1998 Ranger XLt 3.0 (opinions)

[PDXGraham]

ok i may be getting my first ranger here soon as i have wanted one for awhile and even though i wanted to stay away from the 3.0l i ended up finding a god deal. a co-worker has a 1998 extended cab XLT, 3.0l auto, with less than 130k. now here is the skinny

he seems to think it has bad main bearing cause some shyster mech told him that was the case (i assume the mech didnt even pull the oil pan) i looked at it and i am mechanicly savy as a garage mechanic, it doesnt make any clunking, knocking or loud noises. it does make a tingy pingy noise that sounds more like an exhaust leak to me. it has good oil presure, doesnt make the pinging on idle but does when reved. i assume its just pinging and needs a good full tune-up. any advice? he wants $1500 and its a super cherry clean truck and i may be a little blinded cause i am excited about my first danger ranger.

thanks in advance

 

[5literbeater]

I think that would be a good deal for you. 3.0's are pretty durable motors. They don't make much power but can last a long time. If its a 4x4 then its a really good deal. Even if the motor goes you can get a junk yard motor for pretty cheap. They also get pretty good fuel mileage too. I had a 3 different 3.0's in my truck before I went a different route. One was making a weird noise and the wrist pin seized snapping the piston in half. But that motor was sitting for a long time. Another 3.0 was hydro locked. And the third one ran great I just pulled it for the 5.0 I put in mine.

 

[PDXGraham]

sorry i forgot to mention its a 2wd, its just gona be a work truck...for now to haul my qaud back and forth from the dunes and to go camping but i wanna lift it a little and make a pre runner out of it

 

[5literbeater]

Yeah man that would be awesome! I say go for it! I remember when I got my truck and it was all stock and I just wanted to haul my dirtbike and keep it simple.... Haha. Good luck man. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[PDXGraham]

any ideas on the main bearing BS? i personally think it has bad mains but that is also something i have never really encountered. i mean other than running it dry with no oil wha would cause mains to crap out and not the rods?