Just buy'd a Fordzda Branger. Help me spend money on it and fuel gauge issue

[curtis73]

Just snagged a 94 B4000 4x4 manual. 88k miles and not a speck of rust anywhere. I couldn't resist.

The pushbutton 4x4 only engages sometimes, so I'll need to look into that before winter. Probably the actuator motor. The headliner is sagging, but don't really care. Otherwise, it is like a wee time capsule from 1994, complete with Mauve, orange, and Raspberry pink pixelated decals. Oh yeah. Makes me want to blast Tootsie Roll on the dry-rotted speakers.

One other thing I need to address is a fuel gauge issue that I've not seen before. The gauge is just inaccurate. Its hard to describe. Its not like a loose ground where it suddenly swings one way or the other. Its not like a stuck or sunken float where it stays the same, and I never see it moving.

When I picked it up last week, it said just above empty so I filled it but it only took 13 gallons. Started it up and it registered full. Went toward home and about 30 minutes later it said half. A while later it said 3/4 ish. Some mornings I go out and start it up and it seems about right, but then changes as I drive. Yesterday (after driving it a lot this week) it said just above empty. So I filled it and it took 7 gallons and then registered full.

Doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason. Thoughts?

And then other than buying a lumber rack and replacing the (probably missing) shifter bushings, what should I do to it? Ya know... the normal laundry list of stuff you would do to your Branger. Should I just do a Core or Hurst shifter while I have the shifter apart?

 

[chewy012]

Nice rig dude!

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[97RangerXLT]

agreed. Nice catch.

AJ

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have a hurst in my race truck. I like it but not at full price...unless it also fixes the missing/buggered bushings. It's been so long since I installed it I don't remember what's involved.

 

[distantsharp]

That interior is great. I really love those seats and center console. Wish my '95 was like that.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[black_demon69]

Nice

Look here

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,transmission-manual,shifter+repair+kit,15213

 

[curtis73]

I just ordered the bushing kit. I also ordered some Royal Purple Synchromax and I'm also getting some Pennzoil Synchromesh. I've heard really mixed reviews on both, but the RP is the same viscosity as Mercon and should do well. The Pennzoil is a bit thicker, but I hear it's great. My plan is to try the $20 worth of Pennzoil first. If I like it, it will stay and I'll return the RP. If I don't like it, I will swap out for the RP and use the Pennzoil in my chainsaw or something.


Any thoughts on the fuel gauge?

 

[det107]

Welcome to TRS & your Mazda looks great-

 

[hank857]

distantsharp, the seats and all are available in wrecking yards to make yours look like it. I got seats from an 01 explorer drivers electric passenger manual. I also got one of the older center consols from another wrecked explorer (also get the aluminum mount). Later I found a 99/00 eddie baurer with electric seats both sides and I got them just to get the passenger side electrics (wife was complaining about non elec seat). Also scored another consol from a another explorerer with the cup holders. So things are easy to change. Mine is a 94 and everything pretty much a bolt in and go. Only thing was seat belts needed an extender to fit right. I got elec window mirrors etc from a 97 rollover also. Just needed to fab a wire harness. These trucks are easily modified as they are not all that complicated. total cost about $300.