Just got a Ranger 4x4, need some ideas and help!

[Superman]

Just bought this 1985 Ford Ranger XL 4x4 yesterday. I'm 6'4, size 15 shoe, and I fit pretty well in it...which surprised me.
It had a V6 in it but someone took it out and put a 2.3L fuel injected engine in it and it also has a 5 spd manual transmission. Guy said he bought it from a dealership and they said it had around 20,000 miles on the engine and the guy said he put on another 20,000 probably. 4x4 works as well. At first it was driving good before I bought it but then it spit and spuddered....guy found out water got in the distributor cap and got it back running good when I came back with the money. I got him lowered to $1000 and bought it.

Now I drove it 36 miles back home and it had no problem. It does need some paint and body work.

Just did a tune up, changed the oil, put in some new headlights and bulbs.


My plans are to use it for a daily driver to go to work (which is 36-40 miles away) and to college (which is 30 miles away).


PROBLEMS. WHAT COULD IT BE? WHAT CAN I DO?

-----When I push in my clutch sometimes and come to a stop it makes a weird grinding noise until I let go of the clutch. It doesn't do it all the time (just like my old 99 Ranger did with a 5spd manual transmission). What could this be?


-----My fuel needle seems not to read right. I have put in 9 gallons and it didn't come past E. The needle does go up though when I turn the key on but stops around E but it has been dropping some though (since I have no put no more gas in). It didn't have a fuse in it at the fuse panel but I put one in and it still does the same thing. Any ideas what this could be? Sending unit? Loose wire?


----Around 45+ mph my truck shakes bad. Guy said the tires weren't balanced and plus they are nylon or something kind of tires and aggressive mud grips. I also let go of my steering wheel and the truck went to the right..so I am thinking it could be out of alligned. Any ideas?

----When I am going up a hill (5th gear) my truck goes about 50 and I have the pedal pushed down and it doesn't go any faster. I also tried to give it more gas just going down the highway and it just won't go over 55 mph...What could be the problem? Fuel filter? Any ideas?!?



What should I do to my Ranger?

As I have mention it is a daily driver. I do though want to fix it up. Was thinking about a suspension lift. Any ideas what I should do?

Tire reads that it is a 7.00x15lt rim. Don't know what exact size it is.

 

[4.0B2]

4.0 swap, 8.8 and d35, James duff lift, and undercoat. Well depends on what your budget is. And if you wanna keep the small engine.

 

[Superman]

4.0 swap, 8.8 and d35, James duff lift, and undercoat. Well depends on what your budget is. And if you wanna keep the small engine.

Eh, I'm aiming at keeping it getting good gas mileage....but would like to fix it up for off-roading a little bit (not extreme off-roading because I already have a 1979 ford f150 4x4 for that).

 

[goodie85]

2 words...... i like

 

[r1hatman]

Defiantly undercoat it, get it lined up. I used F150 springs in the front and drop shackles in the back and 3 in rear blocks off an 70's Bronco to lift mine on the cheap. If your gonna do the f150 springs don't line it up till you do cause you'll need at least 3 degree shims to do so! Looks good! Customize it out!

 

[Superman]

Lined up?



I'm going to have to weld some sheetmetal in the floorboards....

 

[4.0B2]

LineX!!!!

 

[Superman]

Whats that?

 

[slow96gt]

if i had to guess about your four questions i would say #1 is throw bout bearing #2 the float for the sending unit is old and has gas in it causing it to sink, #3 mud tires that need to be balanced or maybe a bent rim, and #4 lack of power hope that helps

 

[84stealthranger]

its a spray on bed liner

 

[Superman]

if i had to guess about your four questions i would say #1 is throw bout bearing #2 the float for the sending unit is old and has gas in it causing it to sink, #3 mud tires that need to be balanced or maybe a bent rim, and #4 lack of power hope that helps

Will it mess up anything cause of that bearing?

Lack of power as in? Fuel filter hasn't been changed plus my engine seems to stay reved up sometimes.

 

[farmer]

Lack of power as in, it's only a 4 cylinder, not a V8

 

[slow96gt]

yea what he said lol

 

[Superman]

lol..but it should do better than it does..idk.

 

[mp3deviant721]

The first thing I'd do is get that underbody fixed. Then start worrying about other things. Nice find though, I wish I could find a 4cyl 4x4 for a DD.