Restoration Of Sorts

[vanmor]

Hey Folks,

Been awhile since I posted anything.

I've decided to restore my 1991 Ranger. I bought it new and I've kept it around be cause it's a nice little truck.

It has the 2.8 four banger with the five speed manual. Has AC, PS, and a factory stereo. It has seen it's share of neglect though.

It sat in the back yard for awhile and about two years ago, I decided to resurrect it. I put new tires on it and rebuilt the transmission. I do drive it from time to time but needs a lot of work.

Right now I'm waiting for some mirrors to come in. The old ones won't stay in place. I saw the post on fixing those but the fix didn't go that great with mine. So since they are so cheap now, I just bought a set. $23 with shipping ain't too bad. You even get the gaskets and screws too go with it.

As I said, I rebuilt the transmission but I got fifth gear in backwards. So it needs to come back out. I replaced the clutch and throwout bearing so that's OK.

My tach is dead but that's because one of the coil packs died. Guess it's running on four plugs instead of eight. I read somewhere that you should replace these coil packs in pairs anyway. I ordered a pair of coil packs and they should be in soon.

The old truck needs lots of work. The steering has a bit of wobble. The headliner is rotted and falling down. The carpet on the passenger side is always wet when it rains. So new carpet is in order. I hope my floor boards are not rusted out.

The seat covers have held in there but I've found a spot or two that is spliting. The dash is Ok because I've keep some sort of treatment on it all these years.

The stereo still works but the display has quit. I have a CD player that came out of another car I had. It also needs new speakers but I can get some at Wally World.

Of course the paint is gone. It started coming off not long after it was paid for. Got a big dent in the drivers door that's been there forever.

Guess that's about it. I'll need some help from you guys and gals. Looking forward to some of your comments.


Thanks
Vance

 

[adsm08]

Wait, which engine do you have?

 

[swynx]

Thought it was a 2.8 v6 and that was discontinued before 91?

 

[wildbill23c]

4 cylinder model would be a 2.3L I thought? Then a 2.9L, 3.0L or I believe they could get the early 4.0L V6's as well. Maybe I'm mistaken

 

[vanmor]

Sorry for the confusion guys. It's a 2.3 liter. See, I told you it's been awhile since I worked on it !

 

[wildbill23c]

^^Lol, well you never know with the way people throw engines in these RBV's who knows what a person might end up with.

I still would like to see a Ranger with a 460 like the NADA guide gives as an option LOL.

 

[ab_slack]

2.8 four banger... maybe it is that rumored V4?

 

[vanmor]

V4 ? That would be interesting.

I think that 460 would have to go in the back. Something like the "Little Red Wagon". Hmmmmm....

I know you can get a kit to put a 302 or 5.0 in a Ranger. Much like the Chevy Small Block S-10 conversions.

I used to go to a website named Turbo Ranger. I was thinking about that a couple of years back. There was a guy in my town that was actually selling a bunch of 2.3 turbo stuff. He had everything from turbos, CPUs, to complete vehicles like Merkurs and Mustangs. I hear a turbo 2.3 Ranger can get into the 12's with the right suspension setup.

 

[martin]

Ford used to make a 2 liter v4 back in the sixties. They put them in the transit vans and the corsair gt. That was in England, they probably never had them here.

 

[SenorNoob]

^^Lol, well you never know with the way people throw engines in these RBV's who knows what a person might end up with.

I still would like to see a Ranger with a 460 like the NADA guide gives as an option LOL.

Do pictures count? http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2490874/1

I think the owner was/is a member here.