Hey all,

Recently picked up a 1997 Ranger to set up as a work truck. I purchased the truck knowing it was not perfect and am banking on my mechanical abilities and the world wide web to settle things. I will be using and abusing this forum and picking the brains of members until things get squared away.

Thanks in advance to all that help.
DD

 

Welcome to the forum

1997 was the last year of 2nd generation Rangers, 1993-1997
1st gen 1983 to 1992
3rd gen 1998 to 2012

2nd and 3rd gen are almost the same, but there were a few changes
1998 and up got Returnless fuel system running 60psi fuel pressure
Your 1997 and earlier run 30psi and has a Fuel pressure regulator on the engine's fuel rail

1997 was also the last year for speedometer cable/VSS hook up on transmission/transfer case.
With these you could change tire size and just install a new speedo gear to correct speedometer to needed 8,000PPM

1995 and up Rangers have electronic speedometers that used a VSS(vehicle speed sensor) pulse to set speed, this pulse is calibrated at 8,000PPM(pulse per mile), thru 1997 VSS was on the tail shaft of trans or transfer case, so gear driven and gear could be changed
In 1998 and up the VSS or OSS pulse count changed so an interface module had to be used to convert it to 8,000PPM, GEM module or 4 Wheel ABS module did that