Just bought an 86 4X4 pickup with a bad fuel pump. Need to get it home and for various reasons, I would like to drive it back under it's own power. I need a field fix and I was thinking of setting up a temporary tank. I've got an Explorer tank with a good pump. I could plumb it in to the fuel rail and get pump power from the inertia switch. All would need to be done safely of course, but is there any reason this would not work?

 

The truck you are trying to get home is a fuel injected 302? It would be touch and go, you will have to figure out how to connect the lines to the truck, without making a mess out of the original truck lines and be able to re-use them.

You do not have anything to pull it with? How far away is it? Since it's 4x4, you can put the transfer case in neutral and flat tow it with another truck.

 

That is pretty much the challenge. I have a Ranger that I would not hesitate to pull with, but the 3.0 is a little underpowered for the 4 hour ride and that is assuming I can travel normal highway speed.

Technical details of the hookup can be dicey, but I am skilled enough to pull it off. I'm concerned about the ability of the Explorer in-tank pump to deliver sufficient pressure and volume. I may also attempt a field fix by replacing the frame mounted high pressure pump on the pickup. I believe this truck uses a lift pump in the tank and a high pressure pump on the frame. In-tank pumps are a little past what I'm willing to tackle in the field.

Really, this amounts to readiness for whatever I may encounter in recovering this vehicle. The Ranger will go anyways as I need a support vehicle for the ride home. F150 was running last summer, so no driveability problems are suspected beyond the fuel pump issue. Plan A will be the high pressure pump replacement followed by Plan B which would be the temporary fuel tank and I'm planning to bring a towbar for Plan C. The Ranger has an 8.8 diff and a manual transmission, so I'm not too scared of pulling something the size of an F150.

There is another factor in this story. There are actually 2 trucks coming back and one has not run for years. That one will be on the towbar for sure. Because of the distance, I would like to bring both trucks home in one trip, but if it turns into two trips, what must be will be.

 

Let me start out and say I WOULD NOT flat tow a fullsize pickup with a ranger. Maybe 5 or 10 miles I would consider it. A 4 hour trip, no way. The ranger is not big enough to have proper control of the larger truck.

The only thing I would flat tow with the ranger would be another ranger or a small car. In other words, if you are planning on towing something else with the ranger, unless it's small you would be better off towing it with the f150 if you could get it running. And also remember, if you are flat towing anything that does not have a transfer case you can shift to neutral, take some tools and disconnect the driveshaft so you will not ruin the transmission. Some manual trannies can take it, some cannot and none of the automatics can survive a very long flat tow.

Most Fords with the EECIV system used a fuel pressure system that ran at 38psi. This is determined by the fuel pressure regulator on the pickup itself, so no problem there. The only thing would be fuel volume, and you will probably be alright there unless you do tow with it going up a hill. You can check the part numbers and possibly find out the type pump your temp tank has, and how that compares to a larger truck. Pick a 1989 f150 with a 5.0, I am sure by then they had gotten rid of the double pump system and had the single in tank pump system.

Beg/borrow some other vehicle if you think you will have to tow anything big with your ranger. I know the drivetrain would do it, it's just not heavy enough when you go to make lane changes and go around turns. Been there done that, and have been heading toward the ditch before, it's not a good feeling and a 4 hour trip turns into a 8 hour trip because you have to be so careful. When I had to tow my full size truck(when it broke down) I had to flat tow it about 1 hour away and I rented a u-haul box truck to do it.

 

How do you know for sure the fuel pump is bad? If both pumps don't work maybe it's really a power supply or grounding issue?

 

I'm a fan of temp fuel tanks and I do see your point.
I wonder if the lines are the same size and type?
some have those plastic clips and some have those garter springs.
Can you get your hands on a manual?

No pump sounds? could be fuse or relay. worst case is
50 cent capacitor in the computer or bad ground?
Fuel pressure is ez to check with a rented gauge.

I've also missed the fuel diverter (tank 2 tank)
Haynes manual says nothing servicable but it has a screw off bottom
sediment bowl that an oil filter wrench fits on.
May or may not have a filter in it.

 

Exactly. I've towed some pretty big stuff with my Ranger, but I'd say about 3500 pounds would be the safe limit. A good rule of thumb is if the trailer is heavier than the tow vehicle, you're in trouble. Short tows can be accomplished, but at greatly reduced speed. Good news at this end is that the land is flat. (Saskatchewan, Canada)

Well, you don't know till you get your hands on it. Saw the pictures and made the deal. Point is, I'm trying to get ready for anything. If it's a simple fix, you can bet I'll have it fixed in the field. More good news in that the truck is located near a large city where I can easily get parts. Can't say the same about where I'm going with it. Parts are an hour away from where I live, or next day and jacked up prices if you buy from a local garage.

All good suggestions, thanks.

This temporary tank idea has been floating around in my head ever since I salvaged that Explorer tank. It would be nice to have something to run up an EFI equipped engine that may have a bad fuel system, or possibly even out of the vehicle. I'm thinking of equipping it with enough line and appropriate connectors to hook up right to the fuel rail. Can't forget about the return line either. Electrical connection could be made at the inertia switch. Plenty of local trucks around that I can check out for connector types.