- Joined
- Jun 11, 2016
- Messages
- 161
- Reaction score
- 65
- Points
- 28
- Location
- NC
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- V8
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
Hey guys! New to TRS but not Rangers. Been DDing a 97 2.3 for 3 years now and love it. I started as a Mustang guy and had an 06 GT with a blower that I DD'd and raced but life took me places that I couldn't enjoy it anymore so I got rid of it.
After being project car-less for almost 2 years to the day, I finally got to a point where I have the time to tackle something new. I picked up an 86 Ranger XLT Long Bed with the 2.9 V6 and a 5 Speed this morning for $300. He was running straight water in it and forgot to change it out before the first freeze and claims that 2 of the freeze plugs let go. I got eyes on one of the front that looks like it leaked something out but the other one is hidden way back on the block. I reckon I'll have to pull the motor to get a good look at it.
Wouldn't start at the guy's place so I towed it home and got to work. After some troubleshooting, determined the tranny was in gear and that's what was preventing it from cranking. I can't explain why it wouldn't turn over out of gear, but found that that the clutch reservoir was empty. Filled it up and bled it. Also removed the AC belt to see if the compressor was frozen, and i was able to turn it by hand. Fired up and let it run for a couple seconds and called it a day.
Plans- working a V8 swap that I won't announce until I have that locked down. 8.8 swap in the back, strip the interior, shorten the bed
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2753_zpsgal1bqix.jpg)
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2752_zpsggnnaejl.jpg)
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2754_zpsk534kaps.jpg)
After being project car-less for almost 2 years to the day, I finally got to a point where I have the time to tackle something new. I picked up an 86 Ranger XLT Long Bed with the 2.9 V6 and a 5 Speed this morning for $300. He was running straight water in it and forgot to change it out before the first freeze and claims that 2 of the freeze plugs let go. I got eyes on one of the front that looks like it leaked something out but the other one is hidden way back on the block. I reckon I'll have to pull the motor to get a good look at it.
Wouldn't start at the guy's place so I towed it home and got to work. After some troubleshooting, determined the tranny was in gear and that's what was preventing it from cranking. I can't explain why it wouldn't turn over out of gear, but found that that the clutch reservoir was empty. Filled it up and bled it. Also removed the AC belt to see if the compressor was frozen, and i was able to turn it by hand. Fired up and let it run for a couple seconds and called it a day.
Plans- working a V8 swap that I won't announce until I have that locked down. 8.8 swap in the back, strip the interior, shorten the bed
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2753_zpsgal1bqix.jpg)
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2752_zpsggnnaejl.jpg)
![](http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t367/kev111690/IMG_2754_zpsk534kaps.jpg)