Timing Chain Tensioners And Aluminum Thermostat Housing | 4.0L SOHC V6 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 

Do NOT prime tensioners: crank for 5 -10 seconds to prime "breaking it lose is the hard part" ---> Run engine to heat up, allow to cool to working temp, then break lose. Block is alluminum and tensioner body is steel, so different expansion/contraction ratios will help "unplug the coil pak" ----> No need. Push gas pedal to floor and hold. Engine will not start. Crank for 5 seconds to prime

I picked up an '05 hilift 2x4 Ford Courier Crew cab (much like the Ranger or Mazda Bravo) with a tray back with the V6 4.0l SOHC a while back. It had the same plastic thermostat housing issue and the previous owner told me they'd overheated it at one stage. Their mechanic told them in was probably a leak in the engine hollow under the plenum. I gave them their asking price even though it also needs pads, rotors, and new tie rod ends. Anyway, I'm in Australia and priced an OEM housing, and then saw the aluminum ones. The aluminum housing was about fifty dollars cheaper than the plastic one, and that included freight. I've fitted that. I also decided to replace all the top end seals and gaskets down to the exhaust manifolds. In the process, I discovered that the heads had been replaced or resurfaced so didn't do the head gaskets. It also had a new radiator. I also replaced the water pump which turned into a nightmare due to a previous owner not realising that the fan clutch thread is not Left-hand on these models. They'd belted it with something to the point that the threads had welded themselves together. I tried a hot axe, a rattle gun, hammer etc to no avail. So I removed the entire pump with the pulley, clutch and fan attached and ground and beat the old pump and fan assembly to death with a sledge hammer. All I needed was the pulley because I'd decided to put electric fans in it. Unfortunately, in the process I slightly warped the pulley and couldn't get it balanced again. So, off online to order a new one. The V6 engines are pretty common over here so I figured it would be easy. Well, no. I tried parts shops, Ford dealers, wreckers, online shops. You can't get one in Australia. I had to order one from the States. It arrived last week and I'm now watching build videos to get remotivated into finishing the motor. I only need tighten the pulley, do the final fan wiring and give it a proper run. I have had it up to temp using the old pulley but only let it get to temp due to the balance issue. Sorry for the long rant. I enjoyed your video and I recommend those aluminum housings. I had a similar issue with the pipe at the base of the housing. I had to replace the clamp as well.

@dustydingus where did you find the OEM tensioners?

Where did you order the tensioners from ? Are they OEM ford or aftermarket ?

Need to replace mine but not sure if I can trust any aftermarket ones that play such a important role 😬

Mine has a slow tick by the oil pan only after it's warmed up and in park could this be a bad rear timing chain tensioner?