My 1st Ranger: "Free" 1990 XLT 2.9 4WD Auto Single Cab

[MISWFL]

I finally got some good pics of my "free" ( I'll be trading work for it ) Ranger. My brother found the title in the glove box. Since there's a title, it's not going to be sold as a parts truck. It's too nice to part out anyways. I'll see it this winter when I go out there to fix some stuff up on our property. It hasn't been registered since 2011. No idea what's wrong with it. Looks like it's got 78,000 miles on it. I know an older man had it before the last guy who abandoned it. In the mean time I'm going to learn about Rangers and find parts.

Short term plan is to get the engine running if it's ok and possibly do an in frame transmission service and valve body replacement or rebuild/upgrade, if the auto is ok.

Longer term plan is to swap to a manual transmission.

A fantasy would be adding a super cab and lengthening the frame to fit a 7 foot bed or possibly making a custom 8 foot bed.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Hey, not bad! I bet that thing cleans up really nice. I'm looking forward to seeing it out from the trees! That cap likely saved the bed from too much rust, too.

 

[pentode]

Looks solid.

Oh, you’re in Florida. That doesn’t happen around here.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Unless I'm mistaken, that's a California truck.

@lil_Blue_Ford you are summoned.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Unless I'm mistaken, that's a California truck.

@lil_Blue_Ford you are summoned.

Its got a MAF sensor so it is

 

[pentode]

Unless I'm mistaken, that's a California truck.

@lil_Blue_Ford you are summoned.

All those palm trees look the same from up here.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Unless I'm mistaken, that's a California truck.

@lil_Blue_Ford you are summoned.

I have been summoned and I am here!

MAF, so yes, that’s California emissions 2.9 most likely. The emissions sticker under the hood would tell us for sure.

Also appears to be a complete factory AC and if that pump ever fails, un-bolt the lines from the pump and keep those ends, new pumps don’t come with the fittings on the ends of the lines. They’ve become gold.

Really clean truck. I’m not really a regular cab fan for the Rangers, I’m much more comfortable in an extended cab, but a clean older truck is a thing of beauty, especially from the rusty steel buckle of the rust belt. I hate rust. I try not to hate things, but rust ranks up there on my loathe list. Up there somewhere near cancer…

Its got a MAF sensor so it is

Most likely correct.

Years ago I acquired a complete system, the MAF and wiring harness with computer for a 2.9, I was going to do the conversion in my 88 Bronco II to see if maybe it would run a little better or more efficient. I knew what it ran like for the like 3 months I got to drive it before it swallowed a couple valves and I wasn’t really satisfied with that performance. Now I’m not sure I want to go through the trouble to put it together other than in the name of science. My new idea, especially now that @PetroleumJunkie412 is back, is the turbo and Megasquirt it. Just going to take a bit to get to that project, there’s a few other things in line ahead of it.

Side note, I should probably dig out the paperwork I got with my 88 now that I’m thinking of it again. Something sticks in my mind that the transmission may have been given a shift kit, that’s something I might want to figure out before I decide to throw a shift kit at the transmission when I get back to working on it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

All those palm trees look the same from up here.

This is kinda true, but the man knew that I had been trying to make something of a MAF conversion to see if it might run a little better or more efficient years ago. Unfortunately that project has fell onto the way, way, way back burner and I need to play some serious catch up.

 

[MISWFL]

I'm in Florida. The Ranger is in California.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'm in Florida. The Ranger is in California.

Then it’s definitely a California emissions vehicle

 

[MISWFL]

Then it’s definitely a California emissions vehicle

What, if anything, is bad about the CA emissions fuel injection, vs 49 state?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Cali emissions 2.9 is a strange animal. You will have MAF, which is different and somewhat superior to MAP.

You're inheriting a very good truck to work with for whatever you dream up. I wouldn't change the engine.

 

[Ranger850]

I'm in Florida.

Be careful saying that. Some people might get the wrong idea about you. ( I'm also in Florida )

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

AHHHHHH FLORIDA MAN THREAD

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

What, if anything, is bad about the CA emissions fuel injection, vs 49 state?

Egr, but that's about it. You will have an advantage with MAF over the standard Ranger 2.9 kit.

I am not a fan of egr. YMMV, uneven tire wear, you know the drill.