Inherited a 1984 FORD Ranger...
 

Greetings all -

My name is Scott, and I inherited a nice little 1984 FORD Ranger 4x4 just recently.
It's a very nice truck that has some customization done to it.
This truck was originally my step-father's that he bought used some time in the late 90s.
If I recall the story, it had a 4cyl in it originally that was bad.
He and his brother swapped out the 4cyl and replaced it with a 1994 4.0L V6 with a manual transmission.
I believe they had to do a custom driveshaft and all to get it to bolt up.
My step-father passed away in 2012 and the vehicle sat mostly unused for quite a few years.
It was ran a couple of times a month and even driven on rare occasion.
Now my mother has passed and I have acquired the truck from her estate.
The truck runs well enough with a few minor problems.
The light bar on the front of the truck has stopped working (perhaps a fuse or a dead short somewhere)
There are no reverse lights (could be bad bulbs, but it could be the guys couldn't get it to work due to the swapped out transmission).
The most annoying issue (again pretty minor) is if I brake hard for any reason even with the clutch in... the engine dies.
I can reliably repeat this nearly every single time.
I'm thinking it needs a new fuel filter at the very minimum, and plan to replace spark plug cables, plugs, filters,and do a solid tune-up on it.
I thought I would post here and see if I am missing anything or if any of your had seen this sort of issue.

Comments or questions are welcome and it's a pleasure to be here.

Thanks!


~Scott

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...f2ac7ba82f.jpg
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Welcome to the forum

Nice :biggthump

1984 long bed Ranger with 4.0l OHV swap and manual trans 4x4 with manual hubs, thats a keeper
Long beds are not common and with 4WD very rare
Rangers had 6ft beds on regular or super cab
Long Bed is 7ft

4.0l OHV and the M5OD-R1(M5R1) manual transmissions are very reliable, M5R1 uses ATF not gear oil, just FYI, Mercon V is spec
Should also have a BW1354 transfer case, but might be the older BW1350, either is reliable

Fuel injected engines use an Air Valve to control idle, Ford calls theirs the IAC(idle air control) Valve
The engine computer controls this valve to set idle RPMs, stalling can be a dirty IAC Valve

But stalling only during hard braking could be a few other things
Failing Brake Booster
When you get into the truck press down on the brake pedal BEFORE starting the engine, if its rock hard then Vacuum has leaked out of the booster over night or ?? time, it shouldn't
So in hard braking the vacuum gets used up and that effects the engine

Fuel pump assembly in the gas tank
If the stalling only happens when braking hard below say 1/2 tank then could be leak in the fuel line from pump to the top of the tank, as the fuel sloshes forward the leak is uncovered and AIR is pulled into the fuel line which will stall the engine

Rangers had 2 different 4.0l engines, 1990-2000 was the 4.0l OHV, 2001-2011 was the 4.0l SOHC
So if you Google "Ranger 4.0l" you WILL get mixed results, lol

RonD -

Thanks for the excellent details on my truck!
I think you are spot on sir with the failing brake booster. After sitting overnight, the brake pedal is hard as a brick.
Once the rig is started it returns to normal in less than a second.
Would you recommend replacing the master cylinder too since I will have the booster off already?

Question - The truck had a seat cover that had completely disintegrated in the weather.
I pulled it out and trashed it, but am looking for a replacement.
Everywhere I go I see seat covers for a full size bench seat - Nothing for a Ranger.
Anyone have a suggestion for a seat cover for a Ranger with a bench seat?


Thanks!

~Scott

Master is easy to swap if it fails, so.............."if it ain't broke don't fix it"
But just my opinion