Where to start.

[This_guy]

New to rangers

Alright so i just graduated from high school (yay) and so now im going to get my first car. I want to get a small truck so i was looking into the ford rangers. I like 85-89 model with the 5 speed. I know its not a speedy truck stock but hopefully i can change that. Any advice on the truck? any good and bad things you guys know about these trucks? Also it would help out a lot if you guys could help me out with the whole making it faster. Any parts or ways you guys know on how to make these things faster? I want to start getting into cars and want to make this my first project truck. The end goal is to turn this truck into a nice pro touring type truck with a bit of horsepower to keep things interesting. Sorry thats a lot to ask for but I just dont know where to start haha Thanks so much!

 

[RonD]

You are in Calif.?
Vehicles from 1976 and newer need to pass "smog test" I believe.

So I guess the first thing is to get a Ranger that CAN pass smog test.
With older vehicles that can get harder, Cat converters are expensive to replace, as are piston rings.

And if, for example, you get an 1988 Ranger with a 2.3l(4 cyl) engine, then no matter what you do to the engine, or even if you swap out the engine, it must still meet the same emissions as a 1988 Ranger with 2.3l engine, i.e. if you put in a 2.9l engine "they" don't use 2.9l emission standards you still have to meet 2.3l standards.
Emission numbers are tied to the VIN(vehicle identification number) found on the dash board plate or drivers door sticker.
VIN has a letter or number IDing the factory engine model.

That being said you should probably look for a Ranger with a 2.9l, and then down the road look at doing a 4.0l swap for more power.
The 4.0l(pre-2001) is a bored out 2.9l block, so transmission bolt pattern and motor mounts line up.
And with the MAF system and EDIS spark system the emissions can be equal or better with 4.0l.

 

[96firephoenix]

there is a process in Cali for doing a "smog legal" engine swap. I'm not sure what it is, as I don't live there, but I know a guy that took his v6 firebird to a v8 and got a special smog sticker for the V8 standards. No way his v8 would have passed v6 smog standards otherwise.

 

[Blown]

If you find something a bit newer and with lower miles you won't have as much to fix........................I sure like my 2001 with 4.0 SOHC and OBDII engine management. Plenty of power in a 4.0 SOHC.

 

[Mark_88]

Welcome to TRS~! and congrats on graduating high school...

Did you take Masochism 401 in high school...it almost sounds like you've been groomed for a life of headaches...

Although the years you've indicated are wonderful trucks and great to work on, do you really want to start at that level? If you are good with mechanical things and enjoy scouring the junk yards for parts and putting things together then you will love a truck of that vintage...or if you have a huge wad of cash sitting in a bank somewhere that you have easy access too...then you're talking a good game...

Otherwise...If I had the chance to do it all again...I'd buy something already on the road (certified) stash all my money in a bank or investments and stay as far away from "improving" vehicles as I can...

I know it's better to build your own...way more fun...much more educational...and something you can be proud of accomplishing...and you won't know half of that until you start and you probably won't realize how much you've learned until someone asks you a question...and you start spouting things that you didn't realize you knew...

If that is your goal...even partially...then you're on your way just by being on TRS...!

 

[RonD]

there is a process in Cali for doing a "smog legal" engine swap. I'm not sure what it is, as I don't live there, but I know a guy that took his v6 firebird to a v8 and got a special smog sticker for the V8 standards. No way his v8 would have passed v6 smog standards otherwise.

Yes ^^, my mistake.
If you swap engines it must be from the same year or newer, if engine is not the same model then engine must be from same year or newer vehicle and it must meet emission standards from "donor vehicle's" year.
Also read you need to get a certification from a smog "referee" for a different model engine, I assume they look at the install to deem it road worthy and all emission devices for the engines model year are there and working, you need this certificate before going to get smog test, not sure of the cost on that?


That would make me take a good look at a late 60's Ranchero, lol, F#$% that smog stuff
Those '68/'69 Ranchero's are pretty nice looking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranchero#/media/File:Red1968FordRanchero.jpg