Time to Retire the '96?

[Twizzler09]

Well, its been a long time coming, but I think it might be time to retire my tired ol' truck. Its starting to generate new noises almost every week, and it keeps getting more serious. Started as small stuff, so I'd fix it. Then something more "major" would foul up, so I'd fix that too. Problem is, over the course of the three years I've been driving this thing, I've spent a grand total of over 3 grand just to keep it moving.

The pebble that broke the camel's back is the new noise from the rear-end. I have no idea whats causing it, but its not good. Think of when your on the highway and you hit your brakes to slow down, the noise you hear from the tires slowing down? Its like that, just more metallic, and when going around corners it shudders sometimes.

So what do you guys think? Retire this thing and find myself a new(er) RBV? I'd defintely keep the '96, just restore/modify it piece by piece until I turn it into the ultimate track machine.

...maybe I could find myself a 5.0 ranger for sale

 

[LearjetMinako]

Reall depends on you. Mine is a 96' with 113K miles and it still runs great. Thou the drivers door has a noise in it and that does bother me once in a while.

If its really bad, like frame rusting, body panels have cancer, "the major" parts replaced that shouldn't have gone bad. Then maybe its time to put it down and trade up for a new Ranger.

 

[Twizzler09]

My '96 has 209k on it's 4.0L-M5OD.

The body itself is in alright shape. Dented a bit, and its just recently starting to show some rust on the bottom of the cab. Needs a grille....lol.

Never needed tranny work, never needed any major motor work (although I've found the cause of my ever-lasting idle problems....and it may have caused some interesting piston carnage). The Front-End would be in real good shape if not for the outer tie-rod on the right side, and both balljoints on the left. The carrier bearing for the two-piece shaft needs replaced, and as I said before...the rear-end is making some interesting noises. The wiring and all that is "ok"....still chasing a real screwy and intermittent electrical problem. Then I have the ever-lasting brake squeak, no closer to fixing that than I was 8 months ago...kinda gave up on that one, lol.

Anyway, I'm thinking about trying to find myself an '00-'01 4.0 5-Speed.

 

[svtranger04]

i'll trade you a 96 3.0L 2wd with MINOR body damage!
its got 170400miles, it gets 25mpg!@65mph!!!!!

 

[koda6966]

i'll trade you a 96 3.0L 2wd with MINOR body damage!
its got 170400miles, it gets 25mpg!@65mph!!!!!

I call bull!

Wait is it a standard?

 

[Hardwareman]

Sounds a bit like my Ranger lately.........and believe me, the problems have made me feel the same way too!

I would say just stick with it. There comes a time when you own a used (and used regularly too) vehicle that maintanence becomes the norm for a bit and then subsides every so often.




Allen

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

I call bull!

why? my '93 hits 24 pretty regularly...

twizzler...the way i look at it is a new truck payment is going to be about $400 a month (if your lucky). if your truck costs less than that to maintain than your good.

i know how you feel about stupid crap constantly breaking though. ive been fighting my blue escort ever since i got it. theres a point when you say to yourself, "what else can break? ive already replaced every part on this rig". it gets very annoying.

 

[koda6966]

why? my '93 hits 24 pretty regularly...

Mine only gets 18-20...
>.<

 

[rusty ol ranger]

It all depends on you.

Most people say i shoulda got rid of my rusted out, dented up, noisy, leaky, rough, loud, shaky, squeely old ranger years ago. But its like an old dog, you know its the best thing to do but you cant bring yourself to do it.

21 years and 300 some odd throusand miles later, shes still here.

later,
Dustin

 

[Simple_serf]

Look at it this way...I did the math, went through the receipts, did most of the work and...

I should have bought new. I would have paid the same amount.

Oh well, I'm not getting the $$ back out of it, and I now know what to watch out for next time, and after working on several rangers, what I like as well.

For instance, I love the Limas, but they are a bitch to work on. A-arm suspension may ride nice, but the TTB/TIB is better built and much heavier duty... Built like a truck.

I had to get experience though to tell me this. In my case, that cost me alot of money....next time it won't.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

For instance, I love the Limas, but they are a bitch to work on. A-arm suspension may ride nice, but the TTB/TIB is better built and much heavier duty... Built like a truck.

Try working on a 4.0, they make working on a lima seem like play. I know because I own/wrench on both.

I agree 100% with the TTB/TIB though. My dad's SLA F-150 has been nothing but trouble from the front end compared to the absolutely maintnance-free 258,000 mile TIB in my ranger

 

[countryboy111789]

I call bull!

my 92 with 3.0 5spd 2wd gets 24mpg with 235/75/15 with 3.55 gears

 

[koda6966]

my 92 with 3.0 5spd 2wd gets 24mpg with 235/75/15 with 3.55 gears

Key thing there is the 5 speed. I was referring to Automatics.
Hence the rest of the quote, which you decided to delete.

 

[Twizzler09]

my 4.0 gets 28mpg@65mph in 5th gear with a 3.08 rear-end......but thats only on long trips.

Well, I'm fairly certain its almost to a point where itd nearly be cheaper/easier to get a newer vehicle. But I think I got the rear-end noise figured out... which turns out to be a $30 part, thankfully. That stupid carrier bearing for the two-piece driveshaft seems to be culprit. Got a new one laying on my passenger seat...slappin that on first chance I get.

I guess we'll see where this ends up over the next few months and hopefully nothing else decides to go nutty on me

 

[svtranger04]

yes it is a 5 speed, with 3.45s

im looking at a '08 2d supercab 4.0L 5speed with 3.55 limited slip.
I cant see spending $21,000 for a new one.

i drive like a old man (ask blackbetty) so im expecting 25mpg
with that 4.0L at 65mph.