Recent content by 85_Ranger4x4

Dad's has a 350, it does what needs done reliably. I wouldn't kick it out for a LS. The radio was neat until it quit working. To put an aftermarket radio in it it sticks out of the dash like an inch and all the radio controls on the dash do nothing. That is my only complaints about the...

It was a couple years ago, a guy tried towing a Model A on a trailer with his Lightning and barely made it home. IIRC he only had like 75 miles of range pulling a little car on an aluminum trailer. That is a pretty tough sale for anyone that is using it for a truck. And if you don't use it as...

I wish I had side doors, if I ever come across a topper that has them that fits my truck it will be mine. Mine is a 7' bed... its a freaking long ways to the front if I need something up there. Also it forces the layout to have EVERYTHING you may possibly need to be clustered at the back. It...

They are the same thing with a different/harder to find front clip and doors. When new they were a little cheaper and Mazda had a slightly better warranty. They came off the same assembly line with the same parts though.

That's the question of the day. But why make two different engines? Make it ideal and then spec the oil that it needs. Or do you make it ideal and spec weird oil for the place with weird emissions? It is strange all of the sudden we are having a lot of engine failure issues across the board...

Like the Hemi their issues seem to stem from the variable engine displacement system. GM engines old enough to not have that system never really seem to have an issue... much like manual transmission Hemis that also do not have that system.

Mainly a rattle, I guess they are not interference but if you let it go it does cause engine damage. https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-4-0l-sohc-v6/#gsc.tab=0

Wikipedia has been a great annoyance to the Ranger community with their strange generation scheme... On that new of a truck watch the bedfloor. There is a fiber heat shield above the exhaust glued to the bottom of the bed that traps debris and rots out the bed. Timing chain tensioners are the...

I think a lot of the issue is the water like oil they are going to in an attempt try to improve mpg ratings. Making that work requires tight tolerances so the oil actually does what it needs to do without running away. If things are not exactly right running tight tolerances is very extremely...

I just watched the teardown video the other night, it was pretty interesting. It looks like they either can't hold the tolerances for the crank or miscalculated something. In theory it should be a pretty straightforward fix. Figuring out crankshaft tolerances is not really a super complex...

https://www.therangerstation.com/articles/ford-ranger-generations-1983-present/#gsc.tab=0 If you are stuck on a third gen 95-97 for airbags. Mechanically for an offroader I would rather have a early third gen, the HVAC stuff is much simpler to work on (similar to my '85) and I am also a big...

They drop the bomb on their "winter blend" here in southern Iowa from time to time as well.

I love it, working on my Ranger is my release. Some read books, some fuss over their yard, I work in my garage. Working on my Ranger is fun, working on the Bronco or F-150 is work. Even the Bronco with all its modular mounting points, preran wiring and all that, we just don't jive. The...

My longbed crew cab F-150 has a roughly 34gal tank. As far as range it will run over 600 miles on the highway/interstate. Offroad is of course less and will vary. 29 gallons isn't 48 but is still substantial.

We are all kind of swinging in the ditches here but I will add a unladen heavy built vehicle on a test drive will in fact ride like crap. A Super Duty or a heavier Econoline is not built to run around empty. Even my lowly Ranger/F-150 will ride better with some ballast in the back. I assume a...