank it over. Should be visible if it's knocking that bad. Heads/valves are more of a ticking, rapping, not a knock.

Carb problem may have overfueled it and washed the oil off the cylinder walls, diluting the oil, ruining the crank/bearings. Is the oil overfull and stink like gas?

 

[mrfishjosh]

nope, oils fine. Burned a little oil, maybe a quart every month and a half. Can i just drop the pan, or is there a lot else to remove.(need an idea of how much work, weither to do it at home or my friends shop... havent taken a look under there in a while.) Also, the grandparents say i will need to pull the engine to work on the lower end. I think i can just spin the crank(for the wrist pin). A few have said wrist pin, others say crank bearing. I say wrist pin. My first thought was valves. I was wrong But im goin with wrist pins. THX for the info!!

 

[mrfishjosh]

as a side note, should this run at less than 192F? my truck rarely gets up to 192. No heat either. had a couple of 100 degree days, never went above 192. I also have the ENTIRE radiator blocked off with cardboard just to get a little heat on the cooler days...(the thermostat is a 192, replaced it once already)

 

[Bryan22]

from what i've been reading recently, the only thermostat worth a crap is the factory motocraft ones. I'll test this theory next time i get a chance since my truck also runs cold all the time.

 

[98Mazda4X4]

i would say that the knock sounds like the crank bearing or wrist pin to. more than likey i would say do it at yours friends shop to where you can pull the motor.