83 Ranger, Coming to the Station - South Central PA

[zanerojo]

Wishing all you Rangers well!

Have been searching the forums for awhile now for bits of information. Really great what has all been put together here on the TheRangerStation!

I have a 1983 Ford Ranger with the 2.0l or 2.3l (if anyone knows off hand from the pictures please let me know!!!) 4 Cylinder Engine, and a 4-Speed Manual Transmission. 2WD.



This was a true barn find that had been sitting, not-running, at a local farm here in South Central Pennsylvania. One day a farm hand posted it on Facebook Marketplace for $500, As-IS NOT RUNNING...

I had been searching for one for quite some time. I responded to the post within 2 hours of it being first posted, and had the Ranger towed back to my place 2 hours after that. I got her for $400, clean title too!

Tagged & Titled her as an Antique so I can be exempt from Inspections & Emissions here in PA.

Hosed her down. The paint looks like it was put on with a paint roller. I think its a unique look. It will be changed in the near future likely.

Dealt with a spider infestation. Almost nightmarish, but more "bad dream".. haha.. Covered her in bug killer. Shoved her in the garage. Covered the floor in bug killer. Shut the door. Came back 2 days later to ALOT of dead spiders. -_-

Not much of any rust, even the tow truck driver pointed that out when he was inspecting it as he loaded/unloaded.

Interior is in OK shape. Will need a new dash pad. Floor pans. Carpet. Headliner. Original 1983 Owners Manual was in the glovebox still, pretty cool!



Again, not running. Engine bay was a rats nest of air lines and disconnected hoses... Removed the air pump. Removed the vapor cannister.

Need to get an air filter for the carb and a mini for the valve cover. Need to get a new battery. Pinto Header to a nice Muffler maybe?

I did jump her, wouldn't start, but chugged like she wanted to.



I ordered all available replacement ignition and electrical components from LMCTruck, they should be here Saturday.

I really think she will start with the new parts. Will keep anyone interested updated.

Sorry for the ramble, felt as though some of you may appreciate the backlog

Let me know what you all think! I would say it was a great deal, especially when I get her running! I have some big plans for this one.

Cheers!

 

[adsm08]

It's pretty hard to tell a 2.0 from a 2.3 from the outside of the engine. Same block and head, only the rotating assembly is different.

 

[zanerojo]

It's pretty hard to tell a 2.0 from a 2.3 from the outside of the engine. Same block and head, only the rotating assembly is different.

Understood. Would it be safe to say MOST parts for the 2.0 and 2.3 are interchangeable for this year Ranger?

 

[Curious Hound]

Rock Auto is another good source of parts. But shop around first. Sometimes shipping will make them higher. Look in out vendor section for a coupon code for 5% off.

Truck looks great. If it's the original engine, there should be a way to pinpoint what it is. Decode the VIN, or might be a label or sticker somewhere. Sometimes a sticker on the radiator support will have info like that, with vacuum diagram or v-belt diagram and spark plug gap and stuff like that. Unfortunately, those labels are often missing on older trucks.

 

[zanerojo]

Rock Auto is another good source of parts. But shop around first. Sometimes shipping will make them higher. Look in out vendor section for a coupon code for 5% off.

Truck looks great. If it's the original engine, there should be a way to pinpoint what it is. Decode the VIN, or might be a label or sticker somewhere. Sometimes a sticker on the radiator support will have info like that, with vacuum diagram or v-belt diagram and spark plug gap and stuff like that. Unfortunately, those labels are often missing on older trucks.

Appreciate the pointers! It is the original motor. I will look into the stickers, and VIN as well

And most of all, Thank you!!

 

[RobbieD]

Welcome, and nice truck!

Hopefully the door and core support stickers are still there and still legible. The 1983 VIN 8th digit will denote which engine:
K = 2.0 gas
Z = 2.3 gas
S = 2.8 gas
3 = 2.2 diesel

Hopefully it'll run well with the new parts.

Down the road, if you change the radio, try to avoid cutting the 3-hole dash panel. That was1983 and 84 only, and getting hard to find uncut. '85-'88 dash panels will be single DIN and a lot easier to find.

Great score; I'd love to find a truck like that.

 

[zanerojo]

Welcome, and nice truck!

Hopefully the door and core support stickers are still there and still legible. The 1983 VIN 8th digit will denote which engine:
K = 2.0 gas
Z = 2.3 gas
S = 2.8 gas
3 = 2.2 diesel

Hopefully it'll run well with the new parts.

Down the road, if you change the radio, try to avoid cutting the 3-hole dash panel. That was1983 and 84 only, and getting hard to find uncut. '85-'88 dash panels will be single DIN and a lot easier to find.

Great score; I'd love to find a truck like that.

Hey man thank you so much that means a lot!

I will have to check the actual truck tomorrow, as my 8th digit in the VIN on my title is a “C”

& As far as the radio goes, I will most likely just leave it the way it is.

 

[RobbieD]

Here's the VIN breakdown for the 1983 and '84 models:

I think that yours may be an early production Ranger, if like it appears in your pictures the top dash panel having just a single mono speaker location. If I remember correctly, the first ones came in having just the one speaker location, then came a period of three speaker locations (retained the 1 center for mono and added 2 outer for stereo), before the dash panel standardized later on with just the 2 outer speaker locations for both mono and stereo.

The first Rangers were built starting in January 1982, with sales starting in March of 1982 (as a 1983 model). The door sticker, if still legible, will have a month of manufacture, and of course the VIN sequential will tell you how early it is. Build dates were stamped in ink on the front passenger side of the core support, and in some cases they can still be found and be legible enough to read.

Clean stock early Rangers are getting rare. I can't wait to see this one running again!

 

[bobbywalter]

Nice score.

 

[zanerojo]

Here's the VIN breakdown for the 1983 and '84 models:

View attachment 57930

I think that yours may be an early production Ranger, if like it appears in your pictures the top dash panel having just a single mono speaker location. If I remember correctly, the first ones came in having just the one speaker location, then came a period of three speaker locations (retained the 1 center for mono and added 2 outer for stereo), before the dash panel standardized later on with just the 2 outer speaker locations for both mono and stereo.

The first Rangers were built starting in January 1982, with sales starting in March of 1982 (as a 1983 model). The door sticker, if still legible, will have a month of manufacture, and of course the VIN sequential will tell you how early it is. Build dates were stamped in ink on the front passenger side of the core support, and in some cases they can still be found and be legible enough to read.

Clean stock early Rangers are getting rare. I can't wait to see this one running again!

Wow thank you! It’s interesting you mention about the speakers, because I noticed when I got power to it, and the radio turned on, it sounded so bizarre to me as it was only coming from one central speaker.

I will check for month of manufacture and the actual vehicle VIN today and let you know!

it would not surprise me if it is a first production run model as the farm hand had mentioned the owner loved going and purchasing unique vehicles at auctions in his prime.