Love my ranger buttttttt

[PINTHEUS]

I HAVE A 1986 FORD RANGER 2.9 4WD WHICH I BOUGHT FOR NEXT TO NOTHING LAST OCTOBER,,HE COULDN'T GET HER OVER 35 MPH,,SO I BOUGHT HER KNOWING IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY AN IGNITION PROBLEM,,HE HAD HER MIS-WIRED & ONLY FIRING ON 3 CYLINDERS,,WHEN I CORRECTED THE FIRING ORDER,,SHE RAN GREAT THEN WARMED UP & THE BURN OFF OF OIL ON THE BLOCK BEGAN,,TOOK QUITE A WHILE TO STOP,,SHE STILL RUNS WELL WITH THE SO CALLED NORMAL LIFTER TICK,,HOWEVER SHE RUNS BEST WHEN COLD,,ONCE OPERATING TEMP IS REACHED,TEMP GAUGE EXCEEDS NORMAL TEMP LEVEL WITHOUT OVERHEATING,,I REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT, WATER PUMP,ALL HOSES,THERMOSTAT,DID A COMPLETE BACK FLUSH OF THE RADIATOR & BLOCK,,SHE STILL RUNS VERY WARM,DOESN'T OVERHEAT OR LOSE COOLANT,BUT UPON HEATING UP SHE LACKS THE PERFORMANCE SHE HAS WHEN COLD,,I'M WONDERING IF A NEW OIL PUMP & SCREEN WOULD BE A SOLUTION TO HER RUNNING SO WARM,,LACK OF LUBRICATION CAUSING EXTREME FRICTION CAUSING HER TO RUN HOT WITHOUT OVERHEATING ? I ALMOST FORGOT,,ONCE OPERATING TEMP IS REACHED & I PULL UP TO A RED LIGHT,,OIL PRESSURE DIPS SO LOW YOU CAN'T READ IT ON THE GAUGE,,ONCE YOU BEGIN TO DRIVE IT RISES AGAIN,BUT THE PERFORMANCE STILL ISN'T WHAT IT SHOULD BE,, ANY IDEA'S & OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANKS

 

[RangerSVT]

Welcome. What temp t-stat did you go with?

SVT

 

[PINTHEUS]

Thermostat

STANDARD FOR WINTER,,NOT SURE WHAT TEMP RANGE THOUGH

 

[RangerSVT]

I'd run a 180, standard is 192 I believe...

SVT

 

[PINTHEUS]

Ok on the 180,,but should i replace the oil pump & screen & change oil brand & weight,,currently using 10 w 30 castrol synthetic blend high mileage in summer,,5 w 30 in winter,,i saw a post about 15 w 40 rotella