- Joined
- Sep 25, 2018
- Messages
- 50
- Points
- 601
- City
- Kill Devil Hills
- State - Country
- NC - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 1988
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 2.9L
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 235/75 R15
First week of September, found this survivor 4 hours away. I'll chronicle as best I can as I work on her.
Seller is a Junk Car guy and didn't know it was 4WD until I asked him to take underside photos and send to me before I commit to the road trip. He actually sent video of the underside, including his cursing out his guys for not letting him know it was 4WD before he listed at his asking price. Needless to say, the price was better than I was willing to spend, although it did hurt me in negotiating because the price was so good. She's a 5 spd 2.9 and shows 69,xxx miles on the old 5 digi odometer and runs smooth in the videos he sent.
When I arrived, it was still up on the top level of a double deck trailer, so I was able to gander at her underside, noticing the body bushing rear driver side down. She's has frame rust, but no rot I could find. She fired right up after I verified the motor was cold to the touch; no smoke, no knocks, no ticks. Brake fluid squirted out from the right front as he eased her off the trailer. I let her sit and idle for 15 minutes after he backed her down. Temp gauge didn't work, but everything else did. The old face under the hood to feel if she heated up too much proved she didn't. She's dirty and grimy under the hood with the usual suspect valve cover leaking on the exhaust manifold. The tranny has oil down on it, hopefully from just the valve covers, not the rear main, but we'll tackle that as well if needed.
In my humble and hopeful opinion, she's rolled the odometer once. I didn't see anything to feel like she's been rebuit/replaced. She runs too good for two trips around the odometer.
The exterior is the original paint, sun faded witha couple edges showing patina. Each rear fender shows rust, but feeling inside, it doesn't seem to be in the inner fender. The right front has a rot spot just behind the bumper edge. The interior, for a 38 year old truck is exceptionally good shape, minus the door cards warped and vinyl torn at the bottom, but the cards are there with all the pieces. Everything else was there and no matted carpets. Dirty, yes, but she can be cleaned.
AC doesn't work, but I did get the compressor clutch to engage by jumping it. Blower works as well as blend doors. Touch Drive doesn't work, but she's in 2WD, so working on that wasn't pressing. Right side speakers go in and out, left side works fine. All the knobs, buttons and lights work except the brake lights. We negotiate and settle on a deal. I got a couple hundos off his asking but I easily scored her for more than half of what she's worth. This could be an easy flip, but she checks all the boxes for what I want.
The coup de grâce is the original 1988 Title placed in my hand. She was a one owner. She appears to be 100% unmolested. I loaded her up my the rented Uhaul and strapped her down for the 4 hour journey home. Clutch was a little soft, so hopefully just chasing air bubbles is on the agenda.
I started my month long hiatus from work, so I have been busy piddling around with her. She'll be my kayak hauler for fishing so my 21 F150 takes a break from those duties.
These pictures are from the day I got her.
Seller is a Junk Car guy and didn't know it was 4WD until I asked him to take underside photos and send to me before I commit to the road trip. He actually sent video of the underside, including his cursing out his guys for not letting him know it was 4WD before he listed at his asking price. Needless to say, the price was better than I was willing to spend, although it did hurt me in negotiating because the price was so good. She's a 5 spd 2.9 and shows 69,xxx miles on the old 5 digi odometer and runs smooth in the videos he sent.
When I arrived, it was still up on the top level of a double deck trailer, so I was able to gander at her underside, noticing the body bushing rear driver side down. She's has frame rust, but no rot I could find. She fired right up after I verified the motor was cold to the touch; no smoke, no knocks, no ticks. Brake fluid squirted out from the right front as he eased her off the trailer. I let her sit and idle for 15 minutes after he backed her down. Temp gauge didn't work, but everything else did. The old face under the hood to feel if she heated up too much proved she didn't. She's dirty and grimy under the hood with the usual suspect valve cover leaking on the exhaust manifold. The tranny has oil down on it, hopefully from just the valve covers, not the rear main, but we'll tackle that as well if needed.
In my humble and hopeful opinion, she's rolled the odometer once. I didn't see anything to feel like she's been rebuit/replaced. She runs too good for two trips around the odometer.
The exterior is the original paint, sun faded witha couple edges showing patina. Each rear fender shows rust, but feeling inside, it doesn't seem to be in the inner fender. The right front has a rot spot just behind the bumper edge. The interior, for a 38 year old truck is exceptionally good shape, minus the door cards warped and vinyl torn at the bottom, but the cards are there with all the pieces. Everything else was there and no matted carpets. Dirty, yes, but she can be cleaned.
AC doesn't work, but I did get the compressor clutch to engage by jumping it. Blower works as well as blend doors. Touch Drive doesn't work, but she's in 2WD, so working on that wasn't pressing. Right side speakers go in and out, left side works fine. All the knobs, buttons and lights work except the brake lights. We negotiate and settle on a deal. I got a couple hundos off his asking but I easily scored her for more than half of what she's worth. This could be an easy flip, but she checks all the boxes for what I want.
The coup de grâce is the original 1988 Title placed in my hand. She was a one owner. She appears to be 100% unmolested. I loaded her up my the rented Uhaul and strapped her down for the 4 hour journey home. Clutch was a little soft, so hopefully just chasing air bubbles is on the agenda.
I started my month long hiatus from work, so I have been busy piddling around with her. She'll be my kayak hauler for fishing so my 21 F150 takes a break from those duties.
These pictures are from the day I got her.
