Free Truck!!

Son has divorced, still had his old company truck at the ex's house. She's bugging him to get it out. He tells me " You can have it free Dad, just get it out of there". Neat, a free 93 Mazda/ Ranger. 3 liter V-6, 5 speed, 200K+ miles. "Ran when parked". Well, sure didn't run when I went to pick it up. Gas stank bad. Towed it to my mechanic, bad gas had buggered up the fuel pump, so my free truck has now cost me almost 500.00. What else should I be aware of with this engine? Is there a timing belt issue? Delicate head gaskets? Should I just wash it and sell It? Not a bad looking truck, I have driven it a lot, but a few years ago. Comments?

the vulcan is a solid long running engine. just not efficient or powerful. It used a timing chain and is well regarded as a workhorse. No hopups are really available easy. I'd keep it and use it to haul small stuff around.

Wow, that's good news. I was afraid it would be like a VG30 with major belt problems at high mileage. Don't need a hot rod, if I want to go that route, a 302 is pretty simple. Thanks.

If its a 93, it should be a real Mazda.

5spd (mazda tranny) = Crappy tow rating.

I thought 93 was a ranger mazda, not a real mazda?

anyhow, I second the opinion that a vulcan will last a long time. slow and sounds like poo, but I don't remember ever replacing one.

the 93 was the first year for the redesigned "rounded" body style for the rangers. i had a 93 4x4 with the vulcan and 5-speed. it got 19mpg no matter how i drove it, a/c on or off, WOT or taking it easy. i've been told that the basic sheetmetal hasn't changed significantly since then

Strizzo's right, although there were a few non-subtle changes in '98. I can tell a '93+ from a pre-'93 at a glance. I have to look closer to tell a 98+ from a '93-'97.

I've also got a 3.0 Vulcan, and the thing isn't great from a power or efficiency perspective, but appears to be nearly indestructible. I have a 2wd with a 4-speed auto and can get 21-22 hwy if I'm careful and get 17-18 in town.

keep an eye out for tranny fluid. I think those had 3 rubber plugs in the top of the manual transmission. Over time they dry up and fail. This happend to my explorer with the 5 speed and I replaced them with metal plugs I got at napa. Cost me 35 cents and a few hours labor.

Ranger / 3.0 Vulcan performance

OK guys, got a pleasant surprise when futzing around with the truck this weekend. Owners manual says 1996. It's definitly a Ford, with the twin I-beam front suspension. Runs fine now with a new fuel pump and fresh gas. Hated to see 3/4 tank of gas get tossed. Son probably paid 1.75 a gallon for what was in there!

If it makes you feel better, it was probably 3/4 tank of varnish.

Yeah, I could refinish furniture with what was in there. Kinda like Formby's.

iirc, the twin i-beam suspension was used from 93 to whenever they started using torsion bar suspension on the 4x4 models (98 i think) the 96 m/y means you have obd-ii and probably mass air instead of speed density air metering