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Just an FYI for those wondering about doing it. (This was my first time)
The engine has to be out and the upper oil pan removed, I was "rebuilding" the engine anyway...
I was looking around on the 'net last night for info on removing the balance shaft from my 4.0L SOHC. Really didn't find anything definitive, most advice was to just cut the chain and leave it in place. (so as not to worry about the oil passages to the bal shaft bearings.)
Since I had to pull everything apart anyway, and leaving the thing just hanging there seemed wrong to me I did a little checking. The engine that came with the truck had no balance shaft, turns out that the oil holes are threaded and has plugs in them. (I couldn't find my metric thread gauge, but they're just like the plugs that block the oil passage in the DS head beside the chain tensioner, one came with my timing chain kit,) see pic.
So, on my replacement block, I cut the chain with a set of bolt cutters, removed the tensioner and the shaft assy, installed the plugs from the old engine, done. e-z-p-z.
EDIT: It's a "M10x1.0 Metric Taper Steel Socket Head Pipe Plug" should be available from most any good hardware store or Amazon.
The engine has to be out and the upper oil pan removed, I was "rebuilding" the engine anyway...
I was looking around on the 'net last night for info on removing the balance shaft from my 4.0L SOHC. Really didn't find anything definitive, most advice was to just cut the chain and leave it in place. (so as not to worry about the oil passages to the bal shaft bearings.)
Since I had to pull everything apart anyway, and leaving the thing just hanging there seemed wrong to me I did a little checking. The engine that came with the truck had no balance shaft, turns out that the oil holes are threaded and has plugs in them. (I couldn't find my metric thread gauge, but they're just like the plugs that block the oil passage in the DS head beside the chain tensioner, one came with my timing chain kit,) see pic.
So, on my replacement block, I cut the chain with a set of bolt cutters, removed the tensioner and the shaft assy, installed the plugs from the old engine, done. e-z-p-z.
EDIT: It's a "M10x1.0 Metric Taper Steel Socket Head Pipe Plug" should be available from most any good hardware store or Amazon.
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