2.9l tapping noise... Help!

MrScene · Jan 22, 2019

I have a 89 ranger with a 2.9l that recently had new lifters dropped in. We thought the tapping sound was from the lifters but its still here. We adjusted the lash on the rocker arms because some were fully screwed in and others were almost all the way out. My oil pressure gauge is the stock gauge but it flaps back and forth when the engine has been running for 5 minutes, but only at idle does it spaz. The heads werent cracked and the engine has no sludge in the top end. Idk the kms on the engine cause the last owner swapped it. only when its real bad that I can hear it when I have my foot down.

The I cant figure out why I still have the lifter noise.
please help :bawling:

Michael88STX · Jan 22, 2019

Can you tell whether it's coming from the top or bottom end?

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adsm08 · Jan 22, 2019

Excessive lifter noise on a 2.9 is more often worn cam bearings than bad lifters. Some is normal, as the lifters on that engine were poorly designed.

I would say get a real oil pressure reading with a mechanical gauge, and go from there. Expect cam bearings or oil pump (or both) to turn out to be the real culprit.

MrScene · Jan 22, 2019

Michael88STX said:
Can you tell whether it's coming from the top or bottom end?

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the noise is coming from the middle of the engine both sides have the noise.

MrScene · Jan 22, 2019

adsm08 said:
Excessive lifter noise on a 2.9 is more often worn cam bearings than bad lifters. Some is normal, as the lifters on that engine were poorly designed.

I would say get a real oil pressure reading with a mechanical gauge, and go from there. Expect cam bearings or oil pump (or both) to turn out to be the real culprit.

If it is the cam bearings and oil pump am I better off replacing them or engine swapping.

adsm08 · Jan 22, 2019

MrScene said:
If it is the cam bearings and oil pump am I better off replacing them or engine swapping.

It all depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to sink into it.

If it was me, and I was set on keeping the 2.9 I would go pull one out of a yard, preferably something late 89 or newer, and rebuild it, then throw the fresh one in.

If it was me and I was doing me things, I'd be out there shopping for a nice 1st gen Explorer that had holes in the floor pan.

MrScene · Jan 22, 2019

adsm08 said:
It all depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to sink into it.

If it was me, and I was set on keeping the 2.9 I would go pull one out of a yard, preferably something late 89 or newer, and rebuild it, then throw the fresh one in.

If it was me and I was doing me things, I'd be out there shopping for a nice 1st gen Explorer that had holes in the floor pan.

Thanks for the feed back

rusty ol ranger · Jan 23, 2019

Turn the radio up and run it.

MrScene · Jan 23, 2019

rusty ol ranger said:
Turn the radio up and run it.

sadly I dont know how to rewire the new radio but I havent really tried

Uncle Gump · Jan 23, 2019

I agree with rusty and adsm...

just run it... and start collecting parts for a swap.

Michael88STX · Jan 23, 2019

MrScene said:
the noise is coming from the middle of the engine both sides have the noise.

Sounds like cam bearings

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Michael88STX · Jan 23, 2019

MrScene said:
If it is the cam bearings and oil pump am I better off replacing them or engine swapping.

Imo the cam bearings are not that hard to do after a little research, you can pick up a set online for cheaper than buying a whole new engine and rebuilding it, and as for the oil pump they are pretty easy to replace if the engine is out, I really don't see any options on dropping the oil pan enough to get up in there while the engine is still 8n the truck

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adsm08 · Jan 23, 2019

Michael88STX said:
Imo the cam bearings are not that hard to do after a little research, you can pick up a set online for cheaper than buying a whole new engine and rebuilding it, and as for the oil pump they are pretty easy to replace if the engine is out, I really don't see any options on dropping the oil pan enough to get up in there while the engine is still 8n the truck

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The cam bearings aren't that hard to do. I didn't see it myself, and this is admittedly a "friend of a friend" type story, but I heard tell of a guy that would do 2.9 cam bearings with the engine in place. He'd tear the front cover and cam out, remove the radiator and go through the grill with the tool.

rusty ol ranger · Jan 23, 2019

Personally i wouldnt even bother with a 4.0.

Not opening a can of worms....but just my opinion

adsm08 · Jan 23, 2019

rusty ol ranger said:
Personally i wouldnt even bother with a 4.0.

Not opening a can of worms....but just my opinion

I know you wouldn't. The OP's swap would be simplified by it being an 89, so if he finds the right donor it is as plug and play as it gets.

2.9l tapping noise... Help!

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