87 ranger Problem areas ?

[flyingbrick]

Tomorrow night I am going to look at an 87 ranger, regular cab short bed 5 speed, I think it has a 4cyl, seller clams it needs a tune up, he also clams it only has 82000KM (which I find hard to believe for an 87), and asking $1500.

So my question is what are the main problem areas on these older rangers?

 

[krugford]

If you're worried about the body, they're prone to rusting over the rear wheels, the bottom of the doors, and the cab corners. I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage. It seems low, but I have seen trucks with lower miles on the clock. It just depends on who drives it and how often. The easiest way to tell, as far as I know, is to see if the digits on the odometer line up. If they do, it's still on it's first time around, if not, it's already rolled over once or more.

$1500 seems a little high for a 87 2wd (is it 4x4?), but if it has the low miles they say it does, I'd probably buy it.

 

[flyingbrick]

If you're worried about the body, they're prone to rusting over the rear wheels, the bottom of the doors, and the cab corners. I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage. It seems low, but I have seen trucks with lower miles on the clock. It just depends on who drives it and how often. The easiest way to tell, as far as I know, is to see if the digits on the odometer line up. If they do, it's still on it's first time around, if not, it's already rolled over once or more.

$1500 seems a little high for a 87 2wd (is it 4x4?), but if it has the low miles they say it does, I'd probably buy it.

Without calling the guy again tonight (and he was not too talkative the first time) it looks like a base model here is the picture.

 

[krugford]

hmmm, "needs a tune-up", lots o' rust, and a base model. I'd vote for $600 cash if that.

 

[mhughes165]

hmmm, "needs a tune-up", lots o' rust, and a base model. I'd vote for $600 cash if that.

ur generous, id give him scrap weight, for that truck about 300-350

 

[CJREX]

That rust you are able to see is hiding lots more.

Kinda like the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Shran]

I'd say if it runs good it's worth more than scrap weight...but still... it is pretty rusty. $400 would be my limit for that one.

 

[90B24wd]

Check around the door posts where the hinges bolt to. This is a major problem area.

 

[AllanD]

If you're worried about the body, they're prone to rusting over the rear wheels, the bottom of the doors, and the cab corners. I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage. It seems low, but I have seen trucks with lower miles on the clock. It just depends on who drives it and how often. The easiest way to tell, as far as I know, is to see if the digits on the odometer line up. If they do, it's still on it's first time around, if not, it's already rolled over once or more.

$1500 seems a little high for a 87 2wd (is it 4x4?), but if it has the low miles they say it does, I'd probably buy it.

Actually The Numerals on an odo should "line up" AFTER it's been "rolled over"

My odometer is still lined up and it's been "rolled" several times,
as I have 392,000 miles on my truck.

as for the price of $1500? that's awful high for ANY 2wd Gen1 or Gen2 Ranger.
Infact I'd consider it "to high" for a 2wd gen1 supercab.

And after seeing the picture I'd consider that truck to be worth $700 MAX.

If someone offered me that truck for $1500 I'd laugh at them in a
way that would make them try to punch me.

And you have no way of knowing , without actually doing a "tune up", that a tune-up is all it needs, a 2.3 withm major problems behaves like an engine
that only needs a tune up.

Frankly if the engine is seriously "ill" the truck is worth $0.12/lb
(~$300) and not a penny more.
Bear in mind thought he scrap yard will pay you a bit more
you have to consider the cost of your time, fuel, wear and tear on your tow vehicle, and amortization of your towing equipment
(Trailer, tow dolly whatever)

as a running "beater truck" (run it until something expensive breaks) it could be worth the $700-$900 I mention above.

If you know someone with an '85-87 that needs a 2wd T-K trans
the ones in 4cyl trucks rarely show much significant wear.

Don't look at a used truck as a "pet" look at it as an animal you are considering butchering.

In general if you can't get useable parts plus scrap priice worth the purchase price of a rusty truck, AND have no firm assurance that the engine is good then it's probably a deal you are best off walking away from.that truck is priced at more than twice that level... nearly three times

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[flyingbrick]

Thanks everyone, I am trying to keep an open mind on this until I go see the truck tonight and I had NO plans of paying 1500 for something that has that much visible rust.

ok so other then the usual stuff you look at on a used car, for the Ranger the odometer lining up, and rust near the door hinge mount is there anything else specific to Rangers I should look for?

a 2.3 with major problems behaves like an engine that only needs a tune up.

Could you explain a little more on what would be wrong, and how to look for it?

 

[Forcus]

Way, way too much.

As far as problem areas, you have the obvious one like the wheelwells, cab corners, doors at the bottom. Not so obvious are the supports underneath the bed / from bed to bedsides, cab floor, cab mounts, radiator mounts. Also, the upper coil bucket on the fronts and the rear shock mounts on the frame are poorly designed and trap water, dirt, muck and rust from the inside out. Through in some cases.

 

[flyingbrick]

I did not get to see the truck till tonight as i was out of town yesterday but, WOW 1500 is a little too high, and I went to school with the guy selling it.

Lets see she ticked like a bastard, the drivers side was all rust, I think it had closer to 282000KM on it, I could barely find any gear, and it did not even have power breaks. So I am going to pass up on that one. Thanks for everyone’s help.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Are you sure he wasn't paying you $1500 to take it?

 

[Boggin]

ok i dont get it, everybody here with Gen 1 rangers say that they dont have a Hundred Thousands digit, but my soon-to-be Gen 1 got it?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

ok i dont get it, everybody here with Gen 1 rangers say that they dont have a Hundred Thousands digit, but my soon-to-be Gen 1 got it?

Candian truck, there are more than one KM to a mile, so it will roll over 100k KM much faster than 100k miles.