Rare Diesel Ford Ranger I REGRET Buying

I bought a rare 1983 Ford Ranger. They built the Ranger with the 2.0 4 cylinder Perkins diesel only in 1983 and 1984 making this a hard truck to come by. Find out why I regret buying this awesome little pickup…

[@Robert_Mac77]

That Perkins diesel sounds just like my grandpas old tractor 😂

[@RealSteelFabrications]

@@Robert_Mac77 love the sound of oil diesels

[@JunkyardFox403]

Might be a mistake, but at least you have the space to keep it. The only thing I can think of if you want to stay diesel is a 4BT. Not sure how much work that takes, but at least it's a common enough engine. My cousin wants to put one in an old Willys-Overland pickup my grandfather had (and then I had, until I couldn't find a place to keep it), but he works on those engines for a living.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Got plenty of room for more junk lol. I would love to do a 4bt but can’t find one reasonably priced.

[@M.TTT.]

These old, uncommon diesels are so cool until you own them lol, but its still awesome

[@RealSteelFabrications]

I love any odd ball vehicle

[@kb94596]

Eh, impulse purchases are part of being young. I was laughing at where you had the gloves on and the dirty difference in your arms and hands. Consult with Dad see what he thinks--he'll tell you if its too much to take on, and if so, sell it and move on. Any vid from Devon is always a good vid.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Always appreciate the comments and positivity! He will tell me any Ford is too much work lol.

[@jerstruckbuilds9212]

Cummins, Kubota, Duramax, Perkins, Mercedes, Volkswagen.......whatever diesel engine you can get a hold of make it fit, always worth it when done 😊

[@joetrippi1603]

0 to 60…5 minutes

[@RealSteelFabrications]

You got that right lol

[@nikdepriest.]

love the look of the ranger, hope you can find something to put in it!

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Same here!

[@dylanjk5946]

@@RealSteelFabrications ready for the tdi swap

[@parkersposts]

There are quite a few 4 cylinder Isuzus out there for much cheaper than a 4bt. Watch local auctions even for power units or old forklifts. Definitely good motors for that truck out there. Just have to know where to look

[@madcat4563]

The servicing I do has made me pick up on the doors that need lubrication. Truck desperately needs an exhaust/ manifold gasket. That ranger reminds me of a jeep of sorts.

[@Bubba20617]

Since the truck is already set up for a diesel engine, I’d suggest putting in a 4BT Cummins. I would really like to see that. Don’t sell the MF Ford Ranger.😂 Really good looking truck, dude! Love ur content! Keep it up!👌

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Appreciate it man! 4bt would be awesome and reliable, just a matter of finding one that’s not $2,000+

[@Bubba20617]

@@RealSteelFabrications I bet they ain't cheap, bro. I've heard they're getting harder to find because of the age. You could also put in an NV4500 if they're not too expensive too

[@EkzdeeLFT]

do a complete custom 1.9TDI with a newer manual transmission.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Would be pretty sweet. Probably would get 45mpg

[@brettohalloran3152]

I would suggest looking at deboss garage maybe even try get hold of him he really likes the older trucks hell maybe even do an EV swap LOL 😅

[@RealSteelFabrications]

He can have it lol

[@isaacrebbe8709]

You should put a 4 bt Cummins in it

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Would love to. But very expensive

[@danielsplayhouse3804]

Uh-oh exhaust is leaking time to put the turbo on the stop that leak!

[@RealSteelFabrications]

@@danielsplayhouse3804 great idea!

[@auaiao9]

You had an odd expression on your face every time you changed gears lol.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Ya idk why I do that lol. Still think I’m going to grind gears I guess like when I first started driving manual

[@davidwolff8878]

55 TOPS a friend of mine has the ford ranger. 35 MPG UP A HILL

[@frasercooley6270]

We have loads of those perkins kicking about in the uk! My father inlaw has a mazda with one in. How about an om605 or 606 swap from an old mercedes?

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Wish there was more here!

[@garrettabcdefg4602]

I can concur its hot here in MO. I hope you didnt get hosed on the ranger. It would look badass all mintyd up

[@RealSteelFabrications]

I think it would be an awesome truck, but I really don’t want to put a gas motor in it. For a few hundred dollars more I could have probably got a rougher running 2.3 truck. Ohh well. Live and learn!

[@chrisseidel1375]

Turn up the injection pump bud !

[@VacMaster2020]

I would put a four BT Cummins in it with whatever transmission would fit

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Swap the engine into a 4x4, like a Suzuki samurai

[@boredom.victim]

pre-smog ❤

[@RealSteelFabrications]

You got that right!

[@HeadingEast33]

Man put a 13b with a turbo and let that thang hawk tuah!

[@RealSteelFabrications]

What do those come in?

[@RealSteelFabrications]

All about the hawk tuah!!!!

[@HeadingEast33]

@@RealSteelFabrications LOL Mazda RX-7.. 13b with turbo. Rotary if you're into that. Older rotary engines are pretty sweet and easy to maximize power.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

@@HeadingEast33 ahh gotcha. What year of RX-7 should I be looking for?

[@HeadingEast33]

@@RealSteelFabrications old ones can be had cheap. Late 80s has 12A and 13B. You can run them carb and avoid all the wiring stuff. Plenty of videos on bridge porting to open them up and then slap a turbo. Super fun.

[@donnierobitson7221]

Needs a four cylinder Cummins

[@MegaGingerpimp]

Swap in a Volkswagen diesel in the ford

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Been keeping my eye out for a late 90’s TDI

[@dylanjk5946]

its too bad they didnt make them 4wd

[@Jimmy-rx6cn]

4bt cummins

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Would be awesome, but man people are proud of them $$$$

[@rainbowmangarage]

Body swap it to the B2200

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Different wheel base and would be even more work than trying to get the motor to fit I believe

[@abjeesh5282]

12 valve

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Lotta weight for that little frame

[@user-rn8hb1hq9i]

How much for the dualy

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Just got it running today. Might use it as donor for something now lol

[@user-rn8hb1hq9i]

@RealSteelFabrications I got a decent 88 ford ranger for trade

[@RealSteelFabrications]

@@user-rn8hb1hq9i where are you located?

[@user-rn8hb1hq9i]

@@RealSteelFabrications indiana

[@rcone4u1]

Hawk Tuah and stuff that EFI 460 out of the F350 in that thing 😂

[@RealSteelFabrications]

@@rcone4u1 let’s do it

[@rcone4u1]

@@RealSteelFabrications I dont have enough hours in the day to work on my own junk 🤪

[@matthewanderson7766]

SBF swap

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Think it really needs a diesel

[@Sancho56200]

Sell it and move on.

[@RealSteelFabrications]

Maybe…