2.5L ('98-'01) What should I do? 99 Ranger 2.5L

[KDrexel13 l]

I bought a 99 Ford Ranger 2.5L I4 5 speed manual It has 195,000 miles on it.

I pulled the engine and found a broken connecting rod. It kinda scuffed the crankshaft, broke the connecting rod (obviously) broke the piston and put a hole in the oil pan, I have a replacement oil pan.

but I don't know if I should buy a re-build kit and one replacement connecting rod and piston or a new set, or just get a new engine.

Just looking for advice.

 

[franklin2]

You just have to get a pencil and a piece of paper. Add up all the costs to fix the old engine versus what a used good engine is locally. Then determine your timeline and ability to put the time into it. More time to fix the old engine versus less time to drop a used one in place.

You can see if the crankshaft can be polished. It didn't damage the bore of the cylinder? If it did, boring and or sleeving is very expensive.

 

[KDrexel13 l]

I cannot see or feel any damage on the bore of the cylinder

 

[19Walt93]

It would be worth stripping it down and sending the block and crank to a machine shop to be checked out before you buy overhaul parts.

 

[KDrexel13 l]

It would be worth stripping it down and sending the block and crank to a machine shop to be checked out before you buy overhaul parts.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Rick W]

What is your intent for the truck? Is it a weekend occasional toy, or do you have to rely on it for transportation every day everywhere you go.

There’s enough of them around that you can search the scrap yards over the phone or over the Internet and look for a good running truck that was in an accident. Or maybe through somebody you know and trust. Over the years, I bought a couple used engines that way with pretty good luck.

Butttttt, if I can’t find a deal, like that, I go to a professional name brand rebuilt engine if I have to rely on it. The good rebuilders know what updates need to be done. (my better heads on a 2.9).

Let us know what you’re going to use it for, we might have better or different advice.

My two cents, hope it helps

 

[Rick W]

Also, if you put all your information in your membership spot, like where you’re located, there might be somebody near you who knows local resources.

 

[KDrexel13 l]

Also, if you put all your information in your membership spot, like where you’re located, there might be somebody near you who knows local resources.

Thanks I did that

 

[KDrexel13 l]

What is your intent for the truck? Is it a weekend occasional toy, or do you have to rely on it for transportation every day everywhere you go.

There’s enough of them around that you can search the scrap yards over the phone or over the Internet and look for a good running truck that was in an accident. Or may be through somebody you know and trust. Over the years, I bought a couple used engines that way with pretty good luck.

Butttttt, if I can’t find a deal, like that, I go to a professional name brand rebuilt engine if I have to rely on it. The good rebuilders know what updates need to be done. (my better heads on a 2.9).

Let us know what you’re going to use it, for we might have better or different advice.

My two cents, hope it helps

I would like it to be reliable, I bought it for $500 hoping for it to be a daily

 

[Rick W]

Glad to have you on the forums. I’m retired and I mostly fiddle with cosmetic stuff. There are a whole bunch of great guys on here who can tell you which different engines will just bolt into your truck without doing a lot of modification. That will give you more options if looking for a used engine.

Sooooo, “Hey you guys, what engines will just bolt into this truck if he’s looking for a used one?”

if it broke a rod at 195,000 miles, that looks to me like whoever had it may not have been maintaining in properly. That would make me very hesitant about just replacing and repairing one cylinder. I’m in Atlanta so I have no idea of what’s available in the Spokane market, but I know if you hunt around down here you can find an engine that runs good for 500 or $700. That gets you on the road. Once you drive it around a little bit, then you have two choices. Do you sell it for a profit and upgrade? Or do you keep working on the truck to improve it
When I was young, I would buy something decent that had something wrong with it, fix it, clean it all up, maybe paint it with a roller with rustoleum (anything looks better with a coat of paint). Then I’d flip it, and buy the next one better. When I was a little older, I’d do the same thing to generate extra money on the weekends to fix up the house. Then I did the same thing to the houses. When my kids were in high school, I started doing the same thing to make extra cash for their college, and I did the same thing to several more houses. A paycheck only get you so far.

That will also build your skill level over time. Never miss a garage or an estate sale and constantly watch craigslist
land you can start building a good selection of tools for little money.

And one final thought, and this is the most important, if you’re getting your financial and life advice from me, you really wanna think twice about that! My brain has thrown a couple pistons over time too!

good luck with it

 

[KDrexel13 l]

Glad to have you on the forums. I’m retired and I mostly fiddle with cosmetic stuff. There are a whole bunch of great guys on here who can tell you which different engines will just bolt into your truck without doing a lot of modification. That will give you more options if looking for a used engine.

Sooooo, “Hey you guys, what engines will just bolt into this truck if he’s looking for a used one?”

if it broke a rod at 195,000 miles, that looks to me like whoever had it may not have been maintaining in properly. That would make me very hesitant about just replacing and repairing one cylinder. I’m in Atlanta so I have no idea of what’s available in the Spokane market, but I know if you hunt around down here you can find an engine that runs good for 500 or $700. That gets you on the road. Once you drive it around a little bit, then you have two choices. Do you sell it for a profit and upgrade? Or do you keep working on the truck to improve it
When I was young, I would buy something decent that had something wrong with it, fix it, clean it all up, maybe paint it with a roller with rustoleum (anything looks better with a coat of paint). Then I’d flip it, and buy the next one better. When I was a little older, I’d do the same thing to generate extra money on the weekends to fix up the house. Then I did the same thing to the houses. When my kids were in high school, I started doing the same thing to make extra cash for their college, and I did the same thing to several more houses. A paycheck only get you so far.

That will also build your skill level over time. Never miss a garage or an estate sale and constantly watch craigslist
land you can start building a good selection of tools for little money.

And one final thought, and this is the most important, if you’re getting your financial and life advice from me, you really wanna think twice about that! My brain has thrown a couple pistons over time too!

good luck with it

Thanks Rick! And I would like to flip it but I might keep it, whatever happens. I will keep my eyes out and do research on what engines fit!