2.3L ('83-'97) 1985 Ranger with a tired engine...

[Sebulba]

Hello all, the Ranger we bought has either 163,000 miles on it or 263,000 miles on it. Anyway, the engine seems tired, possibly badly worn rings. The 2 back spark plugs were badly oiled up when I replaced them. This weekend they will have been in for 2 weeks and I will probably pull them and see how they look. It just seems to lack power. Granted I have never owned a ranger before, so don't have anything to judge it by. Also we are at 5,000 feet here in Albuquerque, so that does effect power.

Thinking about just putting a rebuild in it. Where would you suggest getting a rebuilt engine for this. I think it is the 2.3 Liter.

Thanks

Seb

 

[XLTsplash]

Hello all, the Ranger we bought has either 163,000 miles on it or 263,000 miles on it. Anyway, the engine seems tired, possibly badly worn rings. The 2 back spark plugs were badly oiled up when I replaced them. This weekend they will have been in for 2 weeks and I will probably pull them and see how they look. It just seems to lack power. Granted I have never owned a ranger before, so don't have anything to judge it by. Also we are at 5,000 feet here in Albuquerque, so that does effect power.

Thinking about just putting a rebuild in it. Where would you suggest getting a rebuilt engine for this. I think it is the 2.3 Liter.

Thanks

Seb

I just rebuilt mine. I kept the original engine. I installed new pistons, rings, bearings and oil pump. I also installed a remain head because mine was cracked between the valves on number 1 cylinder. Mine had 189K miles on it. The original bearings and cylinders still looked good. The main problem that I found was was a clogged oil pick up screen because of a failing oil pan gasket.

 

[Curious Hound]

One other thing that may help as you make your decision and get funding ready, is the “zip-tie”mod. The accelerator cable gets stretched so you can’t open the throttle effectively. So, down at the pedal, pull the slack cable though and install one or two small cable ties (zip ties) as spacers to reduce the slack. It’s not a fix for a worn out engine. But it does help you give that engine more air.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I think the fuel injected 2.3L's from then were rated at around 85hp, you lose about 1% power per 1000' elevation so you'd be down about 4hp at your elevation. Combine that with Ford in the '80's putting 3.08 gears on a lot of 4 cylinder Rangers for some reason and things could seem gutless... my '97 is rated at like 112hp and has 4.10 gears and it leaves me wanting more, but it's extended cab and like 3600lb with me in it...

If it were me I would check the compression, if 150-175psi it's in fair health, if lower than 150 it could use a refresh, they're not bad to work on, if it were me I would grab a '88-94 roller cam and followers to swap from the sliding followers you have now, re ring and put new bearings in it after honing the cylinders and put in new seals and it should be good for a long time... and if you're feeling fruity check the gearing in the rear axle and if it's 3.08 move to 3.73, swapping the whole axle isn't that bad...

 

[Old83]

Hello all, the Ranger we bought has either 163,000 miles on it or 263,000 miles on it. Anyway, the engine seems tired, possibly badly worn rings. The 2 back spark plugs were badly oiled up when I replaced them. This weekend they will have been in for 2 weeks and I will probably pull them and see how they look. It just seems to lack power. Granted I have never owned a ranger before, so don't have anything to judge it by. Also we are at 5,000 feet here in Albuquerque, so that does effect power.

Thinking about just putting a rebuild in it. Where would you suggest getting a rebuilt engine for this. I think it is the 2.3 Liter.

Thanks

Seb

Seb, If its a 2.8L V6, try replacing the cylinder head's valve seals. Older 2.8L V6's have the problem of the valve seals going out, letting oil get past the seals and quickly fouling the plugs. Maybe the 4 cylinder has this issue as well.

Symptom: Runs fine after fresh plugs, then runs bad not long after, and you look and find fouled plugs.

Relatively easy fix described on Ranger Station somewhere. Buy a fitting from Amazon and a screw down type spring compressor from Amazon. Need to apply compressed air (90 -100 psi) to each cylinder you're working on -- otherwise the valves fall into the cylinder once valve spring retainers are pulled out, which if you drop a valve in there, then you'd need to pull the heads off.

I just did this repair. The tools I used from Amazon: "Performance Tool W84005 Air Hold Fitting, 14mm/18mm" and "OTC 4573 Universal Overhead Valve Spring Compressor"

Make sure you lay clean rags out (like a surgeon doing an operation) above and below your work area, just in case you drop one of the tiny spring retainers, which is easy to do. These retainers can end up lost -- or falling into the oil gallery, and then you're sunk.

 

[DandysRanger]

Before you do anything perform some diagnostics. A compression check and a leak-down test can tell you a lot about the innards. You can also pull the head and have that refreshed. If that doesn't do anything for performance you will have a good cylinder head when you do the rings and bearings. Our Ranger with indeterminate mileage was way down on power and a new, uncracked, roller head restored quite a bit of get-up-and-go.

 

[Blmpkn]

Someone who goes by Sebulba should know what to do about a stock tired motor...

Can't believe @85_Ranger4x4 hasn't been in here yet

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Someone who goes by Sebulba should know what to do about a stock tired motor...


View attachment 92239


Can't believe @85_Ranger4x4 hasn't been in here yet

I outta give you a warning... that ain't sebulba.

 

[Blmpkn]

I outta give you a warning... that ain't sebulba.

Aw hell.

Fixed it so you don't need to visit the psychotic action thread lol.