So I just bought a 92 Explorer, 4door, 4.0, 5spd to build into a wheeler... It has 129,000 miles, runs great, and doesn't seem to smoke or heat up at all, however it does have quite a bit of valvetrain noise. I don't know if it is lifters clattering or what. It does it alot when cold, then as it warms up it gets quieter. The weird thing is once it is warm, it will go away and not rattle at all, and then all of a sudden it will just start rattle for 15 -30 seconds, then stop, then start, then stop...??? I changed the oil and added a quart of Lucas, but it didn't change much!

Is this common for the 4.0?

Is it a big problem, or should I just leave it alone and not worry about it?

Plans for her are to drive her until September/October, then install full width D44/9", spring over rear, EB 5.5" cage front coils, 36-38"s, probably weld the rear, maybe Aussie the front, and then in the spring I want to do airbags, 4link, and install my 302 on propane/ZF 5spd, and 208F.

She isn't pretty, but I am only in her around $225 bucks right now, and that included the oil change and title transfer!

http://krazyk5.com/albums/Explorer/Explorer.jpg

http://krazyk5.com/albums/Explorer/Explorer_1.jpg

http://krazyk5.com/albums/Explorer/Explorer_4.jpg

The lifter and rockers get worn....if you pull a valve cover (pass side is easier) and take a look at a push rod, you will notice that it is deformed. Mostly on the rocker side....replace the lifters, push rods, and rockers, or deal with it till you do the motor swap. If that isn't cool check for bent pushrods (might as well anyway), and deal with it till you do your motor swap.

I'll trade ya a D44 and 9" combo for the trans/ motor since you are gonna get rid of it anyway!!!

Dude go to www.explorerforums.com and check oput that site there gods when it comes to the X!

it's usually not the lifters.. it's usually worn rocker arms and pushrods from poor oiling.

Cool, thanks guys!

it's usually not the lifters.. it's usually worn rocker arms and pushrods from poor oiling.

Can also be sludge build up in that area especially the lifters.

If I recall those also had a problem with the timing chain, might be worth looking into also

Dude go to www.explorerforums.com and check oput that site there gods when it comes to the X!

Your alive! :flipoff2: Hows the dirty jerz

Looks like a good project, aussie in the front is the way to go. I just got mine in not long ago and its amazing the difference in performance.

Just re-read your post and that you want to run it till spring before the V8 swap... Hope it's not lifters... cause they are expensive... Delta Cams in Tacoma sells a reman set of rockers and shafts with hardened tips for IIRC $130ish. Not a bad investment to get some more trouble free time out of it. You'd propably be surprized a how torquey the 4.0 would be with 36s. Pull the valve covers and see what's up. :)

I'd keep the 4.0, great motors, lighter and better mileage than a v8. Fix the rattle problem and it's a keeper. Let us know what you find!

Some people have had good luck running about a half quart of ATF in with the motor oil as it is way more detergent and helps clean the sludge out. You have to be careful with the motor flush (solvent type products) because they often break loose large chunks rather than washing it away slowly. The large chunks can break loose and block oil galleys with very bad results. :D Also using high quality oil and filter and changing them frequently helps too. Also chekc the timing chain freeplay as somebody else mentioned.

FYI any ATF doesn't lubricate as well as motor oil especially under high temp/load driving situations., so use this at your own risk...course the motor is not sounding good anyways.

bah, I let mine rattle for about 7 years. I swapped it out end of last year. But it was still running with alot of hard miles and alot of rollovers :D