88 XLT Ranger
Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Messages
- 357
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 16
- Age
- 61
- Location
- Pollock Pines Ca
- Vehicle Year
- 1988
- Make / Model
- ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L
- Transmission
- Automatic
This is a long shot, but have you checked the timing on it? The popping you describe sounds to me like it could be a backfire. The low power reminds me of the Subaru Justy I had many years ago. With the timing set to spec, it wouldn't go over 50MPH. With the timing advanced, we got it to 70MPH.
There's another possibility that occurs to me, too. What octane is the fuel you're using? If your fuel octane is too low, your engine will ping.
I found some interesting info here: http://nastyz28.com/forum/threads/getting-pinging-under-load-is-this-timing-too-aggressive.157194/ It's a GM thread, but the information may still apply. He's pinging under load, too. And this: http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?topic=4016.0 Another GM thread, but also pinging under load.
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much 1990RangerinSK
I appreciate all your info and help my timing is correct it was inspected when I did the CA smog test. Today it ran perfect until I came home down a highway grade when I coasted than turned off and started up the off ramp it started miss firing its like when you cross wire a car real bad. The lifter nose was very little that is the strange part. When I rev it up when warming it up in the morning I can hear a faint clicking snapping nose in the one valve cover. If it is a lifter I wonder if one could adjust the rocker arm down make like a solid lifter it maybe more than one lifter. I did try Cheveron supreme fuel high octane no change. The strange part is it runs perfect some day's and crappy others it is an on and off deal