engine noise question

[Redbeard90]

Anyone have any experience with the 2.3 Ranger engines. I've got a chance to buy a nice early 90's Ranger but the engine clatters like you wouldn't believe. It sounds like lifters but I know it's an overhead cam engine. I've never been into one of these so I don't know what it could be. It runs good but sounds bad. Any ideas? It has the 8 sparkplug head.

Thanks

Trevor

 

[scotts90ranger]

there are a couple things that can do that on a 2.3, it's fairly common for the oil pickup screen to be plugged with RTV that the factory uses to seal the oil pan, which causes low oil pressure. the other thing that can do that is worn out lash adjusters, they are only like $8 a piece and aren't too hard to change once the valve cover is off.