First, I'm new to this forum. I've been working on cars for over 45 years, so I'm an old fart, but an experienced old fart and still learning. Here's my current problem and I'm seeking input.

I have a 1991 Ranger 2.3l w/manual trans I'm working on with approx. 300k miles on it. Top end is making a racket from a lack of oil. Oil filter is empty, best I can tell oil pickup screen is not clogged. I believe the problem is the gear that drives the oil pump. This is the distributorless motor so I'm thinking the gear under the cam position sensor (cam synchronizer gear?) is bad. Trying to find the part. I see one listed as 6C642 that says discontinued on a couple of parts web sites. Anyone know if I have the right part or what part I should be looking for?

Some diagnostics I've done so far.

My son drove this truck for a day before I heard it. Engine didn't seize. He asked me about the noise and I saw the oil gauge at zero (I know its an idiot gauge). We had changed the oil a couple of weeks ago. Research suggested using a mechanical gauge, or a faulty oil filter. Easiest for me was to change the oil filter, it was empty. Put on a new motorcraft, started the engine, same racket. Removed the oil filter, it's still empty. Drained the oil, clean, no signs of metal filings. I tried compressed air through the tube where the oil filter screws on and got air out the oil drain hole, would that indicate the pickup tube is not clogged? There was nothing gradual with the oil pressure loss which is why I'm leaning toward drive gears. What do you folks think?

NOI, but sounds like a faulty oil pump to me.

Did some inquiring today about your problem and was informed that its 1 of 3 things:
Oil pump as I said, broken gear as you say, and or snapped shaft that the gear is on.

None good, but some FFT

Thanks Rat Ranger... If it's the oil pump at least those are available. If the gears are bad, I'm out of luck as the parts are no longer available from Ford and haven't found anything on eBay either.

You need to search using the 94 model year. Take the old one out and use it as a comparison before you buy.

https://www.rockauto.com/m/mobilecatalog.php?make=FORD&ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=j5h1v15o0qjl695785ptejgqo5

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2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.

I know it's referred to as a cam positioning sensor in some model years, but on this 1991 2.3l engine, the part that's mounted in the hole for the distributor has no wires attached. Just a rubber boot that covers a short metal stub sticking up. Ford calls it a housing, oil pump. I have a factory truck shop manual for this year Ranger and the volume 1 book doesn't mention the part or how it relates to timing or the oil pump. I don't have the volume 2 manual but that covers chassis and wiring so don't know if it's mention in it. Can anyone shed some light on this. I want to pull it and see what condition the gear is in. Thanks.

You've got the dummy shaft, some early 90s 2.3s had the sensor with drive gear and others just had the drive gear. The sensor is just for emissions if I remember correctly.

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2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.

Thanks stateranger. Sounds like I can pull it without a problem.