"Project A59749" - My '88 Ranger XLT

[DisturbedMXer8]

It's all good, hehe. But yeah, just a 2wd. It's actually kind of nice because it gives me a few more options for lifting it. Now that the console is in, all I have left is the radiator upgrade before I start working on the lift. I still have this weird-ass idle issue that is bothering the crap out of me, but I'm chalking it up to the colder than normal weather for now and hoping that it goes away when normal California weather comes back.

 

[90jurassic2]

What is the idle problem? I'm having a weird idle too, but that may be due to my truck just being rough, and my first oil change was at almost 3,000 miles... oops.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

When you start the truck up when it's cold does it lope like its got a cam in it?

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

No no, nothing like that. It would just idle a little high and take way too long to come down to it's normal 800 rpm. I had to take it in for a smog check a few weeks ago, though, and found out that the timing was off slightly at 12 degrees instead of 10. Even though that's still in spec (california gives you +/- 3 degrees), and we passed smog just fine, I had them adjust it back to 10. Since then, she seems to be back to her normal self, idling right at 800 most of the time, and no higher than 850 occasionally. I definitely have a brake booster going out, though. It hisses constantly whenever I'm on the brakes. Not surprising considering it's 25 years old.

On an un-related note, the center console is amazing. Can't even say how nice it's been to have cup holders and an arm rest. Could not be happier. Really surprised that so few people are interested in them, haha.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

No no, nothing like that. It would just idle a little high and take way too long to come down to it's normal 800 rpm. I had to take it in for a smog check a few weeks ago, though, and found out that the timing was off slightly at 12 degrees instead of 10. Even though that's still in spec (california gives you +/- 3 degrees), and we passed smog just fine, I had them adjust it back to 10. Since then, she seems to be back to her normal self, idling right at 800 most of the time, and no higher than 850 occasionally. I definitely have a brake booster going out, though. It hisses constantly whenever I'm on the brakes. Not surprising considering it's 25 years old.

On an un-related note, the center console is amazing. Can't even say how nice it's been to have cup holders and an arm rest. Could not be happier. Really surprised that so few people are interested in them, haha.

That's good you got it sorted out. Was kind of curious as to what it was. And you and that console and seats, always braggin' I want to do something along those lines to mine. Can't decide between racing style buckets or what.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

And you and that console and seats, always braggin'

Haha, you know it. I'm just proud because it's something that I've always wanted, but never had. Plus I've never seen one in a first gen, so it makes my truck feel that much more unique. I've personally never been a huge fan of racing style seats, they never really feel that comfortable for me. If yours is a daily driver, I'd just try for something that's nice and cushy, that way you don't regret it on long trips =P.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

The truck does look nice with them in there. The longest I've drive in my truck is about 2 hours round trip so if I find anything cheap and cozy ill grab them.plus I think racing style seats look awesome.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Thanks man, I appreciate it =]. I do like the way racing style seats look, don't get me wrong... I just used to run into them a lot at my last job, got tired of my ass hurting in them, hehe.

So, updates... this happened about 3 weeks ago:

She finally ticked over =D. 200,000 miles and still running strong. So, that weekend I went ahead and changed the oil at work, and decided to top off the radiator while I was there. It was then that I noticed that it was leaking coolant out of the upper trans cooler fitting. Welp, I had been wanting to do a radiator swap for a long time, at that was my incentive.

So, the following week when I got paid, I went ahead and ordered one:

That's the new one on the right next to my old one on the left. It's a dual core for a 94 Explorer. Dropped right in, but the clips that hold the bottom of the fan shroud in place don't sit in the same spot as on the old radiator, so I couldn't use those. No biggie, just set a few zip ties down there and it's nice and tight. Plus the transmission cooler lines also help hold it in place, anyway. Also, the upper hose outlet sticks out at an angle, compared to the Ranger's that sticks straight out, so after a few days I noticed the hose was too far back and was being cut slightly by the alternator blades. Just had to shorten the hose by about an inch, and now there's plenty of room.

Before:

After:

It's a tight fit (the fan is completely hidden by the shroud now), but it was totally worth it. The truck cools much better, and I feel that we are ready for another boiling summer. If anyone decides they want to do this swap, make sure to add plenty of teflon/plumbers tape to the threads on the fittings. Just noticed that one of them is seeping a bit since I didn't bother to put any on before. Other than that, it's by far one of the easiest radiator replacements I've ever done. Plus it was only 98 bucks brand new, haha. Definitely worth the peace of mind knowing it cools far more efficiently than it needs to.

So, yeah... Here's to another 200,000 =].

 

[86MUDRCJ]

Iguess ill just havd to try a coiple out and see what i like. Shoot I might be throwing a set if b2 seats in there. A buddy of my buddy has a b2 and he want mats to get rid if them pretty cheap so we'll see.

