1998 Ranger XLT Purchase Advice Please

[sgtsandman]

Oh. Well I'll be! Good ol' German engineering. That explains everything.

Yep. Leave it to the Germans to design an overly complex and unnecessary timing and camshaft design.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yep. Leave it to the Germans to design an overly complex and unnecessary timing and camshaft design.

I feel that way about anything OHC.

Or EFI for that matter.

 

[kngelv]

I'm probably picking it up today mainly because it's rust free which is a friggin unicorn around here. It's weird though. It is Pacific Green with a white hood and tailgate plus a red driver door and rear bumper. The guy got it from his now deceased uncle so he's not sure why. The frame looks good and there is no underbody damage that I can see. The rear passenger door does not open and the driver door is a hand crank and black instead of powered and tan like the other door and the rest of the car. I do have a purple door from the 97 that is powered and could be swapped over. It is gray. I will definitely have some color mismatching but the kid does not care. He just wants a 5-speed. If it was an automatic then we would not even be looking at it. It has a sunroof which is a bit noisy on the freeway.

James

 

[97RangerXLT]

Highest mileage RBV i know of on TRS was a 2.9. An 86 BII with a 2.9 and 656k. Still was in daily service delivering papers in california. Original 2.9 and 5sp trans.

C_Marshall was his SN. Rusty #1 went over 300k too.

@mtnrgr what does your Ranger have on it? gotta be close to this.

on average for the 3rd/ 4th gen Rangers that I see in the junkyard with no obvious crash damage most of them are in the mid 300k range on the odometer. Not sure if the transmission or engine put them there, but I would guess transmission more so than the engine itself.

AJ

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My ranger is at 634, 777

Holy shit i had no idea

 

[97RangerXLT]

Holy shit i had no idea

psst Rusty, it is also a 3.0...



AJ

 

[rusty ol ranger]

psst Rusty, it is also a 3.0...



AJ

I wish my odo worked...and had 6 digits. Id win this shit

 

[oldgeek]

My ‘98 four banger had a 3.45:1 in it until I swapped the axle. The damn thing couldn’t get out of it’s own way until the 4.10:1 axle got installed.

What effect did that swap have on fuel mileage?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Adding the miles between all your trucks doesn't count.

You wouldnt touch me if i did and added the semi in lol

 

[sgtsandman]

What effect did that swap have on fuel mileage?

Zero. 22 mpg with the 3.45:1 and 22 mpg with the 4.10:1. Mileage would probably improved if I had installed an axle with a 3.73:1 but around here, with the terrain, it needed 4.10:1 for acceptable performance.

Drawing from memory, I think Ford said it was supposed to get 27 mpg. I doubt it would have even seen that with 3.73:1. It might have gotten a 3 mpg boost but not 5.

 

[superj]

man, i thought my old 98 mazda 2300 had a lot with 325k when i sold it back in 05

 

[oldgeek]

Zero. 22 mpg with the 3.45:1 and 22 mpg with the 4.10:1. Mileage would probably improved if I had installed an axle with a 3.73:1 but around here, with the terrain, it needed 4.10:1 for acceptable performance.

Drawing from memory, I think Ford said it was supposed to get 27 mpg. I doubt it would have even seen that with 3.73:1. It might have gotten a 3 mpg boost but not 5.

Is that an axel swap or can it be a gear swap? I have the the 3:45:1. Some hills around here too, but get a good headwind....

 

[sgtsandman]

Is that an axel swap or can it be a gear swap? I have the the 3:45:1. Some hills around here too, but get a good headwind....

I did an axle swap. 7.5” with 9” brakes for a 7.5” with 9” brakes. Direct swap, no fuss no muss other than some new u-bolts. Just match up the year range so you don’t run into sensor issues.

 

[oldgeek]

I did an axle swap. 7.5” with 9” brakes for a 7.5” with 9” brakes. Direct swap, no fuss no muss other than some new u-bolts. Just match up the year range so you don’t run into sensor issues.

If I ever swap out, I'll wait till I need tires. I just put four new ones on. But then, putting bigger tires on would kind of negate the swapping gears, wouldn't it?

 

[sgtsandman]

If I ever swap out, I'll wait till I need tires. I just put four new ones on. But then, putting bigger tires on would kind of negate the swapping gears, wouldn't it?

It will depending on what size tire. The tire size vs gear ratio guide in the tech section will help you out with that some.

I wouldn’t go out of the best compromise region. If I remember correctly, with 225/70R14 tires and 4.10:1, that put the ‘98 at the bottom of the best towing and hauling zone. So, if I’m right, that will give you some room to play with tire sizes.