I have a 90' Ranger that is clattering down on the exhaust somewhere when I accelerate from a stop. It’s very annoying and my father says is common on that year. Problem is, it won’t make the noise standing still, it has to be under load and that prevents me from hanging my head out the door and checking [8D] help…

 

Have you actually gotten underneath your truck and inspected your exaust system from front to back. There is a lot of things that can cause it to rattle.
1) exaust hangers are rotten/or missing
2) pipe junctions are loose/ or missing
3) heat shields are loose and rattling against body
4) heat shields are bent hitting exaust system
5) exaust system is rotten and needs replacing
6) or something else is loose besides the exaust
7) muffler is ready to fall off!
Do the inspection first, get under there and with your hands grab and shake the pipes, muffler(s) and shields. It will give you a better idea of what is going on.

 

Thank you Josser,
I will crawl under there and take a look at those things. I'm fairly experienced at automotive issues and repairs, but I have not stuck my head into this truck yet and wanted to ask someone before I got all excited with my findings. Let you know how it goes. George

 

Thanks Bro, found it!
you were right, it was the cat heat shield. The top half had a broken weld and the cover was rattling against the lower half. A little bend in the metal and it was fixed! thanks, that noise plagued me for over a year. Geo

 

no problem dude! that's what we are here for!