Panhandle 98 ranger XLT stepside.

[Merc4now]

Hey guys I've used this forum a number of times to help others find issues and just lurk around. Honestly I grew up around Chevy trucks. Even though our main workhorse was a 93 f350 flatbed. I've just had horrible luck with fords. But I needed a simple truck to do a few truck things and stop getting the family Tahoe dirty and dusty. Most In the south have watched as 1500s and f150s have skyrocketed in the used market. 300k 5.3s busted and beat to hell still selling for 5k but mostly 300k 5.3 running on but needing third 4l60e rebuild/replace . Or decent looking F150s at milestone mileage where the timing chain and spark plug problems start showing their faults. I'll still give ford owners a good jabb but I'm old enough now to see and messed with enough cats of all models to know each have their faults and mostly depend on maintenance besides a few major defects. So here I am in Florida panhandle, bought a 98 ranger 2.5l 5sod manual, that if ofcourse only made it 2 weeks and one 4x8 trailer pull of fence pickets before it went belly up. Motor locked up. Had oil, no water mixed in. Have a feeling it had a leaky injector,? Anyhow just here to say HEY and I'll more then likely start a build thread with the ranger for V8 swap. Hope to make some new online friends (and yes I've read through most the the. Build threads so I'll keep my questions specific.) Thanks!

 

[Merc4now]

Quick picture. Don't let the paint fool ya it's a looks great until you get up close.

 

[pjtoledo]

must be white???

 

[Merc4now]

Yeah no it's blue, guess I can't post pictures

 

[Merc4now]

One more time

 

[DrWho42]

henlo! welcome to the forums!

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's the blue of a M&M.

Looks like you have a set of factory Alcoa wheels... I could use one of those.

Welcome to TRS...

 

[Ranger850]

Welcome to TRS. What part of Florida's Panhandle are you in? I'm in Tallahassee and there are a few other guys on here from N. Florida. Love that blue BTW.

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site. For as much rain as FL gets, what are you feeding you grass to keep it brown? LOL

 

[superj]

That sucks about the engine.

 

[Merc4now]

That sucks about the engine.

Yeah, but Good reason to learn to rebuild a 2.5 and do a big V8 swap

 

[superj]

it is. for sure. and a v8 into these little trucks would be awesome

 

[Sloryd66]

Welcome neighbor