I'm back with another Ranger.

[XLTsplash]

I haven't posted here in a few years because I sold my 1997 Ranger XLT with Splash parts add. I missed not having a truck. The 89/92 Rangers have always been a favorite of mine. Last week one of my co-workers showed up to work in a 1992 Ranger XLT 2.3L 5 speed 2wd. Just the type of Ranger I had been wanting. He bought it for his nephew about six years ago and his nephew just bought a new car and gave it back to him. He said he would sell it to me for $2,000 . I couldn't pass it up. It needs some fixing up. All and all it's not a bad truck and drives well for a Ranger with 189K miles. I look forward to getting this Ranger fixed up. I'm going to use the Ranger as my everyday driver to replace the 1977 Mustang that I've been driving to work everyday for 20 years. When I sell my 77 Mustang I will use some of the money to fix up this Ranger.

 

[RonD]

Welcome back to TRS

Looks like a good buy

Interior looks clean
Only a bit of surface rust

You can still get the hood pad, about $60

Timing belt is good for 80-100k usually
1989-1994 2.3l used an ICM for spark, they can wear out and act up
Reverse the heater hoses at the firewall every 2 years(when you change coolant) to extend the life of the core

 

[XLTsplash]

The interior isn't too bad. It needs a drivers door armrest, the dash is cracked I'm thinking of getting a plastic dash cap. I ordered a cluster with a tach. I have a Ranger book that say's a tach was part of the XLT package. My 92 XLT doesn't have a tach. The guy I bought it from said he put a new timing belt on it. I don't know how many miles the belt has on it. I will have to take a look at it. The first thing I have to buy is a new cat. The last time it was smog tested it didn't pass by much. The cat is also cracked and leaking exhaust. I found many new bolt in cats complete with the pipe for around $150. Unfortunately I live in CA and a EPA approved cat isn't good enough. I have to buy a $600 weld in cat that's CARB approved. The hood pad is ugly. I was thinking of using the foil insulation like I used in my 97 Ranger. Are the aftermarket ICMs any good ? Maybe I should get one and keep it in the glove box, just in case.

 

[RonD]

Yes, the cheapest CARB compliant Cat runs about $230, and needs to be welded in

 

[dvdswan]

Nice score.

 

[XLTsplash]

I've cleaned up under the hood of my Ranger. It passed the CA smog test with the new cat, I've been doing some body work on the bed rails, then I'm going to sand and repaint inside the bed and the bed rails. After that I hope to find a new over the rail bed liner for the truck. I installed a instrument cluster with a tach, new shocks, sun visors, I found a jack, lug wrench and all of the hold down parts that were missing. I replaced the 6X9 speakers someone installed in the rear with new 6X8 and stock speaker grilles for a cleaner look.

 

[superj]

man, that first one you had was really good looking. that white stepside was a looker.

the new one is cool too, though. i like the interior

 

[XLTsplash]

man, that first one you had was really good looking. that white stepside was a looker.

the new one is cool too, though. i like the interior

Thank you. It will take me a while to get this one fixed up the way I want it, like I did with my 1997. I try to work on my 1992 a little everyday.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Welcome back!

 

[XLTsplash]

I installed a new armrest on my drivers door and cleaned up the panel. I'm happy with the new armrest other than it being about 1/4" shorter than the factory armrest. It's much better than the old broken one and it's nice to have something to grab onto to close the door. Still working on the bed. My plans were for a new plastic bed liner. Now I'm having trouble finding one. I may have to go with a spray on bed liner and a rubber mat. I'm still looking for options.

 

[-Nate]

Looking good ! .

You neglected to mention where in California you live, if So. Cal. there's plenty of like new bed liner's to protect the new paint in the bed .

? Is there new paint ? . I don't see any pictures .

Where did you get the new hood pad please ? .

Include a link if possible .

? Is that a PINTO ENGINE ?

 

[XLTsplash]

I'm in Placerville CA. I did find the Bed Liner Warehouse in So. Cal that can get new bed liners. They can no longer ship them because now the shipping company's want the bed liner in a crate and that would cost way too much to ship. I did get my local O'Reilly Auto parts to order a new bed liner for me. The only problem is it my take up to 8 weeks to get it. So I'm going to wait. I did repaint my bed. I didn't want to spend days sanding the bed floor so I just coated the bed floor with a roll on bed coating. I think it will be extra protection once I get my new drop in bed liner and it makes it look better until then. I wanted to keep the factory molded hood pad because the reproductions are just flat insulation. So I just bought so stick on foil insulation on ebay and stuck it over my factory hood pad that was falling apart. https://www.ebay.com/itm/254999866775

 

[Kira]

Seeing your pictures is like Thanksgiving dinner...I swear.
Great score! All the karma stars were aligned and pointed at you.

Before I found my Ranger, I passed on a white, 4 cylinder Nissan Frontier.

 

[bobbywalter]

Hell yeah...great start.

 

[XLTsplash]

I installed a new grill and front lights in my Ranger. I also add new wheel center caps with flag emblems to keep with the red white and blue USA look I'm going with.