valvetrain knock!

Piranahbite · Mar 17, 2022

ok so my 2.3L mustangs valvetrains knocking, i pulled a spark plug and the knock got quieter but didn't go away. yesterday i asked one of the guys at a local machine shop what he thought and he said its definitely a valvetrain issue and I was wondering if any of you guys knew anything about the valvetrain on the 2.3! because I have to replace a valve cover gasket and thought why not kill 2 birds with one stone and try to eliminate the knock aswell, ill try to attach a video or picture of some sort after school today incase you guys want to here what I'm talking about!

Just Add Boost · Mar 20, 2022

Could be a HLA (hydraulic lash adjuster) failing.
With the valve cover off check all the cam lobes for gouges or heavy wear first. If they look ok changing a bad HLA is not that difficult but you will need a "on car" spring compressor to get the cam follower out of the way.

Piranahbite · Mar 21, 2022

Just Add Boost said:
Could be a HLA (hydraulic lash adjuster) failing.
With the valve cover off check all the cam lobes for gouges or heavy wear first. If they look ok changing a bad HLA is not that difficult but you will need a "on car" spring compressor to get the cam follower out of the way.

sick man!!! thanks for the tip!

Just Add Boost · Mar 21, 2022

Another thing, try to get the ford ranger 2.3/2.5 valve cover gasket. It is metal reinforced and way better than the floppy blue felpro one. The ranger ones are even reusable if not damaged.

Piranahbite · Mar 28, 2022

Just Add Boost said:
Another thing, try to get the ford ranger 2.3/2.5 valve cover gasket. It is metal reinforced and way better than the floppy blue felpro one. The ranger ones are even reusable if not damaged.

i will keep that in mind for when i end up goin in there again, my cousin bought me one already as a gift but ill definitly do that next time!

Piranahbite · May 23, 2022

Hey! Been a while.

So today i replaced my valve cover and inspected the camshaft and lobes and anything else i could look at. Unfortunately i have some unsettling information.. my cam lobes are worn and grooved (ill send pictures aswell) and the followers under it have a little bit of play. I dont have the tools to check how much play there is or see if there messed up but i think that may be the reason i have a issue in the top end, cam and followers.

Piranahbite · May 23, 2022

So im assuming ill need a new camshaft and followers if my current one is garbo, but im totally willing to replace it and other essential parts to this job. Maby even replace it with somthing slightly more aggressive (but still smog legal)

Just Add Boost · May 23, 2022

Kind of hard to tell in the pics but I have seen way worse.
As for the play, unless you have a bad HLA, the slack goes away once the engine is running and the HLA has oil pressure.
If you just want to go roller you can put a ranger cam/followers in. If you want a better cam then check out Boport's cams.

Piranahbite · May 23, 2022

Just Add Boost said:
Kind of hard to tell in the pics but I have seen way worse.
As for the play, unless you have a bad HLA, the slack goes away once the engine is running and the HLA has oil pressure.
If you just want to go roller you can put a ranger cam/followers in. If you want a better cam then check out Boport's cams.

i have better pics but i have to get them off my camera, and would it be worth going to a pick n pull to pull a roller cam and followers? and would there be any disadvantages to doing it that way? like conversions and ordering specialty parts? or will it just bolt up no problem

Just Add Boost · May 23, 2022

You could go to the junkyard but it is a gamble whether the parts are any good or worn out.
You can also check out Big R Motorsports. He has cleaned/checked ranger cams/followers as well as other 2.3 upgrades.

Piranahbite · May 23, 2022

Just Add Boost said:
You could go to the junkyard but it is a gamble whether the parts are any good or worn out.
You can also check out Big R Motorsports. He has cleaned/checked ranger cams/followers as well as other 2.3 upgrades.

man thanks for all this advice! beleive it or not your helping me out alot, and i think i will make a trip out to the junk yard and ill see if i can find a cam in good condition aswell as some followers

evintho · May 24, 2022

Years ago I pulled a Ranger roller cam and followers out of a Ranger pickup at Pick-N-Pull and slapped it into my 2.3 turbo motor. I've had the motor my avatar Mustang and it's currently in my '27 roadster. Got about 10K miles on it with nary a problem. The roller components simply don't wear out. Whereas the constant sliding motion on your slider cam causes the wear and damage you see. It's been awhile but, I believe the optimum cam and followers are in the pre-'95 Ranger pickups. Check out TRS or TurboFord for the details.

The Ranger Station

The Ranger Station Forums - Your Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource Since 1999

www.therangerstation.com

TurboFord

turboford.org

Also, you can make your own tool that makes it really easy to remove the followers. Just 2 steel bars with a couple of plates welded to the top to hold them together.

And, while you're in there, replace all your HLA's (that's probably where your knock is coming from). They're only about $50. Good luck!

Piranahbite · May 24, 2022

evintho said:
Years ago I pulled a Ranger roller cam and followers out of a Ranger pickup at Pick-N-Pull and slapped it into my 2.3 turbo motor. I've had the motor my avatar Mustang and it's currently in my '27 roadster. Got about 10K miles on it with nary a problem. The roller components simply don't wear out. Whereas the constant sliding motion on your slider cam causes the wear and damage you see. It's been awhile but, I believe the optimum cam and followers are in the pre-'95 Ranger pickups. Check out TRS or TurboFord for the details.

