jd
1987 ranger compression
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1987 ranger compression
my ranger has a 5 speed and when park it on any kind of slope it will roll away. i have talked to a lot of people locally and they all say, engine compession is bad or, pressure plate is bad. so i acually pulled the trans out and put a new clutch, pressure plate, throw out , and shaft bearing, the whole kit. and it didn't make any difference. man was i shocked after all that work, but i did have my doughts while i was doing the repair cause i wasn't finding anything terrribly wrong except for the shaft bearing wasn't even there, it had turned to dust. also, while torque the presure plate the engine would turn over very easily. i also did a compression test before i replaced the clutch and found 160 to 165 on all four. so my question is, what is the 2.3 four suppost to have for compession? sure they are all equal but if a healthy 2.3 is suppost to have 250 lbs. then its not in such good shape and maybe thats why the truck will roll away, even in gear. what do you guys think?
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jd i always park it in gear, but i'm not a parking brake kinda guy. the truck has been in the family almost since new and has never rolled away on it's own. only within the last year has this problem developed. considering it's history, i feel there is something out-a-wack. and it sure is a pain when you can't trust that your truck will stay where you leave it. i feel lucky it hasn't caused some damage.
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good ideas to deal with the problem if i just wanted to live with it, but i want to correct it. i will go as far as to replace the motor if need be. i have an ol t-bird turbo coupe just sittin around and i really don't like cars, so i would sacifice it for my ranger. wow, a turbo ranger, cool. maybe i'll post a thread and see if anyone has ever done that transplant.
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From: Southeast MI
Turbo 2.3L coveted
An unusual swap, but due to rarity of good turbo motors. Make sure the 'Bird's engine worth it. Guys such as Greywolf, Paw Paw, Bear River, mods/admins, etc should be full of concepts. I'd bet the driveline gets some detailed comments. Maybe pull the bird's back end? So I'm shutting up & waiting for details.
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From: suburban atlanta
My Ranger found itself across the street one morning when it was almost brand new. I didn't put on the parking brake. I watched one time as it went down - lunge - stop - lunge - stop as it went through the compression stroke of each piston.
Compression is not enough to hold your truck on any real grade. If your truck is well broken in, try turning the crankshaft pulley by hand. It will turn some rotation pretty easily, but then run into valve spring compression and whatnot that makes it hard to turn to us humans. Without tools.
Unless you know that your other family members have not been using the parking (emergency) brake, like never, then this is not a problem. Your compression numbers are fine. You just have an engine that is low friction!! It will get better gas mileage! Look at the bright side.
By the way, I now always use the brake, and it hasn't tried to run away since. I park in 1st or reverse.
tom
Compression is not enough to hold your truck on any real grade. If your truck is well broken in, try turning the crankshaft pulley by hand. It will turn some rotation pretty easily, but then run into valve spring compression and whatnot that makes it hard to turn to us humans. Without tools.
Unless you know that your other family members have not been using the parking (emergency) brake, like never, then this is not a problem. Your compression numbers are fine. You just have an engine that is low friction!! It will get better gas mileage! Look at the bright side.
By the way, I now always use the brake, and it hasn't tried to run away since. I park in 1st or reverse.
tom
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Mine will do the same, and so will my buddies jeep. It isn't bad compression as you would think but it is leakage caused I think by the low tension rings engines they are put together with. You won't have to worry about the parking brake cables rusting fast, just remember they don't hold well in the reverse direction. kotzy
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thanks guys for all you input. somehow it's comforting to know i'm not alone in this. with all things considered i thought that with the engine approching 200k that it was showing the end of life. i haven't told you guys about the lack of power and the lack of rpm and the list goes on. it's still a keeper but just not as fun to drive, not as zippy as it used to be.
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From: suburban atlanta
These engines will run to 300k without problem if you take care of them. If you detect a lack of power and rpms, then I would be checking the ignition timing. With the SPOUT connnector disconnected. I would also check the valve timing, affected by a timing belt being off a tooth or so from where it ought to be. Other than that, it is air cleaner, plugs, etc. If you have a MAP sensor, and I don't know when they went to MAF, it can affect the power by reducing fuel flow to below optimum if it is not working right. Or it can cause a terrible lope in idle.
tom
tom
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i like the sound of another 100k, so i'll get to work checking all that stuff. probably take ME a while since of the older set and this is my first efi truck. all my other trucks have been carbed. heck, i'm still learning about all the different sensors and one all mighty comp that controls everything. the great and powerful oz. thanks, fatzz
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