Hi all, I just joined this group in hopes of both getting feedback on a current carb issue, and just becoming more aware of how my truck works and things I can/should do to it. BTW, I am not a mechanic--the most I do myself is add oil once in a while. I just paid $80 to have it looked at, it's running bad, very rough. The shop told me my carb needs to be replaced ($400) and installed (another one or two bills). It runs rich and can't be adjusted, has to be rebuilt or replaced. One cyl has soot, one has slightly low compression (it is I think 100, the other three are 125). Gas mileage is crappy. Burns a bit of oil, like about a half pint a month. Temp gauge has always been squirrely--I bought it about five years ago from the orig owner, a mechanic. He replaced the engine a couple years before that, and I have put very few miles on it. Monday I replaced the heater core. Wednesday I replaced the tailpipe and muffler--finally, thank god!! If I do these bigger repairs I'll have to borrow money to do it, and I could really use some feedback first from you Ranger folks--do I have any other options? Your thoughts? Thank you in advance!! Dawn

Dawn, First of all, answer this question, "How much does this truck mean to me?" Any repair shop that wants to charge $400+for a carb on an 83 Ranger should be passed. That carb is very simple to rebuild and the kit doesnt cost more that $50-75. About your compression, 100-125psi is not a bad balance. What this sounds like with the soot in the cylider is a burnt exhaust valve. I replaced one on an 87 2.3liter and it ran like a champ til my customer drove it in to the Colorado River here in Southeast Texas. A bent or burnt valve will decrease compression if there is any at all. I hope I helped you in some way, if not give you another route to take in hopes of fixing your ride. L8RZ, TJ