The Danger Ranger - 2003 Ford Ranger 2WD 3L 5spd
- Thread starter OVERKILL
- Start date
143 in 2003 135 in 2002According to Edmunds:
Powertrains and Performance: Three engines are available. Standard on XL and XLT 2WD regular cabs is a 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 135 horsepower and 153 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel-drive regular cabs, as well as Edge and Tremor, regular cab 4WD, and SuperCab 2WD models are powered by a 3.0-liter V6 that makes 154 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. At the top of the engine chart is a 4.0-liter overhead cam V6 making 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque.
So they are saying the 2.3L was 135HP, so the Vulcan was a wild 19HP more
So 11HP?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
That was from the 2003 page...143 in 2003 135 in 2002
So 11HP?
https://www.edmunds.com/ford/ranger/2003/review/
Congratulations. I saw a 97 step side at a car show in June. It was pristine and to my surprise it qualified for collector plates in BC since it was over 25 years old and in perfect shape. I had a red 88 short box. I highly recommend real winter tires as there is not much weight on the back wheels. Mine would spin it’s BF Goodrich radial TA’s in two inches of snow.
THE most important question, what oil is going in it?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Probably M1 0W-40, since I have a decent amount of it, but we'll see, I have to go through what I have on hand.THE most important question, what oil is going in it?
My dad’s 2002 Ranger had the 3.0 with an automatic transmission. The automatic was horrible.
A friend I worked with had a late 80's Ranger he bought new and the thing about his four cylinder was the fact it had two spark plugs per cylinder.He left where we worked together in 2005 and I ran into three years later and he still had it running.Those trucks were boxy looking but built Ford tough.I'm sure by now it's history.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Well, it's "on the road" kind of. He has got it insured finally and it has a trip permit (it has plates and it's in his name) so he can get it in for its safety next week. A few, relatively minor, issues have emerged:
- Door switch kept killing the battery. He's pulled the interior bulb for now, but that's clearly not a long term solution. I've told him how to track it down, I'm letting him grow his troubleshooting skills, so he'll be doing some work on that tomorrow. It got a new battery tonight, as the old one was no longer any good. Of course the battery that was in there was not the right size
- It popped out of gear on me at an intersection today (trying to teach him how to drive stick), think it may need the trans fluid changed. Only did it once, but it goes in and out of gear super smooth and easily.
- Driver-side headlight is missing one of the retaining nuts, so it moves about. He needs to fix that.
Otherwise, it drives really well for a 21 year old truck (of course it has new suspension). It's geared pretty deep, so you can be in 5th at 40mph and loafing along at 1,500RPM. The Vulcan is no speed demon, but seems to have plenty of torque, so it's a great vehicle to learn to drive manual on, very forgiving.
He's out in it now, working on his driving skills when there's little traffic, seems very happy that this journey is finally bearing fruit.
- Door switch kept killing the battery. He's pulled the interior bulb for now, but that's clearly not a long term solution. I've told him how to track it down, I'm letting him grow his troubleshooting skills, so he'll be doing some work on that tomorrow. It got a new battery tonight, as the old one was no longer any good. Of course the battery that was in there was not the right size
- It popped out of gear on me at an intersection today (trying to teach him how to drive stick), think it may need the trans fluid changed. Only did it once, but it goes in and out of gear super smooth and easily.
- Driver-side headlight is missing one of the retaining nuts, so it moves about. He needs to fix that.
Otherwise, it drives really well for a 21 year old truck (of course it has new suspension). It's geared pretty deep, so you can be in 5th at 40mph and loafing along at 1,500RPM. The Vulcan is no speed demon, but seems to have plenty of torque, so it's a great vehicle to learn to drive manual on, very forgiving.
He's out in it now, working on his driving skills when there's little traffic, seems very happy that this journey is finally bearing fruit.
Very nice project and it's good your son shows interest in vehicles. My son on the other hand, oh boy. Maybe his attitude will change a bit once he gets his diver's license and wants to drive, we'll see.
How did the truck survive 21 years of road salt?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Well, it didn't completely, it had to have work on the rockers and it needs the fuel tank crossmember replaced to pass safety, found that out yesterday. It has fared well, given its age, but has not gotten here unscathed.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Update:
Getting new tires today. Also, I determined it needed a U-joint (son was complaining about a chirping noise at low speeds taking off), which was confirmed by the dealership when they did the tires today (my Chrysler dealer). It has an aluminum DS so they sent it out to a driveline shop to get done, should be back tomorrow.
Being price conscious but wanting something "all terrain", we deliberated and the decision ended up being a set of Toyo Open Country A/T III's:
Which were rated really well on TireRack, and that has served us well with the Conti's we have on the RAM that we are quite pleased with.
It DOES have a limited slip rear end, so I do expect that he's going to (try to?) take it places I probably wouldn't, lol.
He needs to change the power steering fluid and I think we need to clean the IAC. 22 year old vehicles, lol. I had him pick up 3ft of 3/8ths fuel line the other day and we replaced all the dry rotted vacuum lines (EVAP and breather) that were collapsing and ready to leak.
Getting new tires today. Also, I determined it needed a U-joint (son was complaining about a chirping noise at low speeds taking off), which was confirmed by the dealership when they did the tires today (my Chrysler dealer). It has an aluminum DS so they sent it out to a driveline shop to get done, should be back tomorrow.
Being price conscious but wanting something "all terrain", we deliberated and the decision ended up being a set of Toyo Open Country A/T III's:
Which were rated really well on TireRack, and that has served us well with the Conti's we have on the RAM that we are quite pleased with.
It DOES have a limited slip rear end, so I do expect that he's going to (try to?) take it places I probably wouldn't, lol.
He needs to change the power steering fluid and I think we need to clean the IAC. 22 year old vehicles, lol. I had him pick up 3ft of 3/8ths fuel line the other day and we replaced all the dry rotted vacuum lines (EVAP and breather) that were collapsing and ready to leak.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Because people do really sketchy things with them. Search youtube, it's insane. (and it rhymes, lol)
I see. I figured the rhyming thing, but did not know there was a specific "let me dog my truck thing". They are good trucks though IMO
I dont think that a bad All Terrain pattern is a thing. They all have strengths and weaknesses. I thought about a cheaper alternative on my jeep than the BFGs as per my normal. Ill bet those Toyos would do good in snow.....snowflake rating or not.
