2.3L ('83-'97) Coolant leak

[Kaydenspeed3]

I just picked up a 1995 ranger with 158k for a steal. Only problem is there’s a coolant leak. It’s dripping from the trans so it’s got to be somewhere on the rear of the engine. It also doesn’t blow hot air( hoses to the core do get hot though.) and the temp and oil temp gauges are out of whack. So I’m assuming it needs a thermostat but I don’t think that can take a coolant leak all the way to the trans the way it does. I haven’t had a chance to get under it really and check it out yet but would love some opinions from people who have more experience with this vehicle than I do.

 

[Dirtman]

You want me to go look at it for you?

 

[Kaydenspeed3]

You want me to go look at it for you?

Wouldn’t that be nice lol

 

[Josh B]

One thing for sure, you have a problem in the heater core area, maybe stopped up there. However long that's gone on is a good question on that, it could even have developed a leak.
I'd start by looking that side over really good.
Up there you probably need heat anyway so why not, might even find that's where your "transmission" leak is originating.
You might not even have to get under just to see, take a good flashlight and take a good look from the top on the passenger side near the firewall

 

[Kaydenspeed3]

Yeah, I’m going to pull it in today and take a look. I believe the leak is coming from the expansion plug under the header. Going to flush the core. Now I just need to figure out why the oil gauge is reading warm when the truck hasn’t been started yet