What's my Ranger worth?

[Rusty88Ranger]

Hello all, new to this forum and looking for some opinions on how much this truck is worth.
I have a 1988 Ford Ranger STX extended cab 4x4 5-speed manual with the 2.9l V6 engine. Miles shown on dash are around 60k miles but the odometer has rolled and least once so it has at least 160k. Purchased this truck for a school project where I repaired the truck enough to put it back on the road. I put another used 2.9l V6 with 75k miles on it into the truck because the old motor lost oil pressure unfortunately. Replaced head gaskets on new motor and heads were milled and valves checked.
I installed many, many new parts including brake lines, front brake hoses, clutch, power steering pump, radiator, battery, front wheel bearings, front axle shaft u-joints, rear driveshaft u-joints, rear shocks, front coils, parking brake cables, and a lot more.
The body is rusty but not rotted away yet. Front drivers side fender was cut out by previous owner to make way for some new bigger tires but he ended up selling the truck to me instead of completing the project. Box/bed supports have surface rust but are solid, but the rest of the box is shot.
I am considering trying to save the cab from rotting away by repainting it, and taking the bed off and making a flatbed for it, but i don't know if it's worth it.
There are small holes in the floorboards underneath the carpet... But I hate letting it rot away because it's a rare configuration truck (extended cab, 4x4, 5 speed manual, STX package, and the 2.9l EFI V6). I also love the first gen looks and there aren't many good ones left on the road.
Like to hear some thoughts.

 

[Dirtman]

It is worth exactly the amount someone pays you for it.

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

Thanks for clearing that up

 

[4x4prepper]

If you have a clean title in your name and you sell in the middle of the winter, maybe $1200-$1500 -IF- you can find someone that knows how to drive a standard transmission. If you swapped it over to an A4LD then maybe up to $2500-$3000 if you sold it on flea_Bay.

Rare does not mean collectable or highly sought after, they literally made probably a million of the 1983-1988 Rangers. You have a rusty not sought after Ford Ranger. The golden horde that does not know how to drive a manual transmission, if they get $2000 they will just finance a new vehicle for six years.

Since you live in NY, I would keep it to avoid paying higher insurance and taxes. Save that money, then move somewhere else.

 

[DILLARD000]

It is worth exactly the amount someone pays you for it.

Another way of looking at the question;
it's worth what you can avoid paying for a replacement,
if you can keep it running reliably at a much lower cost.

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

If you have a clean title in your name and you sell in the middle of the winter, maybe $1200-$1500 -IF- you can find someone that knows how to drive a standard transmission. If you swapped it over to an A4LD then maybe up to $2500-$3000 if you sold it on flea_Bay.

Rare does not mean collectable or highly sought after, they literally made probably a million of the 1983-1988 Rangers. You have a rusty not sought after Ford Ranger. The golden horde that does not know how to drive a manual transmission, if they get $2000 they will just finance a new vehicle for six years.

Since you live in NY, I would keep it to avoid paying higher insurance and taxes. Save that money, then move somewhere else.

Thanks for the feedback. You are a lucky man for not having to deal with the salty winters that eat vehicles up. This truck would be worth far far more if it was clean. But unfortunately it's not the case.
And I didn't mean rare as in few of them made I just was meaning not many on the roads that are in decent shape anymore... At least where I'm from.
I am finishing up my last year in high school so this is my fun get around vehicle right now. I love the idea of a flatbed but not really wanting to put more money into it. IDK... Maybe once I start working full time I will sell it and get one from down south

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

Another way of looking at the question;
it's worth what you can avoid paying for a replacement,
if you can keep it running reliably at a much lower cost.

Good point

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

If you have a clean title in your name and you sell in the middle of the winter, maybe $1200-$1500 -IF- you can find someone that knows how to drive a standard transmission. If you swapped it over to an A4LD then maybe up to $2500-$3000 if you sold it on flea_Bay.

Rare does not mean collectable or highly sought after, they literally made probably a million of the 1983-1988 Rangers. You have a rusty not sought after Ford Ranger. The golden horde that does not know how to drive a manual transmission, if they get $2000 they will just finance a new vehicle for six years.

Since you live in NY, I would keep it to avoid paying higher insurance and taxes. Save that money, then move somewhere else.

Too bad people don't know how to drive manuals cuz they are a blast... Only thing that makes this truck so much fun to drive

 

[gaz]

Welcome Rusty,

DILLARD000 makes the BEST point, roughly, what is you current monthly payment on this vehicle vs the car payment that you don't have. This truck is making you money!!!

I think if you figure how much you saving on insurance and monthly payment the modest amount if dough REQUIRED to keep it in safe running is to your advantage.

My 87 Ranger standard cab, though a few pounds lighter and with a bone stock engine was able to get 28 mpg highway and almost 25 mpg in town on 32" rubber with 6" combined lift.

Depending on how well your 2.9 is running, there is MUCHO room for efficiency improvement in a stock 2.9L; I am driving this truck with a rebuilt 2.9 built expressly for maximum torque, to yield the highest potential fuel economy. This engine has only recently been installed in this chasis but when all the bugs are worked out, I expect north of 34 mpg on the highway with 30 or very near to it in town

If the flatbed is too expensive a move, perhaps you can locate a decent replacement bed for it. You can always drive to it, bolt it on and drive home ..)

 

[Roert42]

If I ever think about getting rid of something, I think about how hard it would be to find a new one in a couple of year when I change my mind.

V6 convertible mustang? dime a dozen, could sell one every fall and buy a new one every spring.

80's pickup with rebuild engine? good luck.

I would rather park it behind my house for 6 years then sell it, because I know I will want it back sooner or later.

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

Welcome Rusty,

DILLARD000 makes the BEST point, roughly, what is you current monthly payment on this vehicle vs the car payment that you don't have. This truck is making you money!!!

I think if you figure how much you saving on insurance and monthly payment the modest amount if dough REQUIRED to keep it in safe running is to your advantage.

My 87 Ranger standard cab, though a few pounds lighter and with a bone stock engine was able to get 28 mpg highway and almost 25 mpg in town on 32" rubber with 6" combined lift.

Depending on how well your 2.9 is running, there is MUCHO room for efficiency improvement in a stock 2.9L; I am driving this truck with a rebuilt 2.9 built expressly for maximum torque, to yield the highest potential fuel economy. This engine has only recently been installed in this chasis but when all the bugs are worked out, I expect north of 34 mpg on the highway with 30 or very near to it in town

If the flatbed is too expensive a move, perhaps you can locate a decent replacement bed for it. You can always drive to it, bolt it on and drive home ..)

Any easy ways to increase effiecency without dumping more money into it?
Mine definitely is not very fuel efficient... No better than my dad's new f150

 

[Roert42]

What's your current MPG? 13/14?

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

If I ever think about getting rid of something, I think about how hard it would be to find a new one in a couple of year when I change my mind.

V6 convertible mustang? dime a dozen, could sell one every fall and buy a new one every spring.

80's pickup with rebuild engine? good luck.

I would rather park it behind my house for 6 years then sell it, because I know I will want it back sooner or later.

Yeah I love the truck but hate that it's all rusty... I would go ahead and try to restore what I can on it but I have a lot into so I just don't know if it is worth it.

 

[Rusty88Ranger]

What's your current MPG? 13/14?

Maybe a little higher...

 

[Roert42]

You seem to have done a lot of work already to the truck. How about the ignition system? Plugs, wires, distributor? What about your filters?

Second what size/ type of tires do you have, and what gears do you have?