Just picked up my first Ranger - '93 4.0

[SignalZero]

Hi, everyone. I picked up my first Ranger a couple weeks ago. I've been a Ford guy since I started driving, but this is my first Ranger. I have a clean '97 Nissan Hardbody I use as my current beater, but my wife hates how primitive it is. She likes her dad's B3000, and I recently helped her cousin buy and fix up a '99 3.0 Ranger as his first vehicle, so I figured why not get a Ranger. So I picked up this POS. lol

It's a '93 4.0 with the automatic(wife can't drive stick; strike 2 for the Nissan). It has 193k miles, but doesn't smoke, shifts fine, and has perfect a/c & heat. Her cousin went with me to check it out, and I paid $1,500 and drove it an hour and half home with some stop and go traffic, without a hitch.

It does have an intermittent hunt for idle slightly; I cleaned the IAC and sprayed around looking for a vacuum leak with no luck so far. It also has some oil leaks at the valve covers and oil sender (hoping the rear main is fine but can't tell until I fix the others). And I'm gonna have to replace the fuel filler neck (gonna try to find a new bed too due to damage at the rear). I did find a newer grill and unbroken console at the junkyard for $20! Priorities...lol.

I've been reading mixed reviews on the 4.0 OHV, so if you guys have any advice I'd appreciate it.

 

[SignalZero]

Also, I'm gonna look at a '96 Supercab 3.0 as a parts truck (threw the rod). Is there anything from the 3.0 (IAC, sensors, etc...) I can use on the 4.0? Or is body & interior parts all I'll be able to use from the parts truck?

 

[Patriot1776]

I've got a 92 with the 4.0 and am on my third A4LD transmission behind it. I did freeze the block and had to replace both heads but otherwise I haven't had much that has needed work on the engine itself. It's parked now doing duty as a lawn ornament until I can tackle the build. The odometer is at 180k. As far as I'm concerned the 4.0 is a great engine.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[SignalZero]

I think the transmission in mine had been rebuilt at some point. It shifts like the 4r70w's in our Crown Vic's at work after the transmission shops would put clutch kits in them.
I had a '95 Mustang GT with an Aode that I bought knowing it had a sluggish 1-2 shift. It took 3 years to start fully slipping. So I was kinda hoping I'd be good with regular maintenance on this one.

I did pick up that '96 parts truck, but from my understanding the transmission is different for the 3.0. (?).

 

[Goldmachine]

I believe the 3.0 and 4.0 have different bellhousing bolt patterns. I'm not sure on that though, Im more knowledgeable about crown vics. I have a identical truck to yours, right down to the pin stripes. only difference is mine is a 5 speed.

 

[SignalZero]

Do you have any pics of your truck?

The gold has grown on me. Unfortunately, I need to swap the bed this weekend so I can get rid of the parts truck, and start using the Ranger without it puking gas at the gas station. So the it will have a silver bed.
My wife wants the whole thing painted red. I'm thinking like an orangish red or a bright red.

 

[Goldmachine]

Mine does the same thing when filling it with gas. Mine needs to be repainted and I was thinking either ruby red or deep impact blue. Both colors from the 2015 mustang. But i don't have pictures of it, I can take a few and post them