1987 Ranger Project

[Awesom-O]

Well, started driving the truck to finally shake it down a bit. There is always issues that show themselves after rebuilding a vehicle after a few miles on the odometer. Well turns out the brand new brake booster/master I installed is not adequately doing its job, so will have to address that. And it’s also having a hard time starting. It turns over long before it fires. Once it fires it runs fine. So have to diagnose if it’s a fuel pump or IAC issue or???? Any thoughts on what to check there are greatly appreciated. I haven’t had time to dig into it since the wife has me on landscape duty for her raised garden beds.

Anyways, here’s a pic of the truck when I originally brought it home for the kid. I think we were blasting off all the dried oil and crud off the 2.9.
It’s definitely gone through some changes.

 

[Terrys87]

Your truck has gone thru some changes. Great job!!!

I am having same/similar issues as you. Hard starting and then idle can stumble for a bit but runs fine if I rev it up. I have changed the fuel pressure regulator and that really did not help me any. Changing my map/maf sensor seemed to help some but not completely. I changed all my sensors when I got the truck just to because they were 30 some years old.

I know you have a different set up but still same technology era and engineer's design. You have the one fuel pump system as I have two. Turning the ignition on and off twice seems to help with the starting a little bit. Like you are priming and building up pressure in the system. That may help you. Worth a try. I am sure you have a new fuel filter. Mine only has about 10k miles on it but with today's fuel quality, I am going to change fuel filter. Cheap enough. I don't like being a part swapper, but I have seen some nasty fuel filters with very little use.

I am going to go with the one pump fuel system and see if that helps me. It will also remove the plastic canister that if it broke would leave you stranded on the highway.

My Bronco fires up fast and when I bought one new it fired up just as quick. Another thing I am going to try is another computer. I have only ever changed one computer in my life and that was because it got wet. Computers are really stable but what else is left? I have tried another IAC from another motor and cleaned mine and no changes but it is acting like an idle issue. Might try it again just to see what happens.

You have any luck pass it on to me. I will let you know what I discover as well. Hope to get to some of these things this weekend. Seen you on Face book and suggested the map/maf sensor.

 

[Awesom-O]

Thanks Terry. I’m on vacation with the family this week and haven’t had a chance to try anything. I moved my truck to the shop before I left and it started way better, so not sure what the heck is going on yet. Will dig into it next week and keep you posted.

 

[Awesom-O]

So had to replace the fuel pump. And of course with a full tank of gas. But, that’s where the access panel I made in the box already paid off! Truck runs and starts great now. Still dealing with a sticky brake pedal that won’t return without my foot helping it. On the second non OEM booster, so I’m going to try an OEM one from a parts truck.
Since I added some spacers to the front to compensate for the weight of the winch and bumper, I finally got around to adding some 1.5” blocks to my rear leafs. Truck sits perfect now with a slight rake in the right direction this time.
Truck also needed a spare tire, but the stock one is so much smaller than my 31s sitting at about 26”. There is 28.5” between the frame rails for a spare and the one on the FX4 I have in my yard fit the bill perfectly, so I borrowed that one. Since that tire is so much larger, I had to now modify the stock carrier as it wasn’t deep enough for the girth of the tire. I cut the carrier out of a parts truck and stacked it on the stock carrier with the tire installed. Tacked it in place, made sure the tire would open and clear, then burned it on permanently. Works like it’s supposed to.

 

[Terrys87]

That is a great idea you did for your spare. It lifted up and works. We were talking about our idle issues. I don't know if you ever watched on Youtube, a girl called Sarah n Tuned, restored her grandmothers 94 Ranger she bought new. One of the last videos she did on it was having a similar issue and she tried different computers. I guess most of these computers are known to blow a capacitor but later and she tried several rebuilt ones. I guess further digging she said sometimes resistors are known to go bad and get over looked. She is trying something now way further then I want to get into but it might be worth a look.

