OK, my '87 Ranger, is 98% restored, from the ground up. A brief history: $750 find in Tampa Bay, FL last August, 88k miles, auto, air, 2.3, XLT package, fairly clean.

Drove 15,000 miles since July 2001, Fla/NJ a few times, Fla/CA once, had some issues, solved most.

Replaced wheels/tires with 15" BFG/Radial T/A's, American Racing AR-781's (found wheels in tire shop in Fla for $12.50 each, 9++ condition), balanced driveshaft, replaced shocks, complete tune up, replaced wires, cap, rotor, gas filter, etc., etc., many sensors, cleaned IAC, replaced starter, replaced timing belt, water pump, thermostat, belts, hoses, new carpet, 60/40 seats from Bronco II, new dask cover/top to replace cracked one, new weatherstrippings on all doors, new mirrors on both doors, new tonneau cover, new tailgate finish panel, new front bumper, replacement tube bumper from a Bronco II, replacement oil pan to replace cracked one, new rear main seal, transmission service and seals, new paint job and much more.

Believe it or not most items were either obtained on e-Bay or the local junk yard, and costs were minimal. The most expensive costs were the shop costs to replace the oil pan and service the tranny, and the paint job.

A few remaing minor (but royal PIA to me) bugs I need help with are:

1> Ocassionally, weather hot or cold, truck sometimes sound like it's too far advanced or retarded during cranking, timing is 10 degrees BTDC with spout disconnected, battery is new/fully charged, and timing marks line up on front pulleys/gears at TDC.

2> Truck gives very intermittent performance issues, such as feeling like there is a miss, or vibration. Once in a great while, runs perfect, but not alway the most acceptable. More obvious at 65-75MPH, when it also seemingly not running correctly, the temp gauge goes to 3/4, and sometimes higher. Replaced all cooling system components, fan blade clutch, flushed radiator, 2 different thermostates, etc.

3> Last but not least, after replacing the fuel filter 4,000 miles ago, I saw a noticable improvement in performance, and the symptoms of a bad fuel filter are returning, so I got another one to replace the one I just did 4k miles ago to see if that makes a difference. My problem is that while under the truck, I see three (3) items on the L/S rail, the front most being the fuel filter I replaced, 2nd the electric fuel pump (?), and 3rd, something that looks like a canister type fuel filter. I cannot find any info in either the factory service manual or anywhere else regarding that 3rd filter (is that what it is???), and higly suspect that to be the possible culprit.

TIA, I'll post pics of my restored Ranger soon.....

 

RE: fuel filter issues, I ran into the same problem as you; when I went to change my fuel filter, I noticed what looked like a second in-line fuel pump. Since the truck doesn't come with two in-line fuel pumps, I assumed that when the pump went bad, the previous owner just installed a new one without removing the old one, to save himself some work. PS- Does it have wires going to it? If it does then it isn't a filter.

 

No wires going to it, appears to be a canister type OEM/Factory fuel filter.

I'm going to the dealer today to see if they can find out what's what???

Thanks

 

From what I heard that's a fuel resevoir.

Travis
Flatheadv8

*87 ranger STX

 

If the '87 is like my '86, the second pump is the high pressure pump for the fuel injection. The pump in the tank is just a low-pressure feed to the HP pump. There's also a second fuel filter after the HP pump.