4x4ranger86
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2010
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Make / Model
- ford
- Transmission
- Automatic
ok well i just bought an 86 ranger for $550.00. it runs but not very well. I did a compression check (engine wasnt warmed up)
#1 150 psi
#2 0 psi
#3 130 psi
#4 130 psi
#5 130 psi
#6 125 psi
i added some oil to number 2 and retested multiple times. no change. also my battery was starting to die towards the end especially during the last cylinder check, so im guessing the last four cylinders are slightly higher than 125 - 130 but even if they are not its still pretty good pressure.
this engine also has the after market cylinder heads so im pretty sure its not the cylinder head itself. (the whole top end looks like it has been redone recently)
since i added oil and there was no change in the pressure i am ruling out piston rings as the sole cause. (possibly bad rings with a combination of other problems though)
the piston is moving up and down and there isnt a loud noise that would indicate a busted rod.
so that leaves the head gasket, valves, lifters, cylinder cracked, or a hole in the piston right? anything else it might be?
im really hoping that it is a valve that is stuck open. i rotated the engine by hand and the lifters are all fairly loose as in you can spin them with your fingers if you try hard enough. the #2 intake lifter is the only one that wont move at all.
anyways i am basically looking for information/suggestions on how to adjust the rocker arms, lifters, and valves. i have been reading these forums for the past few days and although it has been discussed a few times i really dont understand exacly how to go about doing it. alot of people say that the hydraulic lifters on the 2.9l never need to be adjusted and only the 2.8l needs regular adjusting. is that true?
i dont want to pull the heads until i rule out the misadjusted valves. thanks in advance. sorry for such a lengthy post.
#1 150 psi
#2 0 psi
#3 130 psi
#4 130 psi
#5 130 psi
#6 125 psi
i added some oil to number 2 and retested multiple times. no change. also my battery was starting to die towards the end especially during the last cylinder check, so im guessing the last four cylinders are slightly higher than 125 - 130 but even if they are not its still pretty good pressure.
this engine also has the after market cylinder heads so im pretty sure its not the cylinder head itself. (the whole top end looks like it has been redone recently)
since i added oil and there was no change in the pressure i am ruling out piston rings as the sole cause. (possibly bad rings with a combination of other problems though)
the piston is moving up and down and there isnt a loud noise that would indicate a busted rod.
so that leaves the head gasket, valves, lifters, cylinder cracked, or a hole in the piston right? anything else it might be?
im really hoping that it is a valve that is stuck open. i rotated the engine by hand and the lifters are all fairly loose as in you can spin them with your fingers if you try hard enough. the #2 intake lifter is the only one that wont move at all.
anyways i am basically looking for information/suggestions on how to adjust the rocker arms, lifters, and valves. i have been reading these forums for the past few days and although it has been discussed a few times i really dont understand exacly how to go about doing it. alot of people say that the hydraulic lifters on the 2.9l never need to be adjusted and only the 2.8l needs regular adjusting. is that true?
i dont want to pull the heads until i rule out the misadjusted valves. thanks in advance. sorry for such a lengthy post.