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Wow lots of good info thanks everyone. My neighbor ace mechanic suggested about a week ago on the bed - if I keep the bed and just clean/fix it up - he mentioned sliding a 2x4 under the bed which gave me an idea. What I was thinking if I keep the flare side bed - what if I just removed the...

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It's a 97.

Thanks. So I should go for a short bed to replace the flareside. I assume the longer 7' bed won't fit, only the 6' bed - is that correct?

OK question about the bolt holes in the bed. The front two bolts and bolt holes just in back of the cab are gone - and so are the bed supports for those two bolts it appears - so new bolt brackets would need to be fabricated/welded on. The four bolt holes in the rear look OK though - needs new...

I just read that on some web site - maybe I got the wrong info.

So from what I understand if the U-joint is bad the entire steering shaft needs to be replaced is that correct?

Yes...which is why I asked the question...the two parallel plates I mentioned above are part of the frame. I'm glad you brought up the steering U-joint though. I suppose that could be the problem for the sloppy or loose steering.

Anyone have any thoughts/experience/opinions on the steering situation I posted a few days ago above?

WOW thanks guys for that info!

Thanks RonD. Ok another related question. Factory specs say payload capacity for a 1997 Ranger 2.3 liter is about 1,250 lbs and towing capacity is about a ton. Can I both TOW a ton AND LOAD the box up to 1,250? Or is it an either-or situation?

Oh gosh thanks so much everyone for the comments! SO MANY of them! I have a question... My neighbor who is very good and does fabrications as well as mechanics - he took a good look at it yesterday and I'll call him back today to talk more about restoring it - I think he is pricing out some...

Thanks much for all the comments! OK I spent some time on my back yesterday trying to decide if I want to do this or not. There are definitely areas that need to be cleaned up/welded if I keep this and make it roadworthy again. Mainly body stuff and the cross members on the underside of the...

Thank you Shran.

As secondary question, what are the most vulnerable or at risk areas of the chassis should be looking at – to check if chassis is still road-worthy for another decade or hopefully more…which areas are most prone to rusting out first…? Or floor, bed, etc?

Hello, It has been years since I posted here last LOL. Anyway it's decide time. we have been storing our ranger for years and now it's time to decide to either rebuild, sell or scrap. As it is now it is just taking up room. Chassis has 277K miles on it so yes obviously if we keep it we will...

Can anyone tell me what a reasonable price would be for a mechanic to replace an engine in a Ford Ranger - 4 cylinder 2.3 L - with a newer engine that has 120K miles on it - including the engine and labor? "Newer engine" is not a rebuild - from a junk yard with 30 day warranty... We might have...

Hi, I am trying to help out our regular mechanic who installed a new timing belt - the old one broke. Apparently he can not get the correct information from the factory specs. The problem is, we have a '97 Ranger, 2.3 L 4 cylinder, step side, short bed. They installed the timing belt OK but...

Hi, We have trans fluid leaking into our radiator. I was told that this was probably due to the automatic transmission fluid cooler, which supposedly is built into the radiator, is leaking into the radiator, and that the radiator needs to be replaced. Also the thermostat and the block or...

Hi, Are there any half way decent tires out there for this price? 350.00 to 400 bucks? Most everyone seems to be quoting me from 450 to almost 600 bucks for a set of 4... in Michigan...seems kind of excessive, just less than two years ago (I think) we were paying around 350 for a set of 4...