The Ranger Station

The Ranger Station Forums - Your Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource Since 1999

www.therangerstation.com

TurboFord

turboford.org

Also, you can make your own tool that makes it really easy to remove the followers. Just 2 steel bars with a couple of plates welded to the top to hold them together.

And, while you're in there, replace all your HLA's (that's probably where your knock is coming from). They're only about $50. Good luck!

glad to here! and unfortunately i dont have a welder so i dont think ill be able to make that tool but i may be able to do it with nuts and bolts since it looks simple enough and i am looking into replacing my HLA's as well, me and a couple friends are going to go to pick n pull on Wednesday and see if there's anything left to take on this ranger and if it all looks good ill pull it and install it when i get a chance and ill try to get the rollers off also so i have them all together...

Piranahbite · May 24, 2022

Piranahbite said:
glad to here! and unfortunately i dont have a welder so i dont think ill be able to make that tool but i may be able to do it with nuts and bolts since it looks simple enough and i am looking into replacing my HLA's as well, me and a couple friends are going to go to pick n pull on Wednesday and see if there's anything left to take on this ranger and if it all looks good ill pull it and install it when i get a chance and ill try to get the rollers off also so i have them all together...

https://www.picknpull.com/check-inventory/vehicle-details/1FTCR10A3RPA90511 <---- (ranger at the pick n pull)

manicmechanic007 · May 24, 2022

You should be able to rent the special tool from Autozone or some other parts store (spring compressor for lima motor)
And if you position the cam on the base circle you can just pop the follower out to get at the collapsed HLA
Installing them is just as easy as the hla will have no oil in it yet
No problem with using used parts. Go get a cam and all the followers and HLA's for 30 bucks
Good luck

junkyardwarrior · May 24, 2022

I have used a screwdriver in the past to pry the followers out, and in. Lots easier with Evan's tool though, and that tool is pretty easy to make. That design, though, can get challenging to use on some of the followers (brackets, coils, etc in the way). I actually made a tool that mimics the Lisle tool, hook on one end, goes over the follower. Can also compress valve springs with it.

yes, looks like you have the infamous 2.3L Lima ditched camshaft. Appears to be a slider cam (non roller). The changes made in engine oil a long time ago are not condusive to "life" of a slider (non-roller) camshaft and that's what you end up with, ditched lobes. When the lobes wear down the HLA's will come up out of their bores a little bit, and can contribute to valve train noise. Usually the noise from ditched sliders is more like a sewing machine noise rather than a slower frequency tap-tap-tap-tap.

The good news, find a 90-94 2.3 in a junkyard and rob the cam and followers. It works fine with speed density and MAF. 95 (IIRC) they changed the valve stem diameter and the followers were a little different and won't work on earlier 2.3's. Using the roller cam and matching correct followers rewards you also with a few more horsepower (like maybe 10hp) and a better/more stable idle. I like it.

yes to the Ranger gasket. Use the Motorcraft version, the aftermarket ones always seem to leak. F57Z-6584-A, as I recall.

Piranahbite · May 24, 2022

manicmechanic007 said:
You should be able to rent the special tool from Autozone or some other parts store (spring compressor for lima motor)
And if you position the cam on the base circle you can just pop the follower out to get at the collapsed HLA
Installing them is just as easy as the hla will have no oil in it yet
No problem with using used parts. Go get a cam and all the followers and HLA's for 30 bucks
Good luck

thanks man! and yea tomorrows the day

Piranahbite · May 25, 2022

junkyardwarrior said:
I have used a screwdriver in the past to pry the followers out, and in. Lots easier with Evan's tool though, and that tool is pretty easy to make. That design, though, can get challenging to use on some of the followers (brackets, coils, etc in the way). I actually made a tool that mimics the Lisle tool, hook on one end, goes over the follower. Can also compress valve springs with it.

yes, looks like you have the infamous 2.3L Lima ditched camshaft. Appears to be a slider cam (non roller). The changes made in engine oil a long time ago are not condusive to "life" of a slider (non-roller) camshaft and that's what you end up with, ditched lobes. When the lobes wear down the HLA's will come up out of their bores a little bit, and can contribute to valve train noise. Usually the noise from ditched sliders is more like a sewing machine noise rather than a slower frequency tap-tap-tap-tap.

The good news, find a 90-94 2.3 in a junkyard and rob the cam and followers. It works fine with speed density and MAF. 95 (IIRC) they changed the valve stem diameter and the followers were a little different and won't work on earlier 2.3's. Using the roller cam and matching correct followers rewards you also with a few more horsepower (like maybe 10hp) and a better/more stable idle. I like it.

yes to the Ranger gasket. Use the Motorcraft version, the aftermarket ones always seem to leak. F57Z-6584-A, as I recall.

DUDE THANKS!!!! ill get out there tomarrow and let you know how it goes

Piranahbite · May 25, 2022

i have returned, someone bought all the ranger motors unfortunately so ill get one from big R motorsports if i dont go to another pick n pull

valvetrain knock!

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