Looking at an 88, need advice.

[Bluecrow]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice. I found a guy selling an 88 4 cylinder 4x4 5speed. The story is that is has not run in over 5 years it just quit running one day. The guy selling it figured out that it was the ecm(or ecu) but it does have very good spark now, however the fuel went very bad. He said he flushed out the fuel system up to the filter and I could smell the gas was fresh and not varnish from the tank. My take is that even with fresh gas, that the tank and pump may be in bad shape as well as the fuel rail and injectors. My question is how bad do you think it would be to clean the fuel injectors and rail and possibly replace the tank and pump if need be? The pickup itself is in not to bad of shape and I could probably pick it up for 2 or 300 bux.

 

[MrGiggles]

The problem with a vehicle that has been sitting is that not only do you have to fix what caused if to be parked in the first place, but also the problems that were created from sitting.

Start with the basics, fuel, spark, and compression. I would start with compression.

You can either drop the tank or pull the bed to replace the pump.

But before all that, I would just give it a shot of ether and see if it tries to run. If it doesn't, you have other problems

 

[Bluecrow]

Right, it has pretty much already been determined that it quit running because of the ECM went bad but that has recently been replaced and now has spark. The guy said he flushed the tank and lines up to the fuel filter but I don't know by what means he did that. He also said it would sputter on starter fluid. I'm hoping maybe clean injectors and fuel rail and FPR, I might get lucky.

 

[Mightyfordranger]

Well here's the thing all he prolly did was pop off a fuel line or push the schrerador valve on the rail which I can't remember if those had that back then I have the same truck as your looking at I just wrecked mine slightly but I'll look... anyway he prolly just hit the key and crackerd the system some where and let it bleed but the injectors are prolly gumed up so use seafoam and a few gallons of fresh gas a new pump and see what happens for 300$ it's not bad at least it'll give ya something to do when your bored lol

 

[Bluecrow]

Yeah, seems to me he at least got the old gas out of the tank. The fuel rail, FPR and injectors especially all still have old gas and sediment/varnish. I do have a line on a used fuel rail and injectors for a 2.3 ranger though. Checked out fuel tank and sending units and it seems they are pretty reasonably-priced, if it comes to that.

 

[Mightyfordranger]

Yeah there ya go and 2.3s are stupid easy to work on