I need help replacing my lifters.

[mikey26m]

I have a 98 ford ranger, v6 engine and I need to know how to replace the lifters, I know nothing bout working on vehicles and can not afford to have it done by anyone who does know how. I am just wanting to know the easiest way to do it. act like you are explaining it to a 10 year old even tho I am 34. I can do minor stuff like starter but this is something I have never done. I know there isn't much room in there to do it, figure will have to take hood off to do it but from there, am not sure. wanting to print out step by step directions on how to remove/replace/put it all back together. truck is on its last leg and wife is driving it and so very far away so want to do it quick as I can before she has bad problems with it. thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[Curtis]

Its not a job for a beginner.. at least thats my opnion

but you can pick up a haynes manual, or a factory 98 service manual (check ebay) They'll have step by step and pictures.

Typing the steps to replace lifters would be a real chore, and even then...things would be left out...

to make it easy...
remove the air intake
remove the throttle body
remove the intake
remove the valve covers
remove the rockers
remove the pushrods
remove the lifters

now reverse.

you don't mention what engine you have.. if its a SOHC... I think that's a whole other can of worms

 

[Curtis]

And also... Im no mechanic.. but I have done a few trans and engine swaps and restorations... and Id rather find a local mechanic and have it done.

 

[mikey26m]

would love to find a mechanic to do it for me, if I had the money. I know that a job like this, you are looking at a minimum of about $600 dollars. I will be lucky to afford the $37 for the lifters and whatever for the gaskets. I am good at following instructions if someone could write a guide for me or post a link to a good free guide.

 

[mikey26m]

Its not a job for a beginner.. at least thats my opnion

but you can pick up a haynes manual, or a factory 98 service manual (check ebay) They'll have step by step and pictures.

Typing the steps to replace lifters would be a real chore, and even then...things would be left out...

to make it easy...
remove the air intake
remove the throttle body
remove the intake
remove the valve covers
remove the rockers
remove the pushrods
remove the lifters

now reverse.

you don't mention what engine you have.. if its a SOHC... I think that's a whole other can of worms

not quite sure what SOHC refers to or means. all I know is it is a basic ford v6 4.0L engine. I know:

rem hood
rem manifold
rem intake
rem valve covers

but not sure if have to rem head to do it or not, would rather not if can get away with it as I do not want to have to deal with torquin the bolts on head. not sure if have to torque anything else when replacin the lifters or not. if can get away without removing head, will be a gravy job, father knows little bout auto mechanics and could guide me if do not have to rem head.

 

[Curtis]

Mike, no offense, but I don't think anyone here is gonna write out step by step on how to do this. It would take considerable effort when it exists in any good manual you can buy.

You'd be much better off with a manual/instruction book specific to the Explorer.

BTW, SOHC is single overhead cam... and therefore you would not have any lifters as the cam is on top of the rockers under the valve covers.

Do you know for sure you need new lifters?

What are your symptoms?

 

[Turdle]

ON the 4.0 OHV engine, the heads must be removed to replace the lifters. Not a beginner job unless you invest in some tools.

 

[KPSquared]

It doesn't sound like the OP is going to invest in anything...

Seriously man, you gotta find a factory service manual and a haynes manual. Most, if not all of the info will be in there. That truck is old and will continue to need maintenance. Having some good refreence material will be a big help...

Again though, why do you think you need to replace the lifters? If lifters are worn, there's a good chance there's a whole lot more worn on that motor as well. What are the symptoms?

 

[Curtis]

ON the 4.0 OHV engine, the heads must be removed to replace the lifters. Not a beginner job unless you invest in some tools.

Well there ya go... even more complicated that I thought...

 

[Turdle]

Usually what sounds like a bad lifter to an old school mechanic, is actually a push rod which has worn-
Since the lifters are high tek roller type, they don't often wear down in height.

Replacing the rocker arms and pushrods is about a 1 hour job.

However, there are other things in the way, which need to be removed. These things have associated gaskets, and procedures for re installiation. Unless you have some skills, tools and a MANUAL you should see a mechanic.

 

[mikey26m]

ok, I have no job, wife is driving the truck and it is in huntsville alabama while I am in Rossville Georgia. her ex husband is an ex mechanic and has heard the motor run and said that is what it is, thus I am inclined to believe him. I would love to invest in anything and everything for this truck if I had a job. I am mentally disabled to the extent I can not hold a job for very long, not stupid, not retarded, not delusional, not lazy, just to the point where priorities cease to exsist in my mind, therefore I have very little money. I am not positive that there isn't anything else wrong but the engine was just put in that truck not more then 2 months ago. since I will have to go down there, I will be close to where her ex lives and where his brothers live, all have tools for auto, and all off whom do auto work as they have all done all thier lives so I should be able to borrow the tools needed. me and the wife are on speaking terms and friendly with her ex and his family. I am not mental to the point of not being able to follow directions, just to the point of forcing myself to get up and go to work everyday as I should. when I have had jobs, no one could keep up with me when I was there because I am not lazy and work hard and fast. I am fairly intelligent and can read/understand/follow directions very well. I was in a car accident in 1995 that caused my disability. all I need is instructions, either typed or link to a page with instructions, that I can print out to go by. I do not have the money to buy a book or I would have already and would not have had need to post and request the instructions. I realize, more then anyone, that typing alot out as such that I have requested is a lot of trouble, and thus a link would be fine or if someone has an ebook on a 1998 ford ranger v6 4.0 they could link me to or email the file to me that would work as well. thank you for your time and patience with me for my request.

 

[Turdle]

OK Mikey, first we need to know which 4.0 l v6 engine is in the truck.

Have the ex pop the hood and see if there is anything which says SOHC or OHV. --

Or, the VIN can be decoded for engine type

either way though--sohc with timing chain issue, or OHV with flattened push rods is going to cost some money. Sorry, but it is the truth. You need a few hundred either way, minimum.

 

[mikey26m]

almost positive it is not sohc, which is most common for the 1998 ford ranger? will pretty much garuntee it is the most common of the two.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the under the hood section.

 

[ThePhoenix]

no offense, but if you dont know if you have an SOHC or not...find a mechanic

I found a great MOBILE mechanic..they are generally cheaper

for example- replace upper and lower ball joints in a shop - $1100
Mobile mechanic - $320 plus alignment

 

[jhclance]

Also the lifters for the 4.0 will run you 400 The head gasket set with new bolts will add another 200 change oil and filter 20. mine has 250k plus( odometer quit ) been rattling the lifters for 60k miles. oil press is good. run the dam thing and quit worring your self silly. When you get the dollars to buy the parts pickup a case of beer and 50 hotwings and have the ex do the work. volenteer to help so that you can learn something new. these dam things can handle some amazing sht. Dont doubt the integrity of the ford engine run it