Hard start, power lacking, and ringing sound???

[1996jhort]

1989 stx.. Was sitting for many many years untouched before I bought it and I'm trying to make it road worthy again.
Hard to start unless its nice and warm... cranks for a very long time before firing off... ONCE its started and running, from inside the truck, the engine sort of rings, and the ringing does change with the rpms... along with the ringing, and hard starting, when I step on it, it struggles for power a bit, I think it should be a little more responsive.

Any information at all would be great!

 

[adsm08]

Auto trans by any chance?

The Rangers had a habit of breaking the flex plate. It happened across pretty much all the years, especially on the 2.8/2.9/4.0. There is a spacer hub that goes between the crank and flex plate that can wear out and cause the plate to crack. When it starts to crack it can cause a ringing sound.

It doesn't do much to account for your other issues, but it's something to look at, potentially.

 

[1996jhort]

It is a 5 speed

 

[jenocidejennissippi]

howd it turn out?