"HNBAS" (HNBAS)
10/06/2016 at 21:36 • Filed to: Ford, ford ranger, Engines
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"HNBAS" (HNBAS)
10/06/2016 at 21:36 • Filed to: Ford, ford ranger, Engines | 14
| 15 |
Some background:
My college roommate inherited a 1986 Ford Ranger upon his Grandfather’s death. The grandfather had owned a body shop near his house, and the truck had only ever made runs to the paint store and grocery. Upon receiving the truck, just a couple years ago, it had 36,xxx miles on it.
My buddy has driven the truck around town quite a bit over the last few years, as a second vehicle mostly. It’s ran well for the most part in that time. A few months ago, it started having intermittent low oil pressure (you know, since malaise era vehicles have that gauge). Upon researching this, he found out some Rangers of that vintage had oil pickup tube issues... and he wasn’t wrong.
Cut to last weekend; I help him pull the engine and transmission out of the truck. He plans on removing the pan, changing the oil pickup, and doing some minor maintenance while out of the vehicle. I go home, he says he’s got this.
Two days later I get this text message.
No wonder it’s not making good oil pressure.
Three minutes later, another message, and a lot of expletives.
For those of you unfamiliar, this is where the oil pickup mounts to the block on the inlet to the pump. The pump has apparently been sucking air... forever.
And... another...
Pretty well confirms it has always been this way. Thousands of miles and 30 years worth of not actually oiling.
While in there, went ahead and pulled the crank bearing caps off... yeah... new motor time.
Well, at this point he decided he could just get a short block, and swap his head onto it to save a few dollars. Two days later I get this picture.
That’s a head bolt... just laying there under the valve cover...
Spent some time like this.
For reference, with a whole head bolt.
Honestly, the best picture of the whole group.
So, mid 80's Ford quality was not too great... or maybe it was great, this thing worked for 30 years.
It’s really just incredible all around.
Stephenson Valve Gear
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 21:49 |
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Wow. Just... wow. At least it wasn’t a Courier with the 2.3 - he wouldn’t have an engine OR a pickup body to put it in. I think Couriers came with rust as standard equipment.
Urambo Tauro
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 21:50 |
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Built on a Monday, or built on a Friday?
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HNBAS
> Urambo Tauro
10/06/2016 at 21:50 |
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We voted last engine on Friday.
MM54
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 21:52 |
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Before a holiday weekend at that
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 21:59 |
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impressive!
roflcopter
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 21:59 |
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Actually, this is just a testament to the unholy resilience of the Lima platform motors.
We ran a Lemons car that was a foxbody Mustang with the dual spark 2.3L in it and that thing got overheated on a weekly basis, ran out of oil to the point of seizing on track, run so low on fuel pressure it must have been cooking the exhaust valves beyond belief and it kept on going.
Actually, I sold that car to a guy who was going to swap it and go drag racing. Unexpectedly I ran into it at a drift event 3 years later out there doing mad skidz with the same damn 2.3L in it. We never even had to swap a head gasket.
Seat Safety Switch
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 22:05 |
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These are tough engines. Obscenely tough.
shop-teacher
> Urambo Tauro
10/06/2016 at 22:18 |
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Total Friday car.
Justino6969
> HNBAS
10/06/2016 at 23:05 |
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I was sitting here looking at that second picture wondering what the heck that metal bracket was that the oil pickup was mounted to. Then I realized that it was a gasket and my jaw dropped to the floor. I can’t believe it left the factory like that, and kept running.
Berang
> HNBAS
10/07/2016 at 00:47 |
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Or maybe first engine after a liquid lunch break on a friday.
V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
> HNBAS
10/08/2016 at 03:02 |
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I recently pulled the door panel on a friend’s 1989 Lincoln Mark VII LSC to do the power window motor. The car had 38,000 miles on it and I was the very first person to be in there since the car had been assembled. I’ve done a few of these and know where all the hardware is and what sizes they are supposed to be. On this particular panel there were a few mismatched screws to include one extra short mount screw that went through the vinyl overlaying panel and was supposed to go through the inner door skin behind. They’re self tapping. It was so short that it had never tapped a hole. This screw was sitting there doing nothingfor 27 years.
Also, my 1987 Cougar; I found the build sheet for it. Assembly date: March 17th, 1987. St Patty’s day. Explains SO many electrical issues I’ve had to deal with over the years that other people have never seen on these cars. I’m the second owner and I’ve had it 18 years. I could write a book on the weird thing I’ve found....
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> HNBAS
10/08/2016 at 03:03 |
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A generally robust and dependable vehicle the Ranger but one of the most wretched vehicles to drive that I’ve ever encountered.
Birddog
> HNBAS
10/08/2016 at 03:51 |
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Dammit! I keep seeing this in my sidebar. As a Lima lover it doesn’t surprise me.
TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
> HNBAS
10/08/2016 at 07:14 |
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You sure a 200 pound gorilla or something hasn’t rooted around in there at some point? That looks like a back yard hack job. If its factory, it blows my mind how reliable my olds is.
LongbowMkII
> HNBAS
10/08/2016 at 16:41 |
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I think he should have filed a warranty claim.