1988 4x4 ranger first pick-up project

[JoeLeFou]

I finally got my license! yay I can drive alone now to the problem I have yet to determine, I tried to get the ranger back home but not even out in the street I stall( obviously am a noob) and doesn't want to start all lights go out but 3 on the dash that stay on even with the key out of the ignition. I had to disconnect the negative from the batterie so that I could restart and go park it back. now I'm lost on what/where to look for the problem which I'm partly guessing might be the ignition switch

 

[Terrys87]

Take your steering cover off and see if the Ignition Switch is seperating . they are a known issue

 

[Josh B]

If you haven't already I would put new bulbs in everything I could reach, if you haven't already.
If they are not all working you could be missing the most important warnings

 

[JoeLeFou]

Take your steering cover off and see if the Ignition Switch is seperating . they are a known issue

thank you, will check that for sure

If you haven't already I would put new bulbs in everything I could reach, if you haven't already.
If they are not all working you could be missing the most important warnings

already done pretty much one of the first thing I did, all the lights in the dash changed to led lights, same for DRL and sidemarkers

 

[JoeLeFou]

Turns out the issue was the negative connection from the battery to the body/motor ground and a wire in the loom that was barely connected. Now that this is fixed another problem came up the fuel pump is about to die right when it’s getting to freezing temperature. Almost feels like a game of “whats gonna break next!?” Can’t wait for winter to get regular or just stop lol

 

[JoeLeFou]

disassembly didn't pass the Catspection

Opportunity finally came to drive it back home but god was it a painful ride, idles just fine rev's up just fine when not driving but after like 10 minutes of driving it sputters feels and sounds like it's running on 4 cylinders and black smoke out the exhaust, changed the idle air control valve and manifold air pressure sensor still the same problem.

so I started to tear the intake manifold cleaned the throttle body seemed good accel cable sticks tho so that's one thing, noticed that all the plugs for the injectors are one way or another broken so that could not really help with my problem. Also injectors can somewhat turn freely, not really sure if that's normal or not..

I can't figure out what I really want to do with it thought I want to either 4bt swap it with a 4"+lift , 2.3L keep current setup(prob the easiest swap lift the 2.9 out put the 2.3 in) or 7.3powerstroke with shortened dually axle and slam it to the ground. I wanna do them all, that's tough.
found a 2.3L from a 87 ranger in a scrap yard so that'll probably be my first option.

 

[scotts90ranger]

If it takes a few minutes of running then has black smoke that's screaming O2 sensor to me

 

[JoeLeFou]

If it takes a few minutes of running then has black smoke that's screaming O2 sensor to me

No black smoke until I do like 2 km and stops if I park for a min or 2 or if I hit the rpm’s it’ll run like normal.

Today I changed the TFI cleaned the intake manifold looked if the distributor was bad, it’s very clean barely have 100km on it. Everything is back together so I’ll go ahead and drive it around the block

 

[JoeLeFou]

Guys I’m lost on what to do, as of now project is on standby because my mom is putting back her westfalia Combi
And after that my parents are going to put stuff in the backyard (including a container for a workshop) only stuff in the way of my project.
Now I am somewhat lost or confused on what I should do with my engine since it does work, not the best but it does would need a rebuild for sure. Or I found a 2.3 l4 from a mustang dual spark that would also need a rebuild, just as I’m typing i’m about to go see it. I suppose I could either way get it or not and keep the 2.9.

just me somewhat brainstorming on what I should or shouldn’t do

 

[Lefty]

Sorry to hear the news. Perhaps you have a friend who can store your truck in his garage. Maybe you can rent one or rent storage space.

 

[JoeLeFou]

Sorry to hear the news. Perhaps you have a friend who can store your truck in his garage. Maybe you can rent one or rent storage space.

Oh no I don’t have to find a place for it, I’ll be able to move it I just can’t work on it yet, anyways I don’t know what I wanna do woth it since eh never had the opportunity to work on it haha

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The running engine in the truck is a 2.9? A 2.3 will need a transmission and motor mounts as well. They don't interchange between motors. Maybe a radiator or some playing with rad hoses too. I'd be inclined to stay with rebuilding a spare motor the same motor as in your truck, its the least work.

 

[JoeLeFou]

The running engine in the truck is a 2.9? A 2.3 will need a transmission and motor mounts as well. They don't interchange between motors. Maybe a radiator or some playing with rad hoses too. I'd be inclined to stay with rebuilding a spare motor the same motor as in your truck, its the least work.

The transmission actually does fit, they used the same bolt pattern on the 2.3 , 2.9 , 3.0 and the 4.0
The engine runs but only idles, would need a rebuild either way.. which is the plan for the whole truck anyways.

I ended up buying it for 250 and turns over, everything essential is there so if the 2.9 cost too much to rebuild I’ll use the 2.3which I’ll probably start to play with out of mechanical boredom

 

[scotts90ranger]

The transmission actually does fit, they used the same bolt pattern on the 2.3 , 2.9 , 3.0 and the 4.0
The engine runs but only idles, would need a rebuild either way.. which is the plan for the whole truck anyways.

I ended up buying it for 250 and turns over, everything essential is there so if the 2.9 cost too much to rebuild I’ll use the 2.3which I’ll probably start to play with out of mechanical boredom

No, they do not share bellhousing bolt patterns between those engines, absolutely positive... they might all use the same transmission but they have specific front housings to bolt to each engine style, one for 2.8/2.9/4.0, one for 2.0/2.3/2.5 (not including the duratec 2.3 introduced in '01) and one for the 3.0L. It's a Ford thing and unfortunately I vaguely understand...

 

[JoeLeFou]

No, they do not share bellhousing bolt patterns between those engines, absolutely positive... they might all use the same transmission but they have specific front housings to bolt to each engine style, one for 2.8/2.9/4.0, one for 2.0/2.3/2.5 (not including the duratec 2.3 introduced in '01) and one for the 3.0L. It's a Ford thing and unfortunately I vaguely understand...

weird they all seem to be identical too, I guess I'll have to find the bell housing or another tranny that'll fit it