Replacing Cooling System and Timing Belt - questions

[dtmaxwell]

Hello - I