 

[Awesom-O]

Well, there’s definitely no replacement for OEM. Tried two brand new brake boosters and neither would return the brake pedal fully after pressing it. Grabbed the 34 year old OEM one from the cab of the chassis donor truck and it works flawlessly now. Stole a reverse light plug from an F-150 with an M5OD2 and got the reverse lights and backup camera working properly. I guess I may have damaged the harness doing the cab swap?
Got the bumper lights hooked up. Removed and cleaned the IAC. Made the bracket for the inverter and mounted it. Took the plastic sheath for the seat belt buckle from the donor cab and installed that so I don’t have to keep fishing down between the seat and console for a flopping buckle. Dumped some fuel injection cleaner in and giving it some miles.
Just ironing out the details and continuing shaking it down some. The list is getting smaller.

 

[Awesom-O]

Got the rear windows tinted today with the ceramic film, which is supposed to be amazing with the heat. It’s illegal in my province to put any film on the side windows, which pretty much sucks, otherwise those would be done as well.
I think it’s a nice improvement and gives a little security to what’s in the back of the cab. Out of sight out of mind kind of thinking.
A before, and some after.

 

[Lefty]

Got the rear windows tinted today with the ceramic film, which is supposed to be amazing with the heat. It’s illegal in my province to put any film on the side windows, which pretty much sucks, otherwise those would be done as well.
I think it’s a nice improvement and gives a little security to what’s in the back of the cab. Out of sight out of mind kind of thinking.
A before, and some after. View attachment 130469View attachment 130470View attachment 130471View attachment 130472

Looking good, in fact, real good. Love the two tone paint job

 

[Terrys87]

Curious to see if cleanning your IAC helps any. Looks great with the tint on it. I was unaware of cermic tint.

 

[Awesom-O]

Curious to see if cleanning your IAC helps any. Looks great with the tint on it. I was unaware of cermic tint.

Truck is running great. But I dumped double or more fuel injection cleaner recommended in at the same time so not sure which one, or if both helped make a difference? Mine was pretty dirty to be honest and well worth the two bolts to remove for the job.

 

[Awesom-O]

Well, was waiting for the windows to be tinted to finally install my old school gun rack. Exactly what I wanted and works good. Screws go through the metal trim pieces into the metal of the cab. Should hold up.

 

[RobbieD]

Looks good!

Back in the day, that was called an "Easy Rider Rifle Rack".

And once you get old, it's a great place to put an umbrella, and your cane. I find that they're both quite handy there.

 

[sgtsandman]

Looks good!

Back in the day, that was called an "Easy Rider Rifle Rack".

And once you get old, it's a great place to put an umbrella, and your cane. I find that they're both quite handy there.

I use one of those for a small shovel and an ice scraper with a brush. Keeping a rifle in one of those is a good way to get pulled over here. They don't care if it's unloaded, if it isn't in a case, you could be in deep doo doo.

 

[Awesom-O]

I use one of those for a small shovel and an ice scraper with a brush. Keeping a rifle in one of those is a good way to get pulled over here. They don't care if it's unloaded, if it isn't in a case, you could be in deep doo doo.

Dang where do you live? I’m in Canada with our ridiculous laws and this is still not illegal here as long as I’m in the truck with them.
Anyways, I decided to install another rack and changed my fire extinguisher because the other one had some wimpy ass plastic mount. This one comes with a nice steel band.
For the gun rack I just used an old set of mounts I had kicking around for an ATV that were never installed. This way I can also hide the rifle under the tonneau cover for even more discretion.
I might actually be done with this rig now? Kind of sad and gratifying at the same time. Guess I’ll have to bust out the Bronco II and get going on that now. I’m sure there will be more upgrades and alterations down the road as the saying goes, “are they ever truly done?”

 

[Terrys87]

I just recently became aware of the tonneau cover and found one. Your rifle will be safer there. Bronco looks great and looking forward to your progress on it.