 

[veefer800canuck]

When I replaced the rad on my '94, I wish I would have gone with a dual core.

It's fine until I tow something, then it warms up on the hills. Never truly has overheated, because by the time I get up even the biggest hill, it's only somewhat hot, then cools right off down the other side. But the bigger rad would certainly be welcome.

Good job on the truck, looks clean and stock.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Iguess ill just havd to try a coiple out and see what i like. Shoot I might be throwing a set if b2 seats in there. A buddy of my buddy has a b2 and he want mats to get rid if them pretty cheap so we'll see.

Yeah dude, the B2 seats are nice, I almost grabbed a set of those myself, but almost every one I found had tears in them somewhere. A nice clean set of those would be beautiful. You gotta post pics if you get around to doing that =].

When I replaced the rad on my '94, I wish I would have gone with a dual core.

It's fine until I tow something, then it warms up on the hills. Never truly has overheated, because by the time I get up even the biggest hill, it's only somewhat hot, then cools right off down the other side. But the bigger rad would certainly be welcome.

Good job on the truck, looks clean and stock.

Yeah dude, that was the same situation for me. Normal driving was always fine, but as soon as I hit any hills or pulled any weight, I could watch the temp gauge slowly rise up to almost max... way too scary. The new rad so far is working beautifully. We'll really see for sure this summer. I have a very slight coolant leak somewhere (I'm thinking probably the t-stat housing or water pump, too dirty to see for sure because of how small the leak is), but it's such a slow drip that it's not worth wasting over two gallons of brand new coolant. I can live with it until it's time to exchange the coolant again, since the cooling system is twice as good as it was before.

And thanks for the compliments, I really appreciate it. I need to replace the power brake booster here soon, and was thinking about doing the 3g alternator swap next... really don't appreciate the dimmed lights and lowered stereo sound quality at idle =P.

 

[bobbywalter]

you sure its not the cruise cut out leaking....or is the brake booster not assisting?

its a switch on the brake pedal shaft.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

The brake booster does assist, but it fluctuates constantly from firm to soft, and it won't hold reserve vacuum for more than a minute or so. I mostly suspect it because it has gotten worse and worse ever since I had a FPR go bad and allow fuel into my intake. Didn't know anything about cars back then, probably drove it like that for a month or so before I figured it out. I'll get up underneath there and double check that, though. Completely forgot about that vacuum line under the pedal, there.

So the leak that I thought was really slow is actually a bit worse than I originally thought. It isn't pouring out, but it drips once every 5 seconds or so (much faster than once every 30 seconds like I originally thought). It's dripping down right at the driver side front corner of the block, and actually collects on the lower lip area of the engine crossmember. I have no idea where it's coming from because the view is blocked by the power steering pump. So, I'm kinda pissed, because I have no idea if it was leaking before I did the radiator, or is now just coincidentally starting. Either way, I gotta get a mirror down in there on my next day off and find out where it's leaking. I just hope it isn't anything serious =|

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

So, I was driving to work a couple of weeks ago, and noticed that my idle had failed to drop all the way down when I came to a light: it was stuck at just under 1k. Kinda freaked me out, but I didn't think anything of it, as it went away by the next stop. Then, a few days later, it did the same thing when I parked at work. Stuck at about 950 drive, 1k in park. After that point, the idle issue slowly but surely returned, and seemed to be worse than before. It would no longer "eventually drop down" on its own. Sometimes it idled high at first and eventually came down. Sometimes it would idle perfect, then work its way back up. Sometimes it would idle high the entire trip. At this point, I figured it HAD to be the booster, as the idle would shoot up to 1.2-1.4k RPM if I pumped the brake pedal, and it hissed all the time. Stuck a new booster in it a week ago this past saturday (so two saturdays ago), and it seemed to have fixed it. For a day. On my way to work the following monday morning, it idled perfect, up until about a mile from my destination. It then decided to go back up to a 900 idle and stay there. Then it was perfect on the way home. From that day on, it has gone back to the way it was originally: It idles at 900 for most of the drive into work, then comes down to a steady 800 at more than halfway there. It usually idles perfect at lunch and/or on the drive home. It has gotten much better since the booster replacement, but it seems that the longer it sits (over my days off, for example), the longer it will idle high. Also, the hotter it is outside, the better chance that it won't idle high at all. It was about 75 outside Saturday when I drove home, and it was perfect the entire way, and it was like that most of the week. So, anyways, at this point I have NO IDEA what this could be. I know it isn't normal because, like I said in earlier posts, this truck has always had a rock solid 800 RPM idle for the entire 4 years I've had it, up until it first did this in December. If anyone has a clue, please let me know. It's been much more normal lately, but this is really killing my OCD, haha.