Great site!

[Jim2]

Hi all, my name's Jim.

I just picked up an 88 Ranger... 2.9, 4WD.. this baby's goin to the track!

It's been sitting in impound for about a year, has a blown head, and it would be too expensive to get it back on the road. I got it cheap..

It looks like the previous owner was trying to build it up. Already has headers and an ignition system.. I'm not sure what else was done, but there is an extra computer laying in the cab too. I wish I knew more about the history of this one..

The oil was foamy, and overfilled. The radiator was empty. I went ahead and started it anyway, just to make sure the ignition works. It seemed to work fine, so I tried to flush the radiator and engine. As soon as the thermostat opened, she bogged down.. wouldn't idle at all..

I used to have an 87, so I'm familiar with the dreaded "cracked heads" flaw.
I figured that's the problem and I was gonna use "Blue Devil" but, since she wouldn't idle, I figured the Blue Devil won't work.

I'm a carpenter by trade, and I never did heads before.. but I found a link to a page on this site that gave step-by-step instructions.
To whoever wrote that, thank you very much! It was a great help, and I got the heads removed without any problems.
I dropped the heads off at a local shop to have them checked. Maybe later today I'll hear back from them.

We have a little track out here. It's a small, dirt rally course. It just started up last season, the new season starts next month.
This Saturday, there's gonna be an exhibition race. I hope to be up and running in time for that one.
The Metal Mulisha is gonna be there putting on a show too. Here's a link to their site;
http://www.kalaeloaracewaypark.com/

I got a lot of vids from last season. Here's a sampler..
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jim1457a?feature=mhum#p/u/15/5fwJuj0NiYc

Thanks for the great site!

Jim

 

[jhammel85]

From that pic it doesn't look to bad body wise. Sounds like it could be a good deal!

 

[Jim2]

From that pic it doesn't look to bad body wise. Sounds like it could be a good deal!

yeah, it's a good deal I guess. ... even though it turns out that the heads cracked... I'm on my way to the shop to see what my options are.

I want to get new heads since there are so many other parts already on this truck, but if I can just get a running engine from the junkyard for less, I might have to do that instead. I don't have the money for new heads right now..

 

[brinker88]

4.0L swap!!

 

[Jim2]

4.0L swap!!

I was about ready to try anything [except 4 cylinder] ... but I got lucky.

A couple guys at the machine shop went digging around in the back, and came back with a couple sets of heads.
One of the sets was the newer casting style.... the kind that ain't supposed to crack as easily... They were cracked anyway..

But they found a set of the old style that's still good. The price is right , so I'm gonna give em a try.

Down the road, I'd like to drop a 302 in there... but this 2.9 already has some mods.
I might've found an older intake for it too. The old intakes are better. I used to have an '87, and that thing was surprisingly fast!

The track out here is not very big, so the weight trade-off is an issue too.
There's some sharp turns, and getting that weight turned around and going the other way is more a matter of traction than horsepower.

I think this 2.9 will have "enough" power to do pretty good, if it can survive the race!
Attrition is always a factor over there..

 

[Jim2]

I finally got er out to the track last saturday... and this baby has some potential ..!

------------------------------

We got a little roughed up in one of the hairpins during the first heat.
The alignment is out, but nothing is loose. ... something's bent.

The other tire howled all the way home...