2.3L ('83-'97) Engine rebuild camshaft rattling noise

[Ben Horrom]

I've got a head from a 1996 2.3 ranger and i have the cam out and I'm trying to figure out why it is making the noise it is. There is some kind of rod going through the center of the cam that shakes back and forth and I'm not sure if it's normal or not. If anyone knows anything about this I'd love to know what this means so I can put my head back together.

Shared album from Ben's 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

This is the video it's too large to share in the post

My 2.5 cam does a similar thing but it's a lot quieter and doesn't rattle nearly as much.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Haven't heard of that before but the cam is hollow so it could have a rod in it to take up some of the volume and possibly act as a "shock" to absorb some running noise possibly. I wouldn't worry about it since it will be filled with oil under pressure while running...