Hello From Texas!

Kiba · #1 07-22-2015, 05:29 PM

Hi all! New to the forum and wanted to check in. I just bought a 1999 Ranger XLT, 2.5L four cylinder, manual trans, after a long search for a good stick-shift truck that wasn't either a dually or fifty years old. I grew up on bikes and don't like (and can't afford) automatics in cars, but that seems to be all there is out here in Houston. Finding a stick in good shape that had been well cared for (one owner, piles of maintenance documentation) was a stroke of luck.

My grandfather had a '71 F250 with a 360 and a 4-speed non-OD which I learned to drive on way back. Unfortunately it was left to rot away and sold before I could get to it, so I at least get to carry on family tradition with this little nephew to the big bruiser he used to own.

Now that I finally found this truck I'm really happy to have it and hope to keep it for a long time. I still prefer two wheels so the bike will handle most of the local stuff, but I plan on doing trips, some towing, and possibly courier work with this truck. I also want to baby it maintenance-wise so it stays looking and running good.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to ask questions in an introductory post, but if so, I'm looking to put a tool kit together for the truck that I can toss behind the seat.

I may take long trips and be away from home when a general maintenance item happens to come up, so I'm looking to put together a kit that will allow me to do most general maintenance and repairs including coolant flushes, swapping plugs, changing the gearbox oil, replacing lights, belts or fans, etc in addition to just changing the tires and motor oil.

Hopefully it uses SAE fasteners and not metric, because I have way more spare SAE stuff.

Anyway, I apologize for rambling and pictures are forthcoming.

Thanks all

Welcome Bot · #2 07-22-2015, 05:36 PM

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Mike69 · #3 07-22-2015, 05:47 PM

Alex, welcome to FRF.

jee33Qc · #4 07-22-2015, 05:55 PM

welcome to the forum buddy! : )

03RangerFX4 · #5 07-23-2015, 03:50 PM

Welcome to FRF!!!

GSF1200S · #6 07-23-2015, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiba

Hi all! New to the forum and wanted to check in. I just bought a 1999 Ranger XLT, 2.5L four cylinder, manual trans, after a long search for a good stick-shift truck that wasn't either a dually or fifty years old. I grew up on bikes and don't like (and can't afford) automatics in cars, but that seems to be all there is out here in Houston. Finding a stick in good shape that had been well cared for (one owner, piles of maintenance documentation) was a stroke of luck.

My grandfather had a '71 F250 with a 360 and a 4-speed non-OD which I learned to drive on way back. Unfortunately it was left to rot away and sold before I could get to it, so I at least get to carry on family tradition with this little nephew to the big bruiser he used to own.

Now that I finally found this truck I'm really happy to have it and hope to keep it for a long time. I still prefer two wheels so the bike will handle most of the local stuff, but I plan on doing trips, some towing, and possibly courier work with this truck. I also want to baby it maintenance-wise so it stays looking and running good.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to ask questions in an introductory post, but if so, I'm looking to put a tool kit together for the truck that I can toss behind the seat.

I may take long trips and be away from home when a general maintenance item happens to come up, so I'm looking to put together a kit that will allow me to do most general maintenance and repairs including coolant flushes, swapping plugs, changing the gearbox oil, replacing lights, belts or fans, etc in addition to just changing the tires and motor oil.

Hopefully it uses SAE fasteners and not metric, because I have way more spare SAE stuff.

Anyway, I apologize for rambling and pictures are forthcoming.

Thanks all

Welcome to FRF! Im over in your state's capital driving a 4-banger/stick. They are indeed hard to find in decent shape. I spent months looking for one and had to settle for one that was a mechanic's special with low miles but that sat (great shape now tho).

Since you have the lima motor, im not sure how metric-centric your truck will be (since the lima is an american motor, while the duratec is mazda-derived). I have found that american vehicles are the most frustrating to work on because they have BOTH metric and SAE sized bolts/nuts- and my Ranger is no exception.

I have had the fortune of working on a great deal of the truck, so I know what it needs for tools. I could make a list, but considering yours is a 99 and mine is an 02 with an entirely different engine, im not sure how useful the list would be.