small-list-digest Sunday, December 27 1998 Volume 02 : Number 359



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - Ranger, Explorer, Bronco 2 and Aerostar
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In this issue:

FTE Small - Explorer 97 Export XLT/Eddie Bauer mix - Overhead Display
FTE Small - Anyone know if they still make this manifold??
FTE Small - Thoughts needed for a Ranger 5.0 engine buildup
FTE Small - Bosch Platinums
Re: FTE Small - 5 Speed, poor ... & Cold Temp Gauges
FTE Small - re:5-speed, poor downshifting
FTE Small - Re: Thermostat question (again)

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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 13:13:00 GMT
From: Nick G Moulsdale
Subject: FTE Small - Explorer 97 Export XLT/Eddie Bauer mix - Overhead Display

Hi there, Happy Holidays!

I have a niggling problem. My Overhead display shows direction and
outside temperature. The temp is important because it can freeze
without visible warning here in Yorkshire England.
BUT the display does not dim at night when the lights are on.
Everything else dims, but the overhead display is so bright you could
read a map by it!

Inevitably I end up turning it off, but there must be a better
way.............! Help!

Nick Moulsdale

- --
Nick Moulsdale
Ivy Cottage,
Castley, Otley.
North Yorkshire. nick.moul zetnet.co.uk
LS21 2PY ENGLAND phone(44)1423-734470

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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 12:48:58 PST
From: "Bryan Snyder"
Subject: FTE Small - Anyone know if they still make this manifold??

It was made for Trick Fow and had two TBs that pointed to each front
corner of the engine and flowed into individual runners at the center.
It had TRICK FLOW embossed in big letters across the back portion of the
manifold that rapped around the back top portion. Pretty trick looking.
I know it was sold and made by Will Burt Automotive as I have an old
magazine from from February 92 that has a pic and add for it, complete
upper and lower was $900 with all linkage etc. Could be a good manifold
for a twin turbo set up.

Thanks all,
Bryan



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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 12:50:18 PST
From: "Bryan Snyder"
Subject: FTE Small - Thoughts needed for a Ranger 5.0 engine buildup

Hello All! Merry Christmas! I have a few questions about an engine build
up that I am contimplating for my 90 ranger4x4. I want MAXIMUM low end
torque and midrange.

1.) Can anybody suggest some good naturally aspirated engine combos? I'm
thinking I would like to use a stock block late 5.0 with an aluminum
bottom cap girdle, Holley heads and an edelbrock upper EFI intake, E303
cam, good headers, flowmaster or Gibson Ex., 65-70 TB etc. What do you
think? If you think you have a better combo please do tell!

2.) Same basic long block as above but with a Kenne Bell screw charger
at 8-9 lbs, slightly lower comp. and differant cam. Anyone use this SC
before or now someone who does?

3.) A turbocharged setup, again same long block, low comp, with newer
quick spooling turbos for no lag. Probably home made kit and headers,
two turbos, with boost control so as to adjust boost as needed (0-10lbs)
so as not to have boost kick in while "finessing " a trail but still
have good power and fuel economy on road.

Any suggestion please? If so please add to my ideas with any personal
experience or info. Also this will be attached to a properly built AOD
or AODE.

Thanks,
Bryan S.

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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 16:02:24 EST
From: Blest25913 AOL.COM
Subject: FTE Small - Bosch Platinums

My '96 Ranger came with the older Platinums in it. They only lasted about 65K,
when I had to replace them. I don't know if they were Bosch or not. I put in
copper plugs. I understand that I will have to replace these more frequently
than plantinums. The plantinums were shot. The gap was about twice what it
should be. The center electrode had burned almost completely off.
Happy Holidays!
Ron 'Grampy' Trampe


series? The theory behind the 4 electrodes (vs. 1) seems impressive. Stay
tuned
Ken>>>>>>>
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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 17:15:38 -0500
From: "Anthony Rifici"
Subject: Re: FTE Small - 5 Speed, poor ... & Cold Temp Gauges

>Downshifting into 2nd or 1st can be very difficult when the tranny is cold.
>Getting on the highway on a curving uphill onramp today (20 deg) when I
went
>to shift down to 2nd to accelerate, I dropped 10 mph before I was able to
>get it into 2nd gear. 1st from 2nd can be even worse when cold. I already
>brought it in once for this when it was warmer. At the time I was shifting
>into neutral and coasting to a stop at lights. Shifting into first when the
>light turned green could be tough. I was told I need to shift down through
>the gears to synchronise the gears. The service person told me their truck
>(97) did this also, and it was normal. Tuesday the 29th I will bring it in
>and test drive it with the tech. Any idea's ?

It is normal, but really annoying. Sometimes going to neutral, letting
out the clutch, and then performing the downshift will allow you to
downshift. You might want to just make it a habit, until the truck is
warmed up, not to downshift unless you are going to have to, like when you
know your going to stop at a light (the brakes need to heat up too). Also,
even when it is warm and you want to downshift to first, moving it through
second, then to first will make it easier. I imagine that this is built in
to protect the transmission or engine or both until they are up to operating
temperature. Don't force it you'll probably wear out the synchros.

>On staying COLD temp. gauges.

Two weeks ago (before all these posts) my temp gauge stopped moving off
of cold unless I was driving a long time(it took 100 miles to warm up on one
trip). The truck showed no noticeable performance decrease or decrease in
heater output. It ran just like it did before the problem occurred. I
replaced the thermostat and all was well again. The moral is that it your
truck may not show all the classical symptoms of a stuck open thermostat for
you to have a stuck open thermostat. So if your temp gauge is stuck on
cold, replace the thermostat, it only costs $6 ($10 w/ antifreeze) and is a
really easy job to do yourself and will eliminate that as a possibility.
This must be the prime time of year for your thermostat to fail, I know few
people who also have had to do this in the last month. Also, I tried the
new Prestone Long Life antifreeze, 5 years/150,000 miles sounds like a good
deal. We'll see how it works out.

Later,
Tony
94 Ranger Supercab, 4.0L, 5-Speed, 51,000 miles

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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 21:08:53 -0800
From: GEORGE WISEMAN
Subject: FTE Small - re:5-speed, poor downshifting

I had problems downshifting my '85 Ranger (2 liter, carb) about 10 years
ago when it
had about 40,000 miles on it. It was especially noticeable at a
stoplight when you wanted
to go back into first gear.

Thumbing through the service manual, I noticed a procedure for
"normalizing" the
drive train. All I had to do was let the truck roll to a level spot in
the driveway...
get underneath it and loosen the mounts. I then manually pushed it back
and
forth a foot or so...got back under it and re tightned the mounts. That
cured
the problem and I haven't had any more problems. The truck now has just
over
160,000 miles on it.

It's a simple procedure and doesn't cost more than the time to give it a
try. Hope it
works for you.


Geo.



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Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 04:31:26 -0500
From: Harry Trafford
Subject: FTE Small - Re: Thermostat question (again)

My '90 B2 was fine 'till the talk about fluctuating t'stats began. So
last night I looked at the gauge, and sure enough, it was fluctuating
from below 'Normal' to 'Hot'. Then it went past Hot and stuck there. I
bought a new t'stat to install today, but now I believe it's really the
sender.
I just bought it a couple of weeks ago, but I'm replacing all the
"consumables", 'cause I don't think the PO ever replaced anything in
the 5 years he owned it. Sheese, ... some people!
Harry

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From: Jeff Baker
snip
As far as the thermostat, maybe it is stuck open. (See messages
from the
last week or so). Try replacing it and see of that doesn't allow the
engine
to warm up.


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