I need help!

[ksc66]

Ok here is the deal; I have a 1986 ranger (manual) that I bought for pretty cheap about 5 months ago. It ran good at first, only thing that I noticed was it would rev high in RPM's while in gear and not pick up too fast. About 2 months ago it started up and while warming up it would rev high up to about 3-4,000 rpms and then die down to 600-700. After it was warm it was cool, it ran fine but lately I cannot keep it running because it revs high and then dies. Even after abunch of starts and playing toggle with the gas it shudders forward and back (kinda like its out of gas) in 1st and 2nd gear. As of last week I cannot even get it out of the parking lot cause it just dies straight out in first. It has a new o2 sensor, new disributor cap, wires and spark plugs and the oil is good. Any ideas on whats going on and what I need to buy to get it working?

 

[Earl43P]

Whew, 86.
Can you hear any hear any hissing, like a vaccum leak?
Look for broken tubes, pcv hose, etc.

 

[0ldman]

Vacuum leak, choke problems, could possibly be a crack or bad seal that is lessened once it warms up.

Carb on an 86 right? Could be the needle and seat getting stuck and flooding it, but it would have to be just right to not stall it out.

 

[IMenriched]

No carb's on a 86'...unless it has a 4 banger or the 2.8.....don't think that the 2.8 was a option in 86....that said...somebody could prove otherwise.

Yes vacuum leaks can be a killer for runability.

does it run better after it warmed up?? or it does this all the time??
could be many things or a combination of things.

getting codes would a good place to start.

other things to do....
change fuel filter &air filter
good tune up....plugs, cap rotor, wires
remove the AIC (air Idle control) and clean with carb cleaner, passanger side of the upper intake.
check the upper intake for excessive carbon build up....covering vacuum ports on upper intake. look for the smaller one just behind the throttle plate

 

[ksc66]

So as of 10 minutes ago; While it was idling there was a distinguishable whooshing sound coming from the engine, it idles really rough and there is some burning oil smell, It looks like the seals leak a bit. There was alot of black smoke coming from the tailpipe when I drove around the parking lot, and even from ignition the whole engine sounded underpowered from how it used to sound

It runs a little better after warmup-if it gets there.

I did not see any broken tubes or anything that looks busted, but Im fairly new at this so maybe I missed something
Thanks for the rest of the info.

 

[IMenriched]

getting codes would confirm.

but it might be the coolant sensor for the ECM, (not the one for the dash)
could be the MAP sensor
also could be the FPR.