I bought a 83 4x4 ranger late last winter for $500. it has a 2.8, auto setup. the body is in almost mint shape but it sat in a barn for the last 6 years. all the brakes are sticking bad the transmission is barely working the gas tank leaks and it runs very rough, it also smokes good when started. im torn between fixing everything thats there, or doing mods to it. i want it to be my dd for the winter and round trip to work is 50miles. id like to get the best milage out of it i can.
list of some of the things i have thought about doing to it:
put full with axles under it
5.0 it
4.0 it
5 speed it
but id like to get milage out of it so i was also thinking doing mods to the 2.8 and maybe put a 5 speed in it.
the only problem with the 4.0 motor swap is most likely the donor vechile wouldnt be that bad to just drive it so whats the point in swaping it
sorry im just rambling!!!
heres a few pic


the rims and tires i put on after i got it but i could make a 40 point turn if i had too

one sure thing it im losing the running boards!!!

 

Nice looking Ranger! same year as mine, same paint scheme too (though mine is brown) if mileage is your primary concern have you considered a diesel swap?

p.s. i agree, nix the running boards

here's a pic of mine....

 

Keep it stock.

Fix what's broken preferably as soon as it breaks

Maintain it per the manual to keep things from breaking.

Record on paper everything you do to it.

That's the recipe for a long running, economical Ranger.

 

i have thought of doing a diesel swap but i dont even wnow where to start. i have a friend that just put a 4bt bread truck motor in his jeep and he gets GREAT mileage. but again i dont know where to start.

 

is the 2.8 really worth redoing is there anything you can do to it to make a lil extra mpg.

 

The 2.8 V-6 will respond well to the dura-spark swap (ridding it of the EEC and TFI ign.) there are a few cams, headers and even a 4bbl intake by Offenhauser to take a 390Holley 4bbl for the 2.8, a little old school hot-rodding will do wonders.
The automatic trans needs to go however, it is weak.........Find a good TK-5 manual from another Ranger or Bronco II and never look back.

 

from what ive read the c5 trans can be swaped with c4 internals to make it alot stronger so i might do that.