looking at a truck with bad cam???

[1988Rangerxlt]

im looking at a truck with a bad cam, is it as simple as putting a new one in or would it have messed something up? and what would cause the cam to go bad?

 

[scotts90ranger]

if it's a flat tappet cam, it was probably oil contamination, it could have taken out bearings if the metal fragments got into the oiling system. A cam swap on these things isn't too hard, get yourself a new timing belt, a cam seal and a stock cam from a '88 to '94 I think along with the roller followers (might as well grab the lash adjusters while you're there, always good to have spares) and throw that into the engine, this can be done in the vehicle with the radiator out, the EGR tube makes it interesting but it is doable.

 

[Mark_88]

Or just have the head rebuilt if you're not too keen on doing it yourself...I paid a shop $500 to do mine...simply because I'm not too savy with that aspect of the engines...

 

[scotts90ranger]

If it's just the cam it's easier than you would think, I'd never been in the engine before and it was fairly easy, the two bolts at the rear of the rear bearing, pop off all of the followers with a pry bar or whatever works at the time (get creative), pull the timing cover and belt (just cut it, you don't want to reuse it unless it's knowingly very new) and just pull on the cam gear, actually you will probably want to take the pulley off if you are going to do it in the truck as it'll hit the radiator support... The 2.3 cam is nice because it is all hydraulic, nothing to adjust, just put it in and go, and with rollers you don't have to keep track of what follower goes where.

 

[Mark_88]

If it's just the cam it's easier than you would think, I'd never been in the engine before and it was fairly easy, the two bolts at the rear of the rear bearing, pop off all of the followers with a pry bar or whatever works at the time (get creative), pull the timing cover and belt (just cut it, you don't want to reuse it unless it's knowingly very new) and just pull on the cam gear, actually you will probably want to take the pulley off if you are going to do it in the truck as it'll hit the radiator support... The 2.3 cam is nice because it is all hydraulic, nothing to adjust, just put it in and go, and with rollers you don't have to keep track of what follower goes where.

Dang, if I'd known this about two years ago I could have slid in my mild racing cam myself...oh, well...

 

[scotts90ranger]

yeah, I know, it's intimidating but turns out to be simple, I've been intimidated by all sorts of things over the years.

like working on the first explorer I got, turned out it's heads were cracked so I was left to change them myself knowing nothing about 4.0's, the rockers are all on a single shaft, 3 bolts holding it down, all hydraulic lifters, no adjustment there either, intimidating but way easier than I thought...

 

[Mark_88]

My 2.3 was intimidating when I first got it...but after a few years of tinkering with it I'm very comfortable doing things I never dreamed of doing...that's why it's still a project truck though...