Bought Daughter a 2010 Ranger, She Paid it Off, Blew Engine, I Replaced Engine.......

[BKennedy]

Update to this thread. Sarah has been DD this little truck. She needs more towing capacity but doesn't want to let it go. The rear main seal is leaking, and the valve cover started leaking again a few months ago. I'm not fighting that thing again.

I was replacing the front pads and noticed the upper control arm ball joints were shot. After a mad scramble for parts, I located everything at Napa.

Southern California trucks are usually easy to work on, took me about an hour to remove the upper control arms and lower ball joints. 15 minutes to inspect and repack the wheel bearings. New upper control arms bolted right in. Driver side lower ball joint gave me trouble. It didn't want to seat against the flange. I had way too much pressure on the ball joint for comfort and it wasn't moving. I could almost hear my Dad say "Hit it with a hammer". I tapped the control arm next to the ball joint and POP!, sucker seated. Thanks Pops. I miss that guy. I hadn't worked on a 2wd with stamped control arms in a long time and had forgotten the old hammer trick to release tension.

It's all back together again and should be good for another ten years after I get it aligned.

 

[94Eddie]

Update to this thread. Sarah has been DD this little truck. She needs more towing capacity but doesn't want to let it go. The rear main seal is leaking, and the valve cover started leaking again a few months ago. I'm not fighting that thing again.

I was replacing the front pads and noticed the upper control arm ball joints were shot. After a mad scramble for parts, I located everything at Napa.

Southern California trucks are usually easy to work on, took me about an hour to remove the upper control arms and lower ball joints. 15 minutes to inspect and repack the wheel bearings. New upper control arms bolted right in. Driver side lower ball joint gave me trouble. It didn't want to seat against the flange. I had way too much pressure on the ball joint for comfort and it wasn't moving. I could almost hear my Dad say "Hit it with a hammer". I tapped the control arm next to the ball joint and POP!, sucker seated. Thanks Pops. I miss that guy. I hadn't worked on a 2wd with stamped control arms in a long time and had forgotten the old hammer trick to release tension.

It's all back together again and should be good for another ten years after I get it aligned.

I am envious of those who have vehicles that have lived their lives, and still do, in the southwest. It takes out the rust issues that make those in the rust belt analyze whether putting money into repairs is a poor financial decision. You all can keep a vehicle on the road for as long as parts are available.

 

[BKennedy]

I am envious of those who have vehicles that have lived their lives, and still do, in the southwest. It takes out the rust issues that make those in the rust belt analyze whether putting money into repairs is a poor financial decision. You all can keep a vehicle on the road for as long as parts are available.

My 30 year old Explorer still has a rust free frame and body, and they didn't spend a lot of time with rust prevention. When I rebuilt it after the dash melted, the Ohio donor Explorer was a rusted out POS with a near perfect interior.

The Ranger alignment was done without changing the shims, so it was real close.

 

[Josh P]

Rust free is a beautiful thing.

 

[Rick]

I am envious of those who have vehicles that have lived their lives, and still do, in the southwest. It takes out the rust issues that make those in the rust belt analyze whether putting money into repairs is a poor financial decision. You all can keep a vehicle on the road for as long as parts are available.

Underside of 2003 Dodge Ram.

I moved to AZ from the rust belt 40 years ago and I still can't get over rust free vehicles. I love it when I see an old pickup from the
'40s or '50s still being used as a work vehicle.

 

[94Eddie]

Underside of 2003 Dodge Ram.

View attachment 450598

I moved to AZ from the rust belt 40 years ago and I still can't get over rust free vehicles. I love it when I see an old pickup from the
'40s or '50s still being used as a work vehicle.

That is crazy clean. Even the threads on the exposed bolts aren't rusted.

 

[Josh P]

That is crazy clean. Even the threads on the exposed bolts aren't rusted.

It's great, every car around here looks that good. My Grand Cherokee still looks new underneath.

 

[BKennedy]

Around Kingman there is yard art and old cars all over. They all look mostly rust free. I think once the house gets finished and furnished, etc., I will drive around and find a new project.

 

[Josh P]

Around Kingman there is yard art and old cars all over. They all look mostly rust free. I think once the house gets finished and furnished, etc., I will drive around and find a new project.

Something diesel powered?

 

[BKennedy]

Daughter says there is a rattle in the front of the engine and I'm in Arizona. Do 2.3l engines have timing chain issues?

I think I'll have her take it to the one trusted shop I know of in San Diego.

 

[wollimann]

I think no timing issues like the 4.0 sohc has, but the 2.3 DOHC has a tensioner and a guide too. Tensioner works with spring and oil pressure, if this one gets tired and the chain is sloopy, i beleave that could cause some rattle. The öil bore which provides the tensioner could be clogged too.
If timing parts should be changed it needs some special holding tools and spare parts (shim, bolt), maybe it is a good/better idea to take it to your trusted shop.

 

[BKennedy]

Daughter took it to the shop. The owner called and said it's rod knock. Basically the engine is shot. So now we have a few options: Find a replacement engine and swap it out, about $3,500 through a shop, or sell or trade it in with a bad engine. Since I'm in Arizona, she can drive my truck for a few weeks and decide. I'm voting for the second option, since she really needs a truck she can tow the horse trailer with. Crapola.

