My late Father’s 2003 Ranger 4x4

[500]

It needs lots of cleanup. Has typical rust from Ohio winters. I’ll probably bring it to Virginia sometime this Summer.

 

[JohnnyO]

Looks pretty clean for a rust belt truck. Condolences on your father's passing. Change all the fluids (meaning ALL the fluids, axles, t-case, trans, coolant, brake, power steering, blinker), fuel filter, plugs and wires, and drive on.

 

[500]

He was a retired mechanic. Although he let the appearance lapse, he still kept up with it mechanically. He had one of his younger mechanics continue to work on it. He was watching a top end oil leak, and decided to just watch it, since he was only driving like 20 miles a day. I’m having his mechanic fix that oil leak and give it a look over, before I drive it 700 miles back to Virginia.

 

[JohnnyO]

He was a retired mechanic. Although he let the appearance lapse, he still kept up with it mechanically. He had one of his younger mechanics continue to work on it. He was watching a top end oil leak, and decided to just watch it, since he was only driving like 20 miles a day. I’m having his mechanic fix that oil leak and give it a look over, before I drive it 700 miles back to Virginia.

Most likely a valve cover gasket, they leak when they get old. The upper intake manifold has to come off to get to it. Same problem on the Sport Trac I just traded in.

 

[DILLARD000]

Ditto on changing all the fluids.
If two OilPressurized TimingTensioners are original, they should be changed; could do that while changing ValveCover gaskets.
Become OCD about Engine Oil + Tranny ATF changes;
to keep it routine, I handpump+replace 2qts of MerconV from the tranny dipstick when I change engine Oil every 6months.
Lucky your dad was a mechanic; it looks well kept.
Nice 2003 Ranger.

 

[500]

I used to have a ‘93 XLT 4x2 SuperCab 4.0 with 5 speed stick. Loved that truck.

 

[MXGerry]

Most likely a valve cover gasket, they leak when they get old. The upper intake manifold has to come off to get to it. Same problem on the Sport Trac I just traded in.

My buddy got this incoming 2004 Ranger 4x4 project with a couple of leaks. It's even got some rust build-up but only has 97k miles. We'll just finish installing the winch and bumper plus the smittybilt tailgate on the Wrangler this week before we can clear the garage and take a closer look.

 

[500]

After much thought and a thorough look over it with the mechanic that worked on it for years, I decided to sell it. Made $3,500. Sad to see it go, back it is now a young man’s first ride, so that made me happy it went to someone excited about it.

 

[leonar40]

That's awesome, glad to see your Dad's legacy live on in this way! I'm sure he'd be happy with that.

 

[CrabGuy]

Nice looking rig, your Dad took great care of it. I'm the opposite end of the equation as you, I'm 73 and bought an 04 Ranger to fuss with and renew. My son wants me to give it to him but no one ever gave me a car and I'm not planning on breaking the tradition! I've had so many Fords and my best memories are from those times. 1955 Police Interceptor (blew it up on the Harbor Freeway in LA), 1963 Ford Econoline (drove it for 263K miles with never a hiccup) , 1965 Fairlane 500 , 85 Bronco (Bob the Wondertruck), 2003 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab Lariat (coolant puking loser), 94 Ranger 4x4, 03 F150 King Cab, and still in the driveway with a 2011 E350 and 04 Ranger. I'm a sucker for abuse.