New (to me) '83 Ford Ranger

[Mookitty]

Ok just picked this truck up a week ago, as my "winter bike", plus light hauling as needed.

1983 Ford Ranger 4x4, longbed, 2.8L V6, 4-speed

It needs a lot of love, but runs, and has a mostly straight body and a clean title, and I only paid $900 for it. So since this is my first non-motorcycle in about 5 years, a few questions:

What's the word on the 2.8L V6s? It seems that Ford put it in a lot of cars in the 70s and 80s. My particular engine is a junkyard motor that was used to get the truck running after something ("it just got old" was what I was told) happened to the original motor. The computer carb and distributor is coming off as soon as I can source non-computer replacement parts, it runs like poo right now.

The first thing I did once I got it home was to change the oil & filter. There was an excess of Castrol 20-50 on the family oil wall, so that's what I used. I figured clean was better than old, and didn't worry too much about the weight. I think the next OC will be with a high-mileage oil. What would be a good choice in brand and weight. (Truck is parked outside with current temps a bit below freezing in the morning.)

Or should I just go with Rotella? Then I'd only have to keep one oil on hand for the truck and bikes?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Black_Thunder]

Rotella would be fine

 

[hate2work]

Congrats on the truck. That 2.8 is a good little engine, my dad had one for 20 years without any trouble.

Never been to AZ, but I'm told parts of it get pretty cold in the winter. I think your 20W -50 oil is better suited for the summer months around there.

 

[mechtech2]

You can now get Classic Car License Plates for that vehicle.

 

[rg200amp]

Perhaps a 10w30 or a 10w40 would work well???

Rotella would work nice. I might try a High Mileage oil like Maxlife(I dare to say a full synthetic Maxlife)

I would clean the intake, PCV valve, run a fuel treatment a couple times like Redline or Techron, heck, do a full tune up!!!

 

[oilboy123]

+ 2 on x30 or x40wt oil.

 

[Mookitty]

Thanks guys, I think I might give MaxLife a try, most likely in 10w30. I've have to pick some up this week before the Autozone sale ends. Valvoline's oil picker recommends Maxlife syn, because Ford spec a syn oil for the 2.8L. But that's hard to come by around here, so it looks like red bottle for now.

I've done plugs, wires, and air filter, I'm holding off on the cap and rotor, since I plan on changing out the TFI distributor & computer carb, to a Duraspark II/ Motorcraft 2150 carb. Most of the computer sensors are non-functional, so it's most likely in limp-home mode, with gas mileage to match. This conversion should help it run a lot better.

It got new trans oil Friday, t-fer case oil will get changed on my next day off, along with the rear diff juice. I plan on going through pretty much everything as time and paychecks permit.

Oh, and I thought about classic tags (actually "Historic Vehicle" here in AZ) but didn't care to pay the extra $25 right now. But I might do that in the future, just for the LOLs.

Here's what it looks like now:

 

[TallPaul]

Valvoline MaxLife 10w30 is a great choice. Nice looking truck. Great stance.

 

[bobfather99]

Mookitty,

Back in the mid-90s I bought a dark blue 83 Ranger longbed.
Mine was very oddly equipped:
2.3 4 cyl
4 speed transmission
no AC or PS
AM radio, 1 dash speaker

Put in a cheap Radio Shack stereo and 2 cheap speakers. Loved every second of it!!! Sold it when the cab/bed fell apart due to rust.

The "feedback" carbs on early 80s Fords, along with the VV carbs are junk, and I think parts would be hard to come by. The Duraspark should be plug-n-play too(I hope)

Good luck with it!!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cologne_V6_engine

We had 2.8's and 2.9's in various Rangers and Bronco II's growing up. I remember dad saying something to the effect that the 2.8 was the one to have. I remember them sounding like a cross between a Dirt Devil at full tilt boogie and a donkey braying to be let out of the stable. They went down the road though and always started when we turned the key.

MPG isn't so great but for the price you paid, who cares? Sounds like you are enjoying getting her roadworthy! Enjoy this slice of Eighties Americana!

 

[Mookitty]

Originally Posted By: bobfather99
The "feedback" carbs on early 80s Fords, along with the VV carbs are junk, and I think parts would be hard to come by. The Duraspark should be plug-n-play too(I hope)


I've found a non-feedback 2150 carb, with 1.08 venturis (sized for the 2.8, and not a 300 6cyl or 302), and it should be here first part of Jan. The dist I can get at Autozone, so once the carb is here, I'll rebuild it, then the swap & tune should only take an afternoon.

Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
MPG isn't so great but for the price you paid, who cares? Sounds like you are enjoying getting her roadworthy! Enjoy this slice of Eighties Americana!

Yeah, it's a decent project that won't bankrupt me.

It's funny, in the 24 years since I got my license, this is my first American vehicle! But it's also only my sixth vehicle too. Since I live in a mild climate, where there's no rust to speak of, I plan on keeping this truck for a very long time.