Killed the '89 but i'm thinking of a '85 for a replacement

[Shoeboy]

Last sunday I rolled the Ranger and nearly killed myself, somehow I walked away. I managed to get a 1991 Dakota with the 5.2L auto, and I've been driving that for a week now, and I hate it. I was searching facebook because I was bored as hell and I found a 1985 Ranger with the 2.3L and manual trans. The body has a little bit of rust, but overall it looks to be in good shape. I'm going to take a look at it in the next few days. He's selling it for $1250 but I could probably get him down a little lower. I really hate this Dakota, so its only until I find another Ranger or something else I like (Explorer, BII, ect).

What are some problem areas on this year/gen of ranger and with the 2.3L what are some problem/trouble areas of it. I know its not going to be in as good as shape as my '89, but it has a gory death.

I know its a 2.3L but i'm not sure if its carbed or FI

I know its a 5 speed

I know its a standard cab but I'm not sure if its the long or short box.

My '89 was a good truck and it treated me very well for the short time I had it, I know the Gen1/Gen2 were very similar and should basically be the same overall, but my Ranger was an exception for so many rules becasue the guy I bought it from kept it in next to mint condition up until I bought it.

Heres a link to the facebook page, it might not work for most of you, but I'll give it a shot anyways

http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/listing.php?classified_id=5650359627

 

[kunar]

i think it looks like a decent deal, seems fairly clean. 112,000 km is about 70,000 miles which is pretty low. i would probably try to talk them down a little though. good luck, let us know if you buy it.

 

[MAKG]

I wouldn't touch a carbed RBV if I were you. There are four different 2.3Ls available from Ford at that period. They run the gamut -- FBC, MPFI, TBI, and the infamous turbo. Not all of these were used in RBVs.

If it's carbed, you can get a 1986 with a fuel injected V6 and run circles around it with about the same mileage....

 

[Shoeboy]

Ya, this engine would only be a temp until I get the 4.6L dropped in and wired up after I move to BC. The engine really doesn't bother me except for the time being I would prefer FI, but it may be one of theos things where I can't win.

 

[ZMan]

ouch man..you put all that work into it...I'm sorry to hear that. Glad you're alright though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Dunno about the EFI or Carbed Q, but I would say it looks like a shortbed. Should be a screamer with a 4.6. If the rest of it looks as rust free as what is shown it should be a good swap canidate, first gens in that shape are getting few and far between.

The only thing that would bug me is it is already on its second engine well before 70k miles.

 

[Shoeboy]

Meh, with what my plans are, if they're anything like what my last Ranger's was, There won't be much thats factory when I'm done with it. As long as the body is in good shape and it can last me until I move to BC and buy my parents Caravan, Thats all I need the engine to last.

 

[AllanD]

Have you considered keeping the rolled truck and just replacing the cab and bed?

Am I the only person on TRS that actually has a spare CAB for my truck?

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one with a spare frame



AD

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Meh, with what my plans are, if they're anything like what my last Ranger's was, There won't be much thats factory when I'm done with it. As long as the body is in good shape and it can last me until I move to BC and buy my parents Caravan, Thats all I need the engine to last.

The short lifespan of engine #1 may be a sign of abuse or neglect, if you are going to depend on it for awhile before you repower it that should be something to consider. If nothing else make sure you check over everything else really good, tranny, axle, steering and all that. Because if someone didn't maintain the engine properly those things will be hurting too, if nothing else it will give you more bargaining power if something is wrong.

 

[Shoeboy]

Yep, I'm going to meet the guy in 45 minutes. Allan, I bowed the frame, and I crushed the frame in on the passenger side pretty bad, then I also siezed the engine, and cracked the case to the transmission, so there was really nothing to keep. The only thing that survived was the drivers seat. Everything else is either borken, or non-usable due to damage or shouldn't be reused.

Ya, I know that an engine thats been rebuilt with such low milage has probably been a non maintained vehicle, but in all fairness, I am a(n apprentice) mechanic so repairs don't really bother me. Also, for what is available in Calgary, you pay big and get little, except on these little "shitboxes" where you can get a pretty good deal because they look like a shitbox but don't run half bad.

In either case, it doesn't hurt to take a look.

 

[Shoeboy]

Well...It looks like a bucket of crap, the guy that owned it before hand was a kid and spraypainted the interior, and quite poorly might I add. It is carburated and it doesn't have power steering, the seats are not original and they were poorly placed, and the steering wheel was replaced with a puny little 10" thing.

 

[Shoeboy]

Went out looking for Fords today, I found a 1999 F150 with 161000km on it with the 4.2L 5 speed. It has power locks, and i think it has power windows (if it doesn't i don't care either). Its the short cab with the highback bench seat, and its also a short box. It looks to be in pretty good shape, and its going for $6250, but I will be able to get them down, and then the trade in on the Dakota. Also, the check engine light is on because of a bad O2 sensor, appairently. If they don't fix it, I will be able to get them even lower, I will be able to do this at work, since I do work in a garage. Well, what do you guys think?

 

[kunar]

well it sucks about the ranger, sorry to hear it didnt work out. as for the f150, are you SURE its an o2 sensor? i wouldnt trust their diagnosis, have them fix it and clear the code, then test drive it and have it checked again. 73,000 miles isnt bad but i don thave any idea what full size trucks go for. is it 2wd or 4wd? std cab/short bed trucks look good, have always been my favorite....

 

[Shoeboy]

2wd, and i'm a mechanic, so the check engine light doesn't bother, me, if i can get $500 dropped off the price it would be worth it for the time being, the only thing i'm going to be out otherwise is my time, and what ever parts cost, but it does have an exhaust leak so i'm going to use everything I can to get the price down. I'm out $10 000 on the ranger so I'm loking for something that will last and thats cheap, even if i have to put some work into it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I would take it to a different shop or pull the codes yourself if you can do it yourself, it seems the first thing alot of people throw at a vehicle when a CEL comes on is a complement of 02 sensors. I don't know how the V-6 trucks are set up but my 5.4 has 4 of the little buggers.

I like my '02, but there are some other things you need to check out. Make sure the cruise recall has been done, the way your luck has been going I don't think it is worth risking a bonfire. Second is the bottom of the doors and tailgate like to rust due to a stupid design. It is sad that my Ranger has less rust on the bottom seams than my F-150 with nearly three times the milage. Mine goes on the 13th to get the rust fixed on the 3 doors it has started on, I caught it early and was quoted about $50 a door to fix, they have had alot of them come in with it. My uncle let his '01 go too long and they only way to fix it was with new doors, so he just traded on a '06.

Here is a link that shows a really bad case of it, mine is still mostly bubbling under the paint, they also have a link to the TSB on it in that thread.
http://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299190&highlight=door+rust
f150online.com is a pretty good forum for these trucks too BTW.