 

[Josh P]

Daughter took it to the shop. The owner called and said it's rod knock. Basically the engine is shot. So now we have a few options: Find a replacement engine and swap it out, about $3,500 through a shop, or sell or trade it in with a bad engine. Since I'm in Arizona, she can drive my truck for a few weeks and decide. I'm voting for the second option, since she really needs a truck she can tow the horse trailer with. Crapola.

Pure curiosity, anyone know what the estimated value is with a bad engine?

 

[BKennedy]

She should have bought Stic-O's Bronco.

Pure curiosity, anyone know what the estimated value is with a bad engine?

No idea, maybe a few thousand at best.

My brother works for a GM dealership. He said to change the oil with a thicker oil, see if it quiets the knock, then trade it in. The dealership will wholesale it because it's over 10 years old. I couldn't sell it like that, but I am entertaining the trade in idea.

 

[Josh P]

She should have bought Stic-O's Bronco.


No idea, maybe a few thousand at best.

My brother works for a GM dealership. He said to change the oil with a thicker oil, see if it quiets the knock, then trade it in. The dealership will wholesale it because it's over 10 years old. I couldn't sell it like that, but I am entertaining the trade in idea.

Add some motor honey and wait for a very cool morning to trade in.

 

[BKennedy]

Plot twist. Daughter is attached to the Ranger. Her boyfriend texted me and said she wants to fix it. I told him to call the shop and get a real estimate, then call Indiana Truck Salvage in Corona and see if they have a replacement engine. If they do, buy it because it will have a warranty, take my Silverado and pick it up. Have the shop do the engine swap. See what happens.

 

[BKennedy]

There are no replacement engines available that make swapping worth it. They are all over $2,000, plus shipping. There are all kinds of 07-11 Ranger 4.0 V6's around locally for half the price.

I sent 410Fortune a PM asking if the 2.3 and 4.0 share the same automatic transmission in a 2wd model, and If so, how much work is it to do the swap? I'm guessing that if I got a 4.0 with the PCM and complete engine harness it wouldn't be that difficult?

The truck is mechanically sound, except for the engine. Transmission was rebuilt about four years ago, I rebuilt the front suspension a few months ago. I'm thinking that since it's basically junk without a engine, and worth very little, that Sarah should get something else and we could park the Ranger at my new house until I swap in a 4.0, or find a 2.3.

I'm exploring options right now. I think I have the following options:

Fill the engine with some real thick oil and trade it in. Not a fan of this one, and the shop owner who told me it's done said it's way beyond this option.

Trade it in with a blown engine. Also not a fan because a dealership won't want it, so only get a few hundred, if anything.

Sell it as is for $2,000-2,500.

Drag it out to the new house property and hang onto it until I find a replacement engine, or if it's doable to stuff a 4.0 in it and make it a better truck than it was.

Any reasonable options I might have missed?

 

[BKennedy]

Thanks @410Fortune for another, much more viable option. He says that engine was in Escapes and Focus with a different intake. Same engine underneath. I'm now thinking of parking it for now, then deciding later. Probably will end up swapping the engine at a later date. Daughter has decided she wants a truck that can pull the horse trailer. I guess she wasn't as attached to the Ranger as previously claimed.

 

[Josh P]

A 4.0 would be cool, a 2.0 ecoboost fits where that 2.3 is as well.

 

[410Fortune]

4.0 swap can be done but you are in ca so it’s gotta be a 2010 or newer sohc computer and drivetrain $$$$$$$$$ mine as well just buy a 4.0 sohc ranger or b4000
Donor would have to be 2007 or newer to be plug n play with your current truck

Changing the bellhousing on the 5r55e auto from 2.3 to 4.0 can be done but is a little involved as you have to mess with the front pump. Brett can give me more info on this if needed, but it can be done so you could keep your current remand auto

The pats key from the sohc donor would have to be used in your ignition so you would have to change the key and tumbler.. at least to get it running
Forscan on a pc can be used to re program pats but 2010 pcm is waaaaaay different then our old gen ii pcm so I’m not sure. Locksmith can do it for $3-500 but personally I like to use all the parts from the donor to get it running and then I would just change the locks on the doors to match the new key
. On your 10 ranger the instrument cluster is one of the modules included in the pcm system as is the restraints control module and others…
So an entire donor would be the only way to go as you need a lot of parts
A 07-11 4.0 sohc ranger/b4000 at auction wrecked w low miles is around $25-6000 depending on market and competition. Lots of buyers for late model rangers as many business’ depend on fleets of them. Sometimes we get lucky and I get them for $1500 Or less private party, auctions online and otherwise… forget about it they still fetch big $$$$

Can send me the truck I’ll replace that duratec 4 banger over a weekend can get focus or escape engine for few hundred bux

Some of the later model 4 cyl like you have make twice the power and get twice the milage of the old 2.3l Lima engines… and because they were used in the Mazda 3s there is a big Mazda speed aftermarket
They are tough little engines! With gas prices the way they are… well America runs on rangers and f150s

I routinely use Taurus 3.0 to replace ranger 3.0 and same goes for the 4 bangers… focus, 323 or escape 4 cyl same longblock underneath just different dress, pan, intakes because the engine is mounted transverse