'86 Ranger has no power

[I am me]

I just bought a ranger and it starts fine but has very little power to drrive. I'm guessing fuel starvation. The gas tank rotted through so I'm sure there's junk in the fuel lines/filter, hopfuy that's the issue. I'm putting a new tank and filter in tomorrow and I'll blow out the fuel lines with my compressor. If thats not it could it be the oxygen sensors? Does this truck even have o2 sensors?

 

[shadetreebronco]

Yes there is one O2 sensor if its a 2.9 , I am not sure about other engines.

 

[RonD]

Lack of fuel causes pinging and then stalling.

Lack of power can be lack of air flow in, low compression or lack of "outflow"(exhaust blockage).
Check air filter and air tubes for blockages

O2 sensors should be changed every 100-150k miles, no it won't cause low power, it can cause rich running or pinging.
It doesn't have that much control of air/fuel mix, especially in '86

MAP sensor is the main air/fuel mix sensor in '86, these rarely fail, and idle would be poor

If you have an EGR system it can effect power but idle should be effected as well.

$25 vacuum gauge can tell you engine condition, if exhaust is blocked or compression is low.
Very good tool to have in the box, along with Volt/ohm meter

Vacuum gauge testing here: http://www.gregsengine.com/using-a-vacuum-gauge.html

Any gas engine is still a gas engine no matter how many sensors or controls they add to the outside.
Whether it is 1 cylinder or 16 cylinders, a vacuum gauge is still the first tool I reach for most of the time.


Also just a heads up, the throttle cable can stretch after 30 years of use
With engine off press gas pedal down to the floor and put something on it to hold it down, or a stick against the seat works.
Now go to the engine and check if the throttle can be opened more at that end, if so, then you are not getting full throttle with the gas pedal.

Google: Ranger throttle cable mod

Easy fix if needed

 

[I am me]

So I had a big response written up but my phone refreshed the page and deleted it so here's the summary. The o2 sensor couldn't be making it run lean? Starting fine and idling but not having much power is what all my small carburted engines axt like when I run them to lean. It has no air filter so that's not restricting anything. It idles like a carburated engine with a really low idle, you have to tap the gas sometimes to keep it running. The head gasket is leaking oil so seals might be the issue. doesn't sound like a simple fix so I'm not going to do it, I bought the truck to do a TD swap