anyone got advice?

[pcollins]

So, my faithful ford ranger is really starting to show its 14 years of service in NYS (2 words: road salt) slow engine oil leakout of valve cover, front differential seals leaking, transfer case slow dripping. power steering fluid slow dripping...driveshaft is shot to hell...my parents tell me to fix it, but honestly, i think a newer vehicle is in order. what do y'all think? would you keep it? or sell it as is and grab a newer truck? the rust underneath is unbelievable. pretty much every bolt you remove breaks without a torch.

 

[sholzy]

Leaks are usually just gaskets or seals needing replaced. If mechanically the truck is still running good why get rid of it? I'm assuming by "drive shaft" you are referring to the u-joints? They are easy to replace.

I would just repair the leaks and u-joints and drive it until it until the wheels fall off (or the motor gives up the ghost). Cheaper than a new (or used) truck.

 

[Big Jim M]

Tighten your sealtbelt, drive her into a tree, and collect the insurance! Then come down here and getcha one that hasn't EVER seen salt!
Big JIm

 

[pcollins]

Leaks are usually just gaskets or seals needing replaced. If mechanically the truck is still running good why get rid of it? I'm assuming by "drive shaft" you are referring to the u-joints? They are easy to replace.

I would just repair the leaks and u-joints and drive it until it until the wheels fall off (or the motor gives up the ghost). Cheaper than a new (or used) truck.

well, i know the valve cover gaskets are bad. i grew up on a farm. do all my own repairs so i'm good with vehicles. but i've seen the amount of digging i have to do to get to those... we put a new clutch in 4k miles ago...its not the u joints, there all new. its either excessive play somewhere, or the slip yoke. it runs great, tranny is in good shape besides the 3rd gear synchro getting rough. i could do all the repairs, but i really just don't have time. just started a new job and i cant afford to be without a vehicle at all right now. the only reason i don't see it worthy fixing it, is that the rot is going to make it non passable for NYS soon...

Tighten your sealtbelt, drive her into a tree, and collect the insurance! Then come down here and getcha one that hasn't EVER seen salt!
Big JIm

i'd like to do that actually, but we removed collision off of it bout 3 months ago :/

 

[Nhaz]

You can help stop the rot by coating it in oil. The entire underbody. Its messy and it makes it pretty much impossible to not get covered in grime when you have to work on it.

So when those valve cover gaskets start to leak a small amount. just think of the area that oil covers that wont rust! In all honesty the oil that leaks out of a engine rarely covers anything enough to stop serious rust.

And I usually drive something till it dies. and depending on what dies I usually fix it. when I get rid of a vehicle its usually got to be really bad or its cheaper for me to just buy another.

 

[pcollins]

well, i may go look at this today:

http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/1899338860.html

i'm not a GMC fan, but right now, i have the money for that, and thats about how much it would cost to fix my old truck...me and my bro might do the front axle seals and u joints...i didn't want to get into it really. because i'm afraid of what else i'll have to replace.

 

[strvger]

there are a couple of nice rbv's around NJ and Penn. in the for sale forum. might check those out as well.