New member At 51 and being an old grease monkey I have to admit I have learned a lot reading these post. I have 2 1996 Rangers one is an XL 2.3 5 speed 2wd I got on a trade that runes like crap right now. The other I have had for 3 years and is a 96 XLT extended cab 2.3 5 speed 2wd that runes and drives like a top with about 250K miles. I use this Ranger to haul a 16 foot steal trailer that I use in my tree business. I have the 4 leaf 1750 rear springs with coil spring overloads, oh a Reese receiver hitch also. The one thing I learned reading the post is the rubber plug in the front of the intake manifold. The culprit to the trad Ranger running like crap. Seance Ford made the intake out of aluminum I'm thinking of screwing a pipe plug in the hole, that is if I can get one the right size from Lowes. LMAO But if it works it is a lasting fix to Ford's idea on how to make an engine junk after X amount of miles. The Manufactures don't make automobiles to last they make them to sell, and the parts too. This is why you can't go buy a 2016 Ford Ranger or even look at one. The Ford Ranger is a bullet proof truck you can run it into the ground and re-build it back to new and keep going. Ford Truck Built Tough RandyH