Well I feel kinda dumb, I’m 98% sure it was the maf sensor.
Stock oem one that’s like 35 years old shit out. After checking pretty much everything, I bought a cheap duralast maf from vatozone just to see if that would do anything. Nothing. Me and my dad started checking for vacuum leaks, shot some brake cleaner around the top of the engine and we’re getting slight RPM drops. Thought maybe vacuum leak. Used some butane shit with a nozzle and tube to really try and pinpoint where, if any, there was a vacuum leak. Couldn’t find shit lol
Went to Christian’s, where his brother also has a 90s ranger with a 4.0. His runs cherry. Said screw it lemme borrow a maf sensor that I know for sure works. It wasn’t OEM, idk what brand even.
Thing runs perfectly fine now with Jake’s maf sensor in lol. So I’m sure it was that. I ordered a Delphi brand maf sensor off rock auto so I’m hoping that will run appropriately. Why do they sell shitty ass maf sensors, I don’t really get the point haha. Like I could drive the truck with it, but it wasn’t very stoked when turning or stopped