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1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit


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beaveradict
Anonymous Poster
quicksilver1972@netzero.com

Aug 13, 2009, 3:07 AM

Post #1 of 13 (3714 views)
1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

ok truck was ok untill it got muggy here in michigan and began starting hard in the mornings. almost like i had no spark i changed the pickup in the distribitor this morning it started but not untill i let off the key like the ignition switch or tumlbler is worn anyone have a idea what i should check next?


Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Aug 13, 2009, 9:55 AM

Post #2 of 13 (3702 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

That is classic symptoms of a faulty ignition control module. Check for spark during cranking. If it sparks once when the key is let off, that's more than likely the problem.
Loren
SW Washington


Guest
Anonymous Poster

Aug 13, 2009, 10:05 AM

Post #3 of 13 (3700 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Thanks i'll check that out next. got a wire diagram from a friend also just incase its something else is a miss


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 20, 2009, 1:39 AM

Post #4 of 13 (3682 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

ok i changed the ignition module and this morning the problem came back engine backfires took a while but then started up i let it warm up then shut it off and restarted fine what else should i look at


Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Aug 20, 2009, 9:18 AM

Post #5 of 13 (3670 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Beaver; Are you still having the same starting issue, in that it won't start until you let off the key?
Or, does it start 'normally', but runs rough and backfires? Recheck the firing order. Possible that you may have crossed a couple of spark plug wires while working on the distributor. Also, be sure that the timing is set to specs. I can get you firing order and timing specs if you need them.
Loren
SW Washington


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 20, 2009, 10:36 AM

Post #6 of 13 (3667 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

YES THE SAME STARTING ISSUE AS BEFORE STARTS WHEN I LET OFF THE KEY BACKFIRES AND SOMETIMES RUNS BACKWARD FOR A SECOND. ONCE STARTED IT RUNS FINE DOESNT MISS AT ALL AND ONCE WARMED UP WILL RESTART NORMAL WITHOUT LETING OFF THE KEY NO TROUBLE THE REST OF THE DAY IN FACT THE WIFE DROVE IT HOME IN A RAINSTORM AND IT RAN GREAT THINK IM GOING TO CHECK THE TIMING NEXT IM ALSO WONDERING IF MY VAC ADVANCE IS GETTING VAC DURING STARTUP ?THANKS FOR THE HELP KEEP THE IDEAS COMING.

BEAVERADICT


Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Aug 20, 2009, 12:27 PM

Post #7 of 13 (3661 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Beaver; I think we need to start over, from the beginning. Is this carbureted or fuel injected?
Loren
SW Washington


Sidom
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Sidom profile image

Aug 20, 2009, 3:13 PM

Post #8 of 13 (3656 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In


In Reply To
ok i changed the ignition module and this morning the problem came back



Are you saying that the module did take care of the problem for a while? Wouldn't be the 1st time I've seen a defective new module. Where did you get it?


I'm also a bit curious what "302 retrofit" means?


(This post was edited by Sidom on Aug 20, 2009, 3:14 PM)


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 20, 2009, 3:47 PM

Post #9 of 13 (3653 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Loren this is a 1988 ford ranger with a 1977 302 ford Bronco motor,c4 trans and transfercase the motor is carberated Edebrock 4bbl. as far as i know the motor is stock. this problem croped up about the time the humidity did so i blamed it on electical.but that doesnt make since my wife can get it going after fussing with it for a few minutes in the morning drive eight miles to work park it let it rain on and off for six hours and it wiil start right up no backfire up through the carb no let off the key and hope it will start so i've chaged the pick up coil in the distribor, the igniton module, sprayed the pluge wires at night to see if they would short to ground there are a few things i haven't checked fuel flow though i can smell gas when its cranking it has a in line Mr. gasket electric fuel pump don't know for sure if its pumping gas although it doesnt starve when you kick it down,havent checked the timing though it runs smoothe doesnt hessate,might change the rotor and distribor cap could be carbon diposits making it misfire.

thanks agian Beaveradict


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 20, 2009, 4:03 PM

Post #10 of 13 (3651 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Sidom, for a day it did seem back to normal then the next morning it did it again im going to check for spark again first thing in the morning at the first time its cranked over if the spark is not there untill the key is let off maybe it is a bad mod out of the box or i have a short taking them out. module cam from auto value

Beaveradict


Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Aug 21, 2009, 9:34 AM

Post #11 of 13 (3644 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Beaveraddict; Since it is carbureted, I've got to ask a dumb question....Have you checked the choke settings? Is the tension on the choke (when cold) correct? Is the choke pulling off too far when the engine first fires?
One more question...are you an Oregonian, or just like girls? LOL.
Loren
SW Washington


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 21, 2009, 9:49 AM

Post #12 of 13 (3641 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

ya knowi haven't checked the choke settings yet but this morning i did check for spark again and it did spark but it appeared yellow in color issted of a hot blue picked up a new distribitor cap and rotor on my way to work this afternoon and palan on bringing my multimeter home for the weekend mabe im not getting a full 12 volts to the coil.
and to the other question yes i like girls and pay plenty in child support to prove it hehehe lol


Beaveradict


beaveradict
Novice

Aug 25, 2009, 1:39 PM

Post #13 of 13 (3623 views)
Re: 1988 Ford ranger 302 retrofit Sign In

Guys i think i got it nailed down the distribiter cap had alot of oxidation in it the timing was off quite a bit its been starting great every morning and running great after changing the rotor cap and distribiter cap the spark was much hotter.I think moisture,the oxidation just knocked down the spark combined with the timing being too far advanced shot me in the foot. thanks everyone for your help


Beaveradict






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