2.5L ('98-'01) 2.5 stumbles in gear .

[scott forbes]

Hi Guys; Got this '99 ranger with the 2.5/ auto. no a/c. Starts fine, revs in neutral fine, drops in gear fine, ( altho the prndle needs adjusting). When I depress the go pedal from idle, she falls flat on her face. Warmed up or cold, fwd. or reverse same results. New: fuel pump assembly and frame rail fuel filter. Tank was hand cleaned, lines blown out with cleaner to perfection first. ( including fuel rail and pressure regulator) New PCV valve and air filter. All fluids are good. All vacuum lines I could find are good. All wiring/vac. lines to wherever they're going seem good. Idles great, but does loose a few rpm's if I pull on it to pump brakes or turn on all the electrical stuff. Truck sat for 8 years, and is badly rusted, but with only 81k and 5,200 hours on the hour meter/odometer. Spark plug wires recently replaced and real nice shape. 4 plugs on right side are fair/cleaned, but not bad. Did notice #1 piston has a thin/even layer of black sooty junk on it. Could scrape it off with a flat blade screwdriver, through the spark plug hole. Also noticed that plug had a tiny green, hardned, droplet on it at the electrode when first inspected- pre trying to start it after all the new parts. Compression is #1 @ 175 168 179 178. Did not pull the left side plugs. Cylinders 2,3, and 4 are clean viewing with a flashlight through the spark plug hole. It just about feels like the old traction control engine cut out trick Ford used in the big cars around this time. So then, anyone got the magic wand for this jewel pretty please?