Hello!

After lurking for a year using everyone's invaluable advice on here to get I figured it's time to give back a bit with things I've learned and experienced as well!

Her name is Islay and she's my baby. She's not much but she's honest and for buying a truck on a grad student's budget she's everything I want.

2002 XLT Dark Highland Green Metallic (hence the username, and naming her Islay after my favorite kind of scotch), 4.0 SOHC, 5-speed manual, 8.8 rear with 4.10 gears. Tan interior.

As base as an XLT can come, all the options are in drivetrain which is exactly what I was looking for. Listing went up Thursday and was first in line Saturday morning for her.

I may be biased in my love of this truck, but I've been curious to find out what % of rangers came like this (4.0, 4x4, 5-speed, 4.10s, DHGM paint) but can't find anywhere I can look these numbers up, may send a message to FoMoCo as a shot in the dark to see what they say.

So far I've done:
Trans Flush
2 oil changes, Royal Purple full-synth and now Valvoline full-synth.
Coolant flush
Rear diff oil and new gasket
Front diff oil
Transfer case fluid
Transmission fluid
new Kenda Klever AT 245/75/16 (love these tires btw, may make a post in the tire section to help anyone else out there looking at them. 133 a tire, road noise is less than the A/S on it before, and handling in weather is as confident as ever.)
New rear tensioner (front is sitting in the garage along with a new set of plugs&wires, a set of poly bushings for the leafs, and a 3 new u-joints, waiting for a free weekend to do these)
New Bilstein shocks on all four corners

149k original engine
I think both tensioners were original from the, let's say "patina", they have that seems equal to the other original parts, but no real rattle other than right at start up so until I get the front done soon I do the "flood start" method and that prevents any rattle.
Had a boroscope in the block when I had the rear tensioner out and the guides are all intact which was a weight off my shoulders!

Plenty of more things to fix and refresh, but it's all a learning experience and enjoying the process! She may not be much but the more blood, sweat and tears I put into this truck the more I just want to keep her running forever!

Glad to be a part of the community now!

 

Welcome to the posting side of the forum, the DARK SIDE, lol

Nice Ranger

Even though it still has that primer green paint, all Rangers are, of course, RED
If you have read any of my post you will know I am joking
Sort of, I do like red and I mean, RED Rangers

 

Welcome to the Herd! Lots of friendly knowledgable folk in these forums.
Good looking 2002 Ranger! You're lucky to have the 5Speed Manual Tranny, instead of the notorious 5r55e Auto.
Sounds like you're doing good on all the critical maintenance items.
While changing the LeftFront TimingTensioner, consider also upgrading the junk Plastic ThermoStatHousing to an Aluminum version.