Locating a donor

[AcesHigh]

I’ve never tried to locate a donor vehicle before. Where do people normally look? Facebook marketplace? Craigslist? I looked at sites like copart, but the fees from a broker and shipping makes it a lot more expensive. Is it just a matter of being patient and continuing to look more locally?

I’m being pretty specific on the truck I want for the donor - 93/94, 4.0, 4x4, super cab, manual. Do I need to relax that? Donor will be for a 94 super cab 4.0, auto, 4x4 that I’m doing a auto to manual swap.

 

[Brain75]

facebook, craigslist, could even call a local tow truck company and offer to "beat the junkyard by $50" and sit back and wait (junkyard is typically by the ton - so they expect to get $180-250 from them, you could offer $300 and still be ahead.) also depends on what you need. If you want internal door panels and the such, that is 93/94 specific yeah... might consider a hybrid approach - look for the whole generation as a donor, but expect to source the 93/94 specific stuff from a junkyard.

 

[AcesHigh]

facebook, craigslist, could even call a local tow truck company and offer to "beat the junkyard by $50" and sit back and wait (junkyard is typically by the ton - so they expect to get $180-250 from them, you could offer $300 and still be ahead.) also depends on what you need. If you want internal door panels and the such, that is 93/94 specific yeah... might consider a hybrid approach - look for the whole generation as a donor, but expect to source the 93/94 specific stuff from a junkyard.

Thanks! I didn’t even think about the tow companies. I had thought of the hybrid approach and might lean that direction if I’m still searching in a month or 2.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Brain75 has some good advice.

but to narrow it down a bit... are you just wanting the drivetrain only? or do you want body or frame parts as well?

if it is drivetrain only, I believe 90 to 94 offer the same parts and even the same dash. that gives you a few more years of options. there might be a few differences but those can probably be swapped from your 94 if needed (sensors/ intakes etc)

I would use any option that requires a broker/ shipping cost as a last resort and only if it has all of what you are need and all of it is verified running/ works. other than that, keep an eye on the local classifieds, and even maybe not so local. worst case for shipping is you rent a uhaul truck and flatbed trailer and haul it home yourself.

If you just need a motor/ transmission or other major systems, but not the rest, motor only, transmission only front suspension only etc, it may be cheaper to find those in a junkyard and go from there.

AJ

 

[AcesHigh]

Brain75 has some good advice.

but to narrow it down a bit... are you just wanting the drivetrain only? or do you want body or frame parts as well?

if it is drivetrain only, I believe 90 to 94 offer the same parts and even the same dash. that gives you a few more years of options. there might be a few differences but those can probably be swapped from your 94 if needed (sensors/ intakes etc)

I would use any option that requires a broker/ shipping cost as a last resort and only if it has all of what you are need and all of it is verified running/ works. other than that, keep an eye on the local classifieds, and even maybe not so local. worst case for shipping is you rent a uhaul truck and flatbed trailer and haul it home yourself.

If you just need a motor/ transmission or other major systems, but not the rest, motor only, transmission only front suspension only etc, it may be cheaper to find those in a junkyard and go from there.

AJ

Thanks AJ. I’ll keep an eye out locally, which means within a 3 hour drive of me since I’m so rural. I just missed a 94 on Facebook marketplace with the 4l manual 4x4 super cab. $500 and it was gone in 4 hours. Guy never even responded to me. Just marked it sold. I have a trailer with brakes and brake controller. I just need to buy or make some ramps for it.

As far as what I want off the donor it’s a combination. I need a trans, drive shafts, bed, front glass if it’s good, and just various other parts, interior and exterior.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Thanks AJ. I’ll keep an eye out locally, which means within a 3 hour drive of me since I’m so rural. I just missed a 94 on Facebook marketplace with the 4l manual 4x4 super cab. $500 and it was gone in 4 hours. Guy never even responded to me. Just marked it sold. I have a trailer with brakes and brake controller. I just need to buy or make some ramps for it.

As far as what I want off the donor it’s a combination. I need a trans, drive shafts, bed, front glass if it’s good, and just various other parts, interior and exterior.

The drivelines are the same between auto and manual in those years, after the 47 (I'm rounding a touch) different transmissions that were behind the 2.8/2.9L they settled on the M5OD and the A4LD which are the same length.

But yeah, facebook, craigslist and towing yard auctions and sometimes even normal auctions... I'm on a handful of auction email lists and I see stuff that makes me go hmm every now and then... like the '98 V8 explorer last week that likely sold for $400...