I have a 96 Ford Ranger XLT rear wheel drive
I have done a lot to this car in two years
Complete suspension front and back
Front and back rotors and brakes
Complete set of original rims and new tires
Oil pump, water pump, and radiator
Power steering, and steering components

I did a big hall the next day I went to work the truck started to sputter on the highway I made it to work and I checked my compression. Cylinder one had low compression cylinder two had low compression cylinder three and four gave good compression I removed the cylinder head. Took the cylinder head to a machine shop they told me that the head was blown internally. I ordered a new head off allied motors. Installed new cylinder head with new gaskets. Engine ran for about a minute or two sounded pretty beefy. I stepped out to make sure everything was working properly inside the engine bay. Then the truck clunked and stopped running. It wouldn’t crank up again, I checked compression cylinder one gives me a reading of 30 psi, and cylinder 234 give me readings of 160 or better. I have already invested over 1800 into the car in over two years. I have already taken apart the truck about three times. I couldn’t get the timing right when I was building it back up so I constantly had to take the mounting brackets for the power steering and coil packs. Honestly I can’t keep taking time off work to fix it so it’s been sitting for about three months.


Before tear down


Gasket was also blown in back and front middle




I cleaned as best as a guy who can’t drop the motor could

There was questionable nic on 1 idk that show it came when I room the head off

Cleans and places gasket next day head arrives


Torqued to angle spec

Torqued to ft pounds specs

What it looked like when done


I don’t wanna get rid of it I want to rebuild what is my best option … should I simply replace with an original 2.3 crate engine. Or should I replace with a 3.0 V6 is it a lot of work I need some guidance can anyone please help me taxes are around the corner and I’m trying to get my Ranger danger back in action!