90' 2.3L Timing Belt ??

FieroGuy9890 · 10-21-2007, 02:27 AM

I'm looking at buying a 1990 Regular cab 2wd ranger with the 2.3L engine and a 5-speed trans. From what I've been told the only thing wrong with it is that it needs a timing belt. They said it was running and driving up until the belt broke.

My only concern since i know precious little about ford engines is that the a(the) valve(s) could have collided with a(the) piston(s) when the belt snapped. So is that something I should be worried about or is that impossible with the ranger 2.3L engine?

Also how difficult is it to replace the timing belt in say a back yard with limited hand tool? I'm pretty mechanically inclined and don't really have the money for a shop to do it. I just don't want to get in over my head and have to pay someone else to finish it. So any advice would be great.

Oh small side note, what kind of mileage do these engines usually live up to. This truck has about 350K miles on it, not sure if it's the original engine or not. But by the chance that it is, should I be worried about it dying on me right away?

Thanks all, sorry for being so wordy.

jonmark1985 · 10-21-2007, 05:04 PM

I believe they are a non interference engine. I used to have a 85 mustang with the 2.3 and i replaced the timing belt. it wasn't hard, just make sure you tighten the idler or else the belt will kick back and slip a tooth when you shut the engine off.

FieroGuy9890 · 10-21-2007, 05:22 PM

So no matter what the valves and pistons couldn't hit?

Is that high of mileage something I should be worried about if it is the original motor?

And how much deflection should the belt have when I adjust the tensioner?

jonmark1985 · 10-21-2007, 05:53 PM

yeah there is supposed to be no way that the valves could hit the pistons.

That is a ton of mileage!

Don't adjust the deflection. Loosen the bolt for the adjuster, use a pry bar to pull it back, slip the old belt off, put the new belt on and time it, let the adjuster run under its own pressure, turn the the motor over by hand at least two revoloutions, tighten the bolt on the adjuster.