How often do locked cams come up on 2.3s

[huggyb1972]

I just bought a 94 ranger this week and it had cam bearing that froze the cam on the 3rd tower. You can replace the cam with engine in the truck by the way. Make sure you take the cam gear off first though. I had never saw a froze cam bearing on one of these motors before this one.

 

[Mark_88]

I've never seen one in 15 years or so of working on the 2.3...but anything is possible....obviously...

Third tower from the front? That might be a oiling issue...I would imagine it could happen fairly quickly if the oil passages are plugged up...but could be a defective bearing...

 

[RonD]

yes, that would not be common on Lima engines

I would put in some fresh oil and filter, and manually spin the oil pump gear before putting cam back in and see if all journals are getting oil

 

[huggyb1972]

Way ahead of you on verification of oil at that cam tower. Spun the intermediate shaft with my drill it had as much oil coming out of it as the others. It locked up tight as a drum though I had to pull the cam out the front ùsing a jack bolt and big socket. I used a bearing and seal driver with the handle from my jack since it fit the od of the driver fairly tight.

 

[tomw]

That particular bearing is nearest the oil source, so investigation may be a good idea. The oil flows up from the block at the rear on the drivers side and goes into the bottom of the cylinder head. I thought the lifters/supports were fed first, and then the cam bearings. The rearmost would be closest to the source, and should have been fed better than the frontmost. That is the reason to inspect and be sure that there's not some blockage or intermittent crud cutting the flow. Unusual to say the least. First bearing failure I've heard of in the 2300 engine. Ever. Most times the rods will start clanking first.
tom

 

[huggyb1972]

I expected to wash some piece of crud up out of it when I brought the oil pump up. Kinda got me scratching the knoggin maybe it was oil related, maybe It got to hot I'm going to change the oil and fire it and see what happens.

 

[huggyb1972]

It runs good oil pressure is reading normal it doesn't smoke or knock. I left a picture of the bearing and of the ranger. I gave $150 for the truck. It needs all the hangers for the rear axle replaced let's just day this one had the variable wheelbase/rear steer option.

 

[tomw]

Well, you stole that truck. You should have given $150-200 for the wheels & tires, much less the whole thing.
That bearing surface appears as if one edge got all the damage, as if the bearing was canted in its bore. Were the oil feed holes aligned properly? They might have been partially offset and limited flow...? You should have been able to see 'telltale' marks on the iron of the bore where the feed hole was installed.
tom