WWYD- Camshaft synchronizer/position sensor

[Kesp4.0]

I'm slowly tearing down the original engine in my Explorer and will be installing a remanufactured engine. The old one was rebuilt many years and miles ago and I just want to get rid of it and throw in something newer.

My question is this: while the engine is out of this vehicle should I spend the money on a new camshaft synchronizer? I will be removing the OEM that was in the original engine. A new OEM one is pretty expensive so the aftermarket ones look more attractive to me price-wise, but I'm not sure as to their reliability. Do the OEM ones need replacing after 300K? Are they a known weak point or anything? I'd rather not spend the dough on a new OEM one if the original one I have is still good but I'd rather just do it all now than have to deal with it later. Are the aftermarket ones a good buy? Thanks

 

[Centaurious]

It is horrible to get to with the engine installed being at the back of the engine and under the upper intake. Before installing open and introduce some motor oil around the shaft under the sensor half wheel, drain out the excess before reinstalling the sensor. This lubes the upper bushing and keeps it from squealing like a loose belt. If you grab the connector and at least a bout 18" of wire out of a second gen with the OHV engine you can upgrade to the cheaper later model unit, just match the colors on the 3 wires. and use the guide in the forums to set it.

OEM or after market is a toss up.

 

[410Fortune]

OEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of the aftermarket synchronizers will not even FIT in your engine. Richporter, VictorReinz, Duralast, Cardone = the same cam synchro is sold under quite a few different names.

The aftermarket ones have caused us HUGE headaches on the 93-96 OHV engines in the last couple of years.
I have personally replaced this sensor 3 times in one day because the crappy aftermarket sensors will not even fit inside the little aluminum arm inside the OHV that holds the oil pump driveshaft in place. We had to fabricate a slide hammer tool to yank the synchro back out.....not fun when you have to remove the intake and jack up the back of the trans just to get the room to work. We attempted to modify the aftermarket parts with a grinder, file, sandpaper = throwing money away.
OEM part dropped right in like stock.
Of course it took two weeks to get one and cost $200+/-.....worth it!

I will NOT buy an aftermarket cam synchro for OHV engine EVER again....... and the OEM parts are getting harder to find = fun fun

in 1993 only the CA emissions models had a cam synchro

 

[massacre]

That is a job that I would do before installation if possible.
OEM is worth the price.

 

[Turdle]

OEM. the cam synch unit should really be called an oil pump drive unit, since that is what it does. Loose the pin your truck will have a heart attack.

 

[Kesp4.0]

Thanks for the advice, fellas. So should I be safe with the original OEM sensor? It has probably 300k on it but if it isn't something that really wears out I will just use it in my new/reman engine. I would rather not pay for a new OEM one but if it's a part known to fail then I'll go that route.

 

[massacre]

It’s known to fail over time

 

[Kesp4.0]

I'm searching for a Motorcraft unit online and am having trouble finding it. I can get one out of a 1994 with about 145K on it from the local pick-a-part. Also, as suggested above I could remove the connector out of a 95 or 96 2nd gen and purchase a Motorcraft Camsynchronizer and use that in my 93? Is that an easier install or are they all sort of a PITA?

 

[410Fortune]

use the 96 style NOT 95 style
95 is a sightglass type
96 is the 3 wire one that will bolt right in and work perfectly, plus its still available.
If you are considering buying a used one, just use yours. The last thing you want is a used one that has SAT dry and not spinning for a period of time, this is when the bearing fails is when they SIT and dry out......
Soak the body in motor oil before install, and add some oil or ATF to the top a couple of drops to help lube the internals

 

[Kesp4.0]

Thank you- that's good to know. Using mine would probably be as risky as anything else since my Explorer has sat and not been started since early 2012. I'll go the latter route and get the connector from a 96 and purchase a new Motorcraft unit and throw it in there. I appreciate all the help and am glad to have a strategy moving forward on this project. My last question- does anyone know if the 93\94 Explorer has the 123mm or 132mm shaft on it?

 

[410Fortune]

it will likely be the 123 shaft BUT it does not matter they will both fit your engine believe it or not
The difference of 9mm is only how far it slides over the oil pump drive shaft..........

 

[Kesp4.0]

Thanks. Considering the difficulty of removing and replacing these I don't want to even imagine how soul crushing it had to have been to replace three of these in one day. Yeesh