Manual to Autop Swap '85 Ranger

[Coloradorangers]

Have a 2.8, 5 speed, Ranger. My son isn't doing well learning to drive it, don't want to sell it because we're the second owners, little old lady gardening truck for 24 years.....It's really nice. So, I was thinking of swapping out the manual for an auto to keep a small truck in the family with all of the other SUV's and cars.

What would I be in for?

 

[adsm08]

If you grab a C3 (2wd) or C5 (4x4) you aren't gonna be too bad off. They are good, sturdy transmissions that aren't computer controlled.

Now, I'm gonna take a sharp left turn. As someone who initially had trouble learning to drive stick, but then taught several other people to do it quite well, what is your son having trouble with? Sometimes it's not the person trying to learn, it's the way they are being taught.

 

[pcollins]

Just keep going at it. I learned when i was 12 around the farm...I'm 18 now. it takes some time. But its very worth it in the end. They are more reliable, better gas mileage, cheaper to fix...

 

[Coloradorangers]

I'm with you guys, I'm wanting him to take his time and relax. He's driving pretty good with the little Bronco II and the New Tahoe, but the stick is driving him nuts.

 

[adsm08]

Find a dirt path, have him start off and stop from one end to the other and back again. That's how I learned. I actually got the starting thing down pretty quick. I had issues stopping without stalling it. My dad failed to mention that you had to put the clutch in to stop or you'd kill the engine.