I mostly deal with older rangers and stuff were the best trim was XLT and the worse was Custom. So can somebody fill me in on the newer ones, and what all the astetice (spelling?) difrences are. Thanks in advance.

 

Depends on how new. When they did the redesign in 93, the XL was the base package, the XLT was the Premium package and the STX was the sport package. They also had the Splash package thru 97. All that was was another form of the Sport package with a flareside bed rather than the styleside.

In 98 they had the XL and XLT packages with different option packages with that. In 99 they came out with the 4x4 Off Road package that was a beefed up XLT. in 00 I believe it was they introduced what was called the XLT Value package which is an in between for the XL and the XLT packages. 2001 They introduced the EDGE, which was the equivelant to the TRD PreRunner package on the Tacoma's. It was a sport package. 2002 they introduced the FX4 Off Road package, which is an XLT with all the goodies, as well as it's own characteristics such as a 31 spline rear axle, full skidplate package, manual transfer case for the manual transmission, and a Torsen Limited Slip Differential. They re badged it the FX4 Level II in 2003 and gave the old 4x4 Off Road package the FX4 Off Road namesake. They continued the Level II through the 07 model year. either 2005 or 2006 they introduced the Sport 4x4 package, don't know much about them. So to sum up, the Custom of the older models turned into the XL, and the XLT is still the primo package.

 

thanks alot, so is the the FX4 Level 2 the only one with any real mechanical difrence?

 

Sort of. It's the true off road package, but all the internal's are the same. It's biggest features that set it apart were in 02 and 03 they had a manual transfer case with the manual transmission, referred to as a "twin stick" setup. It also had Bilstein 5300 series shocks, 31X10.50 BFG All Terrains, and 17" Alcoa rims. It also boasted a special seat insert pattern for the 02's, different colored inserts, Grey, Red, or Blue for the 03 and beyond.

In 89 Ford offered the 4.0 OHV in the Rangers. That was the big power plant thru 2001 when they revised it as the 4.0L SOHC. THey also have the 3.0L Vulcan, which in 99 they made flex fuel compatible. The flex fuel technology I believe is still offered with them, but I don't believe it's the E85 flex fuel like the Dodge's and Chevy's are offering now. They went thru a few transmission upgrades in the autos, such as the A4LD to the 5R55E in the 4.0L and the 4R44E in the 2.5L I4 and the 3.0L. Don't hold me to my dates, I'm just going based off what I know.

 

the 4.0 OHV dint come till 90 or 91, but im tryin to find one to put in my 89. It had a 2.9 but i cracked one of the heads.