Oil Pan

[Kyle M.]

I need a new pan gasket, can I do this with out removing the engine? Should I do an oil pump at the same time? My truck has a lot of miles on it.

Thanks

 

[engdept]

You will have to raise the engine a bit to get the pan to drop.

Yes you should change the oil pump while you are in there.

 

[Kyle M.]

Well, I guess it will be a good time to inspect the motor mounts also. Any recommendations on the oil pump? Can I remove it from the bottom and replace it with out any other issues? I know there is no dizzy in my truck, I'm just not sure how the pump is run.

 

[MAKG]

You will have to raise the engine a bit to get the pan to drop.

Yes you should change the oil pump while you are in there.

You (Maurice) have a 2.9L. You can (sorta) do this with wood blocks, lifting the engine FAR up, and yanking the transmission to do so (or else the oil pump -- blind -- as well as the front stabilizer bar).

With a 4.0L, no fricken way.

Even if you could, it's quite difficult to install a pan gasket without screwing up with a huge frame crossmember in the way.

Be careful about bad advice; it has consequences. You could have just stranded this guy.

Changing the oil pump is something you CAN do if you really, really want to. But they last the life of the engine, and the only time you SHOULD is when rebuilding the engine or if there is a known problem with volume delivery (NOT pressure -- that's the fault of the first oil clearance, not the pump).

The pump can be inspected and cleaned if you want. And you can measure crank and rod bearing clearances easily.

 

[engdept]

The 2.9 and the 4.0 OHV are practically the same engine, not to mention that the frames are the same up front. I don't see why you can do it with a 2.9 and not with a 4.0.

 

[Kyle M.]

alright, thanks. The reason for a pump swap is because I have a lifter tick that is driving me crazy. Instead of doing the pan, I might just go in thru the top and try to work it out.....any pointers on this matter?

 

[MAKG]

The 2.9 and the 4.0 OHV are practically the same engine, not to mention that the frames are the same up front. I don't see why you can do it with a 2.9 and not with a 4.0.

The details matter. They are related engines and share design elements. They are NOT practically the same in a physical sense. Almost nothing is interchangeable; all the bolt patterns are different (even the transmission, though most of the bolt holes do line up).

The 4.0L has a chunky aluminum oil pan, and the block is WIDER at the bottom to accomodate the larger crankshaft.

The 4.0L oil pan also accepts transmission bellhousing bolts, which means it has to be carefully aligned with the back of the block, or the transmission will be cockeyed, leading to either clutch chatter or torque converter seal failure.

 

[engdept]

all the bolt patterns are different (even the transmission, though most of the bolt holes do line up).

That is where you are WRONG. The ONLY bolt holes that do not get used on a 4.0 transmission when installing it on a 2.9 is the oil pan bolt holes. All the other bolt holes are EXACTLY the same.

Oh yea, and the flywheel bolt pattern is the same.

 

[MAKG]

That is where you are WRONG. The ONLY bolt holes that do not get used on a 4.0 transmission when installing it on a 2.9 is the oil pan bolt holes. All the other bolt holes are EXACTLY the same.

Oh yea, and the flywheel bolt pattern is the same.

Umm, what part of "most of the bolt holes do line up" don't you agree with? it's 5 or 6 bolts depending on the model year. They have 8. You can't claim it has the "same" bolt pattern if you have to lose 3/8 of the bolts.

And 4.0L flywheels have two different bolt patterns. And anyone installing a 2.9L flywheel on a 4.0L deserves what they get....

Whether or not you USE the oil pan bolt holes, the pan has to be aligned with the block to prevent it from interfering with the transmission. You still gave bad advice. The engine needs to be pulled for an oil pan replacement on a 4x4 4.0L. It should be pulled on a 4x2, but the engine crossmember is smaller.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That is where you are WRONG. The ONLY bolt holes that do not get used on a 4.0 transmission when installing it on a 2.9 is the oil pan bolt holes. All the other bolt holes are EXACTLY the same.

Oh yea, and the flywheel bolt pattern is the same.

That doesn't even matter for this discussion. The guy just wants to know if you can change the oil pan gasket gasket with the engine in the truck. Which unknown to some, you can't.

 

[engdept]

Umm, what part of "most of the bolt holes do line up" don't you agree with? it's 5 or 6 bolts depending on the model year. They have 8. You can't claim it has the "same" bolt pattern if you have to lose 3/8 of the bolts.

And 4.0L flywheels have two different bolt patterns. And anyone installing a 2.9L flywheel on a 4.0L deserves what they get....

What part of the ONLY holes that do not line up are the ones that go into the oil pan do you not get? The transmission bolts that go into the block all line up from a 4.0 to a 2.9.

No duh that the 4.0's have 2 flywheel bolt patterns, but it just so happens that the '90-'97.5 4.0's have the SAME flywheel bolt pattern as the 2.9's. I was correcting you on what you said about no bolt pattern being the same on the 2.9 and 4.0.

 

[woodyedmiston]

Pulling the engine.

Take this into consideration. The 4.0 engine is small but it is by no means easy to work on, scrunched down on the floor of your garage.

For my money, the best way for you to change your oil pan gasket it to pull th engine. IF . . . you don't have to rent a hoist, rent a engine stand, and you have enough tools. You can turn the motor over, check the pan/block/gasket alignment and be sure you are getting it right. But you really need access to those tools to make it worth pulling the engine.

At the same time you might want to check some other things - great time to change the plugs if they need it, even the water pump if you are suspicious.

Mine is an automatic. I disconnected the wiring harness from the transmission, snaked it out on top of the engine and nothing else has to be disconnected from the top of the engine.

That's just my suggestion.