Do you own or know about the 2.9L ranger?

[KrAzy KoOl MaN]

I have a chance to buy one with a rebuilt engine. (engine has less than 60,000 miles)

Would you say that engine is reliable?
What about the gas mileage?
What should I look for when I go look at the truck?
Should I worry about no ABS brakes?
I am not going to drive it to hard
This is my first car so I need it to be good...

Thank You

 

[RustedRanger]

One thing I would do is test drive it for awhile,like maybe a half an hour or more so it is fully warmed up to see how it really runs. Check everything you can and if you don't know what to look for take someone with you who does. I have bought so many cars and trucks that made me sorry because I liked the way they looked or the potential they had and didn't realize what I was getting into. Don't be afraid to say no if you don't feel right about it,I have seen the best deals right after buying a piece of crap.

 

[Frank The Tank]

ABS brakes won't be an issue.... I am not a fan of them really.... you feather the pedal and bam "you have manual abs"
I would definantly get it hot/warmed up.
Flog on it and really listen and feel for trans slippage and cut out, really watch the idle shake rattle and roll (it may run great at 2,500 rpms but make sure it idles well and idles down)
I drove the living hell out of mine it took serious abuse.
does it have a bore job or honing and rings? if not it's not rebuilt.

I stand by the 2.9 as being a sluggish, slow-turd, that gets mediocre fuel economy, but is tough as nails. (MINE WAS MY FIRST TRUCK!!! the auto died on me, replacement was more than the entire truck)


never ever be afraid to say no to a new/used vehicle, this is not a joke
patience always yields the best deals.

Frank

 

[mkpecor]

i liked my 88 ranger 2.9, it was on 33''s getting 17mpg, the first thing is drive it see how it runs, it might have a lifter tick, all 2.9 do at some point, check the cap were you put the oil in at, if their is snot lookin stuff the heads are bad in it. pull the dip stick to, to see how the oil looks. 2.9 motors are really bad for cracked heads. other than that i like the 2.9 over my new 3.0 ranger. good luck with your buy.