New Whip. $500 96 Ford Ranger 2.3 5mt

[hayden55]

Update on the trans: Clutch slave cylinder is leaky from what I can see in the inspection window, and the fluid is brand new meaning it must have leaked on the previous owners as well so they must have topped it off for a quick sale:
Trans had a little over one quart of oil in it. Did just fine until the last loop or two around the block and it start buzzing so I parked it. I also realized once I got the top cover off, that the synchronizer sliders will only engage if the clutch pedal is completely on the damn floor. lol
On the agenda:
1. swap hydraulic slave cylinder.
2. replace upper shift ball components as they have disintegrated and the seal boot is broken.
3. Swap shift forks (even though the ones I have are fine... I just already have the parts).
4. replace rear output shaft seal.
That should fix the issues. A lot of slop, low fluid, seals losing fluid, and a slave cylinder that wont engage until on the floor can cause some problems.
5. Will inspect clutch when I pull the transmission as well.

Added pictures to the first post as well.

[Piotrsko]

Typicls air in system. Just wait until you bleed the clutch unless they fixed that. Easier to bleed it on ramps on sloping driveway nose high. Reverse gear engagement is criteria for well bled clutch slave.

[hayden55]

Starting to get more things done. Haven't really worked on the car beside the first little bit I owned it since it was 50F and then dropped to 30's for the next couple months. Last week I decided to just go ahead and throw all the junk back in the truck and reassemble everything.
Interesting to see what just cleaning the interior can do to a vehicle.
Just need to solder the egr tube now to fix it and make a decision on trans route.

[hayden55]

Update.

Ranger is running. After misc sensors, exhaust fixes, finishing up transmission install she is done.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...4C?usp=sharing
Truck is getting anywhere between 20-30 in town. Truck also gets 24 mpg going 70 mph per GPS.
Now time to do some mods!

[hayden55]

Finally got a little bit of a hesitation misfire towing my motorcycle to the new city (highway to Fayetteville, AR is EXTREMELY hilly). Didn't have the scan gauge hooked up but it felt like a misfire above 90% load. Took it easy and made it home fine. Got 21 mpg towing the bike back in the bed in 30F weather. No bed cover. Sunday I finally got time to pull the plugs. I assume they are the original plugs from 1996 still in this vehicle. I will say after seeing them I will say I got my money's worth. I'm honestly suprised it ran so well for so long on these plugs. I hardly noticed it misfired at the end. lol
I have put about 2000 miles on the truck now. Absolutely no oil consumption so far. Oil is still golden. Not used to that. Looking at the new plugs all gapped correctly I bet I might pick up a mpg or two from this? :P Just need to get the one spark plug out I broke and I will be good to go! I think I'm done with maintenance now besides swapping out the "Distributor" thing. *Excitement*
I Might have a fleet of reliable vehicles now. *knock on wood*

[hayden55]

Might be closing in on the Best gas mileage V6 Ranger? Just need to figure out the power to tow vs axle ratio challenge. So far it looks like this vehicle will need the 3.73 axle unless I can delete some of the accessory drive with good results to decrease the hp required.
Also, aero mods that you can't see will help. No more extreme(ly-ugly) aero mods for now.

[Keito]

I never read your update that this turned out to be a 3.0.
My first Ranger was a 96, 2.3, 5 speed, that's the one I installed the
exhaust and aired up the tires and got a solid 30 MPG's

I sold that and bought a brand new 2002 3.0 automatic.
I absolutely hated that truck, no matter what I did it would
get no better than 18 MPG's

I kept it a few years and unloaded it.
The 3.0 has the nickname the cockroach, it's hard to kill them.

The 5 speed will obviously help the situation

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by Keito

I never read your update that this turned out to be a 3.0.
My first Ranger was a 96, 2.3, 5 speed, that's the one I installed the
exhaust and aired up the tires and got a solid 30 MPG's

I sold that and bought a brand new 2002 3.0 automatic.
I absolutely hated that truck, no matter what I did it would
get no better than 18 MPG's

I kept it a few years and unloaded it.
The 3.0 has the nickname the cockroach, it's hard to kill them.

The 5 speed will obviously help the situation

I really need an admin to change the title. It bugs the **** out of me every time i make an update. lol

I hope you're right. I hate trucks. Therefore, I have this one to last me forever for the every once in a while I need a truck.