rangerOHV
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Messages
- 1
- Vehicle Year
- 1996
- Transmission
- Automatic
Hello long time reader here,
I am looking for some feedback on the current situation of my Ranger. It’s a 96 4.0L OHV, auto with 236,000 miles.
Long story short, a while back the intake manifold gasket was replaced and just recently the motor would not turn over one morning. Replaced the started cause the motor to start and immediately a clacking/tapping sound was coming from the rear of the engine bay. Sound was not consistent with the engine; it would come and go as if something was dancing around.
Took the heads off and found the surface of the upper left cylinder pretty beat up as well as the sparkplug. Turned the engine over by hand to inspect the cylinder wall and it was in good shape. I believe the cause of this was a small washer/metal piece that slipped in there when the intake manifold was replaced, because I discovered small pieces of metal in the manifold and a few stuck on the surface of the cylinder. I cleaned the surface of the cylinder a bit with a wire brush to get off the few pieces of metal stuck on.
Got the heads re-manufactured and I am about ready to put them back on but I wanted to get some feedback on the cylinder. What am I looking at here? Can I proceed to install the heads back on? Or, is this something worse?
Thanks!
I am looking for some feedback on the current situation of my Ranger. It’s a 96 4.0L OHV, auto with 236,000 miles.
Long story short, a while back the intake manifold gasket was replaced and just recently the motor would not turn over one morning. Replaced the started cause the motor to start and immediately a clacking/tapping sound was coming from the rear of the engine bay. Sound was not consistent with the engine; it would come and go as if something was dancing around.
Took the heads off and found the surface of the upper left cylinder pretty beat up as well as the sparkplug. Turned the engine over by hand to inspect the cylinder wall and it was in good shape. I believe the cause of this was a small washer/metal piece that slipped in there when the intake manifold was replaced, because I discovered small pieces of metal in the manifold and a few stuck on the surface of the cylinder. I cleaned the surface of the cylinder a bit with a wire brush to get off the few pieces of metal stuck on.
Got the heads re-manufactured and I am about ready to put them back on but I wanted to get some feedback on the cylinder. What am I looking at here? Can I proceed to install the heads back on? Or, is this something worse?

Thanks!


