Just bought a 1988 Ranger 4x4 could use some advice!

[Sworn]

Hey guys, I'm new to TRS and have a couple of questions I hope you could help out with....I just bought a 1988 Ford Ranger 4X4 2.9 V6. I paid $900.00 for it and, as you can imagine, it's not in the best shape. It has well over 100k but seems to run well. (No milkshake in the oil.) It has a 7 inch lift kit and was run with 35 inch tires. The guy I bought it from sold the 35's separately and now it has regular tires on the stock rims. Looks really bad........The seller also related the truck has been sitting for about a year. So, this is what I've done so far: replaced the cap & rotor, plugs and wires. It's at a local garage right now. (It won't fit in my garage and I froze my a$$ of yesterday doing the plugs and wires.) It will be having a new heater core installed as the old one is shot. A fresh Oil change and a new fuel filter is in the plan. The air filter is clean and I will probably throw in a new ignition coil for the hell of it. What else should I do? What did I miss? What should I pay special attention to with this truck? BTW I will have the trans fluid changed as funds permit. Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!!!

 

[94STXRanger]

Id check bearings and stuff. Verify brakes like the lines, pads, rotors, linings, drums. Stuff like that. Maybe check or flush the trany and transfer case. Good luck though sounds like a nice truck. GIVE US PICS!

 

[Sworn]

Good luck though sounds like a nice truck.

Thanks! Nice is kinda generous though! It's mostly black primer with some of the original blue paint showing. I spent a day "toning" it down a bit. It has a brush guard that HAD homemade welded light covers. (Think of your BBQ grill!!) It HAD the old style purple tinted windows. It HAD three rusted non-functional lights on the roof. The list goes on and on........The best part about it though is when I first brought it home. My wife looked out the window and said "What the hell is wrong with you??!!"

 

[Destroyer000]

The best part about it though is when I first brought it home. My wife looked out the window and said "What the hell is wrong with you??!!"

Some of those ARE the BEST trail rigs to come across seems like a decent deal... too bad those tires didnt come with it..

 

[Sworn]

too bad those tires didnt come with it..

Yeah, I sure wish they did!

 

[rangernotlifted]

i would sya **** it and give it to me, but seriously my truck sat for 10 well my 89 and it started perfect the first time my 88 just dont start

 

[predator]

sounds like a nice rig!! i get that response too when the truck and trailer pull in....

 

[chittybangbang]

My wife looked out the window and said "What the hell is wrong with you??!!"

I get that all of the time from my wife..and a lot of the time shes correct.

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

My wife looked out the window and said "What the hell is wrong with you??!!"

Definietly a good sign, but as a variable, you should drive home a 2008 Yoda TRD (or TURD as I call it) Tacoma home and see what she says. It will provide proof that women don't go for real trucks.

 

[Sworn]

Definietly a good sign, but as a variable, you should drive home a 2008 Yoda TRD (or TURD as I call it) Tacoma home and see what she says. It will provide proof that women don't go for real trucks.

I actually bought my truck so I wouldn't have to drive my 06 Mustang through a Chicago winter. No Toyota's here! She drives a little Chevy so she's not quite that bad!

 

[lil red]

id say uv covered it pretty well but i would deffinatley chang the tranny fluid, and the teansfer case and diffs while ur at it
CHECK THE BEARINGS
yu know theyve been in the mud
but sounds like a sweet deal
good luck

 

[MAKG]

If it's a 2.9L, check the cooling system.

Then check it again.

Cooling systems are the Achilles heel of these things.

Then recalibrate the speedometer. It's WAY off.

Then inspect the brakes, belts & hoses, front end, and U-joints and change ALL the fluids (don't forget brakes and clutch).

That's what I do with a new-to-me vehicle.

 

[Sworn]

Update! Things Done: Cap, Rotor, Plugs, Wires, New Negative and Positive Battery Cables, Fresh Synth Oil, Fuel Filter, New Heater Core. Belts and Hoses look good. Brakes look good. I just found out the alternator is bad so that will be the plan for this evening......