1989 Ford ranger 2.3L Over-revving?

[TravisBailey1]

I just bought a 1989 Ford Ranger 4x4 with the 2.3L. I was driving it home and it just seems to rev way, way too much. It has a 4 inch body lift with 31" tires (265/75r15) so the speedo is off approximately 10% so at 50 i'm really going 55. At 50 on the speedo (55actual) It is revving at right around 3500 RPM. My 1999 Ranger 4.0L has 245/75r16's and it has 4.10 gears and it only pulls about 2100 RPM at 55 and it seems like its geared low to me. Everything sounds good to me, I just kept the speed low but I am wondering if it is possible i just have really low gearing or is it not going into the last gear or 2? I tried counting the shifts but it shifted so smooth it was hard....I was driving without insurance too (just a few miles to the house) so I was more focused on not crashing I would just take it out for another spin and see what it is doing, if its going through all the gears ect. but I don't think i'll be able to afford license on it for a while.

 

[cody93]

what gear are you in? whats your rear axel gear, these motors like the 3000-3500 range,they dont make much power down low compared to a v6. personally it sounds fine to me.

 

[TravisBailey1]

Its an auto so I couldn't tell the gear, I wasn't paying too much attention. I will have to go thru it and check all the gears, like I said I just got it. Going to change the tranny fluid, diffs, oil and filter, transfercase fluid ect. 3500RPM just seemed high to me only going 55 especially since it redlines at 5 so I figured I better ask someone with some more info about the 2.3L before I ran it like that. The motor did seem to purr right along at that RPM, didn't seem like it was revving too high but I though i'd double check. Does anyone know how many teeth should be on the rear diff for the different ratios 3.73, 4.10 ect?, i'll probably have to open it up to see what it has, i'm sure the metal tag is long gone. Makes me feel better that revving that high is fine....I was afraid the top gear was out.
Also, what do you think the truck is worth? Underneath has no rust, only place is slight bubbling under the paint about the size of a dim above the drivers door on the roof. Inside is nice....wear on drivers seat but not too bad, mostly original except for a cd player. one big crack on the dash and one small nick....barely faded any. Outside has no dents, few dings and scratches but looks nice. Frame has been painted black and looks very clean, leaks a little oil, has a little play in the steering but a solid truck. Shows 44,400 miles, i'm sure it's 144,400 with some extra for the 10% tire difference so about 150,000. I'm thinking $2500 wouldn't be too hard to get from it.

 

[Rose2300]

You can still tell what gear youre in. Its called counting as it shifts.

 

[TravisBailey1]

Like I said before I was driving it home and was too focused on keeping it on the road and not getting in an accident. The loose steering was making it interesting on the curvy roads. I just wanted to make sure everything was ok before I drove it again....i'll "put it through the wringer" tomorrow and see what all I got as far as gears go.

 

[TravisBailey1]

The code on the axle tag is: AS308A. 3 73 75 8J29
It would seem that the truck stock came with 3.73 gears on a 7.5" axle. I have not opened it up yet to confirm it still has the 3.73...doe anyone know how many teeth a 3.73 should have?

 

[nine-teen91stxranger]

it should be stamped on the ring what gear it is...

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

2.3 automatic with 4x4? I didn't know Ford made such a thing. 4" body lift? Is it home made?

 

[cody93]

2.3 automatic, 2 words you dont want in the same sentence... 215/75/15s are the stock tire size incase you want to go back. A4LD is a 3spd + OD trans, im guessing your in 3rd.. TBH, the auto is the biggest downfall to your truck, 5spd standard are the most common with the 2.3 for a reason.

 

[TravisBailey1]

Man, do I feel like an idiot....it has the 2.9L. I really had just assumed it was the 2.3 and didn't even bother to check. The engine top is just about eye level so it didn't click that it says 2.9L right on top What does it have in it for transmission? I'm guessing the A4LD? I am assuming it is mostly stock but I will have to get it touch with the owner before the guy I bought it from to find out some more information. The lift does not look homeade, it was done very well. Nothing on the truck is hacked together. Thinking about it on the fan shround it says "for V6 only" I just assumed they broke the original wheeling and couldn't find the correct replacement. So whats the main pro's and cons of the 2.9L vs the 2.3L? I'm happy to have the extra power especially with 31's as gas mileage doesn't really matter too much as it will just be driven occasionally but the over-revving has me even more worried now that I know it is a V6.

 

[TravisBailey1]

I seem to be having the same problem as in this thread:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69451


I am going to have to check the transmission out tomorrow and see whats up...hopefully its something simple. Is there any way you can turn overdrive off on the 89 Rangers? That is what it feels like it is, overdrive turned off.

 

[cody93]

ah, 2.9, now thats better, the only con on the 2.9 vs 2.3 for you would be weaker heads, radiator upgrade to help disapate the heat better is a worthwhile upgrade, and if you plan on keeping the auto, a bigger trans cooler can help too. Im told those engines do good at 3000-3200 range. as far as OD on/off, the 88 i had with an A4LD had P,R,N,D,circled D(OD),2,1 but 89+ were colum shifted for autos. if you got 2 D's on the colum, then the D is just drive and the circled D is OD. not sure if yours has both d's, never sat in an auto ranger newer than 88..

 

[TravisBailey1]

ah, 2.9, now thats better, the only con on the 2.9 vs 2.3 for you would be weaker heads, radiator upgrade to help disapate the heat better is a worthwhile upgrade, and if you plan on keeping the auto, a bigger trans cooler can help too. Im told those engines do good at 3000-3200 range. as far as OD on/off, the 88 i had with an A4LD had P,R,N,D,circled D(OD),2,1 but 89+ were colum shifted for autos. if you got 2 D's on the colum, then the D is just drive and the circled D is OD. not sure if yours has both d's, never sat in an auto ranger newer than 88..

Mine has (P)(R)(N)(D)(2)(1). It also seems to idle high...revs to about 2-2200 when you start it then settles down to 2 then after a few minutes goes down to 1500-1600. It also clunks into gear when shifting when stopped like its revved too high. I haven't had a chance to get insurance on it to take it out again but I am almost certain OD is out or not engaging. Looked underneath and transmission looks good, pan is clean like the fluid has been changed recently, no major leaks, no dents, scrapes ect. How much would a rebuild cost? I know a local shop just did our Ram 1500 Van for $1400 with a trans-cooler added. Also, this truck seems to have an extra "radiator"...don't know it its for the A/C (which doesn't work...clutch isn't engaging and it was unplugged when I bought it) or they added an external trans cooler. Its been raining here and I've been swamped or i'd have all that stuff checked out. On the bright side it does run great, has good oil pressure and didn't even think about getting too hot on the way home. Shifts were smooth too.

 

[TravisBailey1]

Well, I thought I had better re-check myself and make sure the gear selection was correct. Once again I was dead wrong...it goes (P)(R)(N)D(D)(2)(1)....I am betting I had it in (D) and not OD....this getting old stuff it terrible. I am still going to go check it out and make sure I had it in the wrong selection but I am sure that it. Thanks a lot guys, I was about to sell the thing thinking I was about to have a major problem on my hands. I didn't drive it when I got it because the guy had just bought the truck fixed it up then was selling it and hadn't even got the title back yet so he had no tags or insurance on it yet. He did such a nice job and was a great guy i didn't question anything when he said everything worked great. I'll post some pictures of it asap...it is in unbelievable shape considering considering the age.

 

[EMB1230]

2.3 automatic, 2 words you dont want in the same sentence... TBH, the auto is the biggest downfall to your truck, 5spd standard are the most common with the 2.3 for a reason.

Same applies with 4.0's & 4WD, lol.