So I have a 88 ranger, I just finished the head gaskets this morning, I go to start it and it turns over but no fire, so I figured I had it 180° out on the timing, so I hooked up the battery charger because it was turning over slow when I tried to start it, and while it was charging i re timed it, went to start it and i got one loud click then no power to anything, if i hit the battery terminal the fuel pump will kick on like its supposed to and i got power again, but when i go to crank it i get one loud click like before and lose all power, im going to replace the terminal and see what that does

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes, its most likely battery terminal connection, clean BOTH terminals and BOTH cable ends, the same AMPs must pass thru Negative cable as Positive cable

You need 60-75amps all at once for starter motor, if either cable can only pass 20amps then "click" and nothing

Also on the starter relay(solenoid) one of the larger posts will have the Battery Positive Cable and a few other wires with it, ALL 12volt power for the whole vehicle passes thru that one post
Disconnect Negative battery cable FIRST
Loosen the nut on that one post and pull off each wire and Positive cable, CLEAN all the ends and then replace the cable and wires on that post, don't forget any, then tighten back up

The Negative battery cable will usually go to a bolt that holds starter motor to the bell housing, that connection need to be clean as well, good metal to metal contact so it can also pass the 60-75 amps

 

I replaced the terminals yesterday and cleaned the battery posts with a wire brush and it turned over, I had the timing one tooth off so I re timed it, and it ran FINALLY, but then i had a misfire on the left side, I put new spark plugs in it and it was still misfiring, so i put a can of seafoam in it and the misfire has almost completely stopped so I'm hoping it was just a dirty/clogged injector, the only other problem im having is the rpm was staying at 1.5-2k and i would tap the throttle body with a hammer and it stopped, so I will probably replace the throttle body and the radiator because it likes to run hot, but its consistently over 100° in Texas right now so I'm sure that doesnt help it any