My name is Randy and I just joined your forum. I purchased a 1991 Ranger S 2.3 5 speed 4x2 a week ago. Not pretty by any means. I figured for $650 it wasn't money totally wasted. It does run, just has a bad miss in it. Visited the salvage yard yesterday and picked up a replacement tailgate for the replacement tailgate, an aluminum crossbed tool box and a perfectly straight rear step bumper, just sun faded. Not bad for another $80. I'm willing to do a lot of work myself. There was no heater hose "T" so the one hose just made a loop back to the water pump, and it is cold here in the mornings. Took care of that and now have heat!! The truck was not built with power steering and I'm wondering if it is feasible to retrofit a power steering system to it? I assume that would require a steering box, pump and hoses as well as a belt. How about the steering column? Thanks in advance for any help and/or advice.

 

R BURTON
Welcome to the group. I'm new here as well. My Ranger is my first Ford ever. They are lots of fun. Sounds like you have a great project truck with mass potential. I would look into classic license plates for it. That way you don't need to worry about emissions. In some states you don't even need to buy a sticker each year. My 2001 has 5 more years to go. By then it will need a exhaust system anyhow.

As far as power steering. I bet it is hard to turn the wheel and shift at the same time. I don't have an answer as to how to get it in your truck. I know you are in the right place to get that answer. Check out the many sections with great information in them. As well as ask some of our other members. You might be surprised by what can be done. I know I have learned a lot. I now do fix things on my truck. Something I never did in the past. So there are possibilities here. WELCOME again. Congratulations on your Ranger.

 

Thanks for the welcome. Yes it is hard to turn sitting still. My first three cars were mid 60's Falcons without power steering. I think they had larger diameter steering wheels though. It had not crossed my mind to register it as "antique" but that certainly does have it's advantages. Right now it is really a beater truck. I don't see it ever getting painted but I would like to improve the way it runs and drives. While under it, inspecting the rear bumper mounts, it appears to me that the rear leaf springs are pretty flat, compared to the truck I got the "new" rear bumper off of. The hardest thing about working on that is the rusted bolts that hold the springs in place. I will be looking around the forum and getting many ideas. It will be a slow process depending on funds availability, but that's how life goes. Before I left work last night I took care of the couple of surface rust spots on the new tailgate and rattle can primed them. I will attempt to swap the bumper tonight, I sprayed the bolts last night with liquid wrench to aid in removal. The tool box went right on at the salvage yard.

 

Super cool. Sounds like you need a big can of WD40 or something like you mentioned. I got myself a can yesterday as well as under body spray. Need to preserve it. I want mine to have a classic plate on it one day. To me when it comes to a truck the plate is a badge of honor. Great finds at the salvage yard. I should go see if I can find a heavier front bumper. My top is metal. With the biggest portion the bottom plastic. I want all steal. Hope all goes well.