[76cobraII]

The fuel filter in on the inside of the frame on the drivers side. It's a big coffee can looking cylinder. Just be sure to have the arrows pointing in the right direction when you put the new one in.
Rangers have a fuel pump kill switch thingy (i don't know the tech name for it) that shuts off the fuel pump when you run out of gas. It keeps all the crap thats floating around on the bottom of your fuel tank from getting sucked into the engine. Look un the passenger side floor board, just when the carpet stops. Just under the top end of the carpet you will see this little black thingy. If your trucks acts up like that again reach in there and push the little button back down. I know this should work, i've had the same problem a few times with my 94.
By the way is your check ingine light on?