Tis truck started out as a 1987 "S" model Ranger. It had a 2.0L four cylinder connected to a Toyo - Kogyo five speed transmission. I bought the truck in late 1996, and by September of 1997 I had destroyed the original engine. In the end it was a burning fireball in my front yard (literally). The fire pretty much detroyed the entire engine compartment. This is where the fun started.

In early 1998, I decided to resurrect my Ranger, rather than send it to the scrap heap. We (my Dad and I) decided to go with the 2.8L V6 out of a 1985 Bronco II. We figured the fact that it was carbureted would make it an easy candidate for the swap. Little did we know. After chasing problems with the EEC-IV system for over 6 months, I decided to gut the EEC and convert the engine to the older Duraspark II setup. Carburetors then became the issue, and eventually the engine itself.

This is the mighty 2.8L mill. This engine was brand new in June of this year. I blew the original 2.8L into shrapnel in the beginning of May. This engine has since developed a pretty mean knock, which I believe is due to a broken piston skirt.

This truck had been in one minor fender bender before I owned it. Unfortuneately, after moving to Calgary, it ended up in two other accidents, one of which was my fault. I used to have a massive home made bumper on the front that was made from six inch channel iron that pulverized the front end of a 91 Nissan pick up, while at the same time limiting the damage to my Ranger to just a scratched fender. However, in the second accident, which happened earlier this year the bumper was destroyed after some idiot cutting lanes caused a small pile up. I slammed into the ass end of a VW Jetta, doing a fair bit of damage. The channel iron bumper actually folded perfectly and saved my frame from being bent. I suffered only minor cometic damage. Hence the ugly front end in the next pic.