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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 04:26 PM
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Okay guys. Got an 86 ford ranger. Just picked it up a couple months ago. Now i know it has had some mods done to it. For instance it has fuel injection now instead of original carb. Wiring is all screwy, transmission won't switch gears, unless i manually switch them.
So, my question is, i wanna swap the monstrosity thats in it and put a new engine in. What can i put in that will fit and not shred my transmission? Or should i completely replace the tranny too?
 
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 05:19 PM
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First welcome to FTE.
Now you say "86 ford ranger" is that the small truck or full sizeF150-F350 with a ranger option ?
If the small one there is an area for them as this is the full size area.


Either way you will need to post the spec on the truck. We got the year but what motor and trany is in it?
If full size what model F150/F250/F350 and does it have 4x4?
It would also help if you post up the VIN and the cert sticker from the drivers door so we can see what the truck left the factory with because any thing could have been done to the truck before you got it.
Dave ----
 
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 05:41 PM
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Yes, an '86 Ranger is the small truck and we don't know much about them.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 06:12 PM
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I have a 86 ranger with the 2.9 v6. It's a good little truck. But this is the wrong forum. Look around on the main page, there is one for it on here.
 
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Old Mar 7, 2017 | 09:38 PM
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Old Mar 8, 2017 | 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
....Now you say "86 ford ranger" is that the small truck or full sizeF150-F350 with a ranger option ?....
I'm pretty sure that Ford never made mid-size and full-size Rangers in the same model year. I know that by 1985 when I bought my first truck the little Ranger pickup was available and the old "Ranger" trim on the full-size trucks was renamed "XL"

It is kind of annoying how Ford recycled names. As people in this forum well know, "Explorer" was an option package (or really a series of option packages) before it was a mid-size SUV (that one gets confusing on Bronco forums where someone is talking about their "Explorer").

Of course Ford isn't the only one that did that. Honda had a really cool go-kart style ATV called the Odyssey before they had a minivan with that name.
 
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Old Mar 8, 2017 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Nothing Special
I'm pretty sure that Ford never made mid-size and full-size Rangers in the same model year. I know that by 1985 when I bought my first truck the little Ranger pickup was available and the old "Ranger" trim on the full-size trucks was renamed "XL"

It is kind of annoying how Ford recycled names. As people in this forum well know, "Explorer" was an option package (or really a series of option packages) before it was a mid-size SUV (that one gets confusing on Bronco forums where someone is talking about their "Explorer").

Of course Ford isn't the only one that did that. Honda had a really cool go-kart style ATV called the Odyssey before they had a minivan with that name.
I knew of the full size as I my 81 parts truck is a "ranger" and I also knew they had the small one but did not know the years of either or if they over lapped, now I know.


How bout the GM Blazer? full size K5 and small S10 both made at the same time and you get people saying "my Blazer".
Dave ----
 
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Old Mar 8, 2017 | 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
....How bout the GM Blazer? full size K5 and small S10 both made at the same time and you get people saying "my Blazer".
Dave ----
If you're going to bring that up you have to note Ford's multiple Broncos. When I say I have an early Bronco I often get asked if it's a Bronco II or a full-size Bronco. I say "Neither, it's an early Bronco."
 
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Old Mar 8, 2017 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Nothing Special
If you're going to bring that up you have to note Ford's multiple Broncos. When I say I have an early Bronco I often get asked if it's a Bronco II or a full-size Bronco. I say "Neither, it's an early Bronco."
LOL I did forget of the Ford Bronco.


I do know the early Bronco. I help build one for my uncle for racing off road back in the early 80's. Had to buy one(77) for parts after I rolled & did a half gainer with my uncles to put it back in racing shape.


I even used an early (69) frame as the base for a 4x4 68 Cougar I built but never got on the road.
Also had one for my shop to plow snow, not fun with vacuum wipers in snow storms!
I love the first gen Broncos and would like to have one to bomb around in but they go for crazy money.
Dave ----
 
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Old Mar 8, 2017 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
....I love the first gen Broncos and would like to have one to bomb around in but they go for crazy money.
Dave ----
Careful about calling "early Broncos" "first gen" too. There was just a thread on ClassicBroncos about people wincing when they hear that phrase (personally I don't know why, I guess some people just don't have enough things to get worked up over).
 
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