Finally picked up the ranger. Have Questions.

Willy Mo · #1 08-29-2010, 08:40 PM

Soo.. I finally drove the almost 3 hours to pick up the ranger today.
97' 2.5, 5spd flareside thats been bagged with a four link rear.
I have a couple questions.
1. it idles a little rough when cold but idles and runs fine when warm. ideas? Im wondering if its becasue of question 2.
2. There is some sort of piggyback thing hooked up to the MAF. have you ever seen something like this? know what it is/does? (pics follow)
3. How hard is it to replace the timing belt. (outer face is showing wear)
4. any tips or things to do/watch out for with the 2.5?

01+ front end conversion started.

piggy back thing on MAF

any info is greatly appreciated

smakes · #2 08-30-2010, 12:01 AM

if its really a 97 (it has the correct bumper) its a 2.3, ford didnt offer the 2.5 until 98

Bwad · #3 08-30-2010, 12:28 AM

Yeah, I have a 97, and it's a 2.3. That thing on the MAF is probably a performance chip? I'm not sure.

Replacing the timing belt is a fucking bitch and a half. My grandpa and I got it done after about 8 hours of total work, over two days. Things that needed removal are:

Radiator,
fan,
AC compressor
Powersteering pump(just unbolted and moved, not REmoved)

Willy Mo · #4 08-30-2010, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smakes

if its really a 97 (it has the correct bumper) its a 2.3, ford didnt offer the 2.5 until 98

ahhh ok.. well he had a parts truck. said one was a 2.3 and one was a 2.5. the 2 definately look different. the engine in teh 98 looked smaller for some reason. maybe smaller intake manifold.

as for this "chip" or MAF piggy back thing. ive been aroung the mustang scene along time and ave never seen something like this piggy backed to a MAF. your MAF takes a reading of the amount of air going into the engine. so im not sure have changing that reading is goin to help much, with nothing else being changed.

drppdyllwrngr · #5 08-30-2010, 01:49 PM

that's def a 2.3. don't think they did the dual plug on 2.5.

as for the piece on the maf, that's probably one of those cheap ebay "50 hp for $10" pieces. i would take it off and find the nearest trash can.

Willy Mo · #6 08-30-2010, 01:51 PM

yup that will be the bext thing done to the truck. can the bs chip

DieHard4rd · #7 08-30-2010, 01:54 PM

^^Exactlly.. Get rid of that gimmic & it should run fine.

Willy Mo · #8 08-30-2010, 01:57 PM

i asked teh guy i got it from if he ever took it off and noticed any difference he said no. But i am taking it off anway.

EMB1230 · #9 08-30-2010, 04:51 PM

wasn't 97 the last year they used a round airbox?

Willy Mo · #10 08-30-2010, 08:04 PM

yeah pretty sure. they guy i bought it from hada 98 parts truck and it had a square air box.

do you guys thing i could swap the air intake to the 98+? using the newer maf and square air box?

richarddhoward · #11 08-30-2010, 08:14 PM

Truck looks sick man! I love bagged trucks, and the wheels on your truck. I don't know enough about the 2.3l to tell you if you can swap the intakes, but I see no reason you couldn't, but that may be more work then its worth. The newer MAF is the same as the old one in the way if works, and I have the 97 round tube and have never had issues with it. But that's just me, I'd leave well enough alone. As for the piggy back thing take it off and tell us how it runs. The only other reason I would think it runs rough at idle is if it had a aftermarket bigger grind cam.

Willy Mo · #12 08-30-2010, 08:19 PM

thanks! yeah the piggyback bullshit is considered trash. it almost acts like its getting too much fuel until it warms up.

richarddhoward · #13 08-30-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willy Mo

thanks! yeah the piggyback bullshit is considered trash. it almost acts like its getting too much fuel until it warms up.

Probably is, I had one of those when I was 16, thought I was hot shit, didn't know that much about how the electronics on cars worked yet...worst 99 cents ever...that CEL still haunts my dreams....

Willy Mo · #14 08-30-2010, 08:28 PM

yeah i would have hoped the .99 part would have told you something lol

richarddhoward · #15 08-30-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willy Mo

yeah i would have hoped the .99 part would have told you something lol

going back to what I said....16....didn't know....learned well...now I have a degree in diesel technology, and I run, fix, and help maintain everything from small generators to 2 tower cranes....I learned lol