So I pulled the Ranger up to the garage today, and started looking it over some more. Looked at what parts were out, and then thought about it some.

I think what happened was a bad lifter got stuck with the valve all the way down, and the piston came up and hit it, causing it to bend. I had been having a lifter tick a while back, but it went away, so I assumed the problem was fixed.

I won't know for sure until I tear down the engine (which I started today). I took all the wires and hoses off the intake, and tomorrow, I will be removing the radiator, fan, and possibly the intake.

I am thinking that if I do keep the motor I have, I need to replace all the lifters and valves, not to mention getting the heads either resurfaced (or however you say it) or replaced, and possibly replacing pistons. OR, finding where I can get a crate engine, and swap that in. OR, find me a 5.0, and swap that in. I haven't decided yet, and money is really what I would like to save on this little "project".

 

Ignore me. I speak no sort of sense.

I was gunna call ya yesterday when I was JY hoppin see if ya needed anything... but didn't

 

I'm sure I got it covered. If I am going the junk yard engine route, I know of a place up here that has about 30 Explorers. In fact, I've gotten a few of my parts off of them.

I think I may go the crate motor route, though. I just gotta quit watching stuff on youtube, and start looking, LOL!

 

call a junk yard get a good motor for around $400 put a simple rebuild gasket slap on it and put it in... personally

 

I'd rather get a clean start at it. It's not completely gone out of the idea pool yet, though, to go junk yard hopping.

 

Start by seeing how much a crate is. If you plan on keeping the truck and don't wanna keep working on it, that'd be the best bet. If not I'm sure you could find a decently mileaged JY one. Or talk to a shop concerning your problem, see what they could do.

 

Not sure how logical this is... but we buy rebuilt engines directly from Ford for our work trucks... might be worth looking into....