1985 Ford Ranger 2.8L V6

I bought this truck and it wasn't running so I put a new starter, choke thermostat, and battery in.

First start it smelled like gas with white smoke. Turned the choke thermostat down and it doesn't smell like straight gas anymore but still smokes.I checked and there's water dripping too (all while it is warm. 50° outside but guages read normal operating temp).

I read online saying that it's probably the head gasket but the guy I bought it from said he replaced that. I wanted yalls opinion on it.

He also put in a Walmart battery that lasted 2 months so I don't have much faith that he did the gasket correct.

 

Cold engine
remove radiator cap
Top radiator up
Start engine
Might be a burp of water out the cap fitting but that's all
Let engine idle for 1 or 2 min
NO Water should come out of radiator
If its starts to overflow, then yes bad head gasket or cracked head

If not put cap back on
White smoke is just water residue in exhaust system should clear out after full heat up

How old is the gas in the tank?
May have water in it as well

 

Not sure if it might help but I forgot to mention it does have an emissions light on the dash. I think he took something out because there was a piece of metal in the engine bay (ill send later). He said he removed something to make it louder i guess which gave the emissions light. Besides that, the oil is low. ill look when I go home later today as well as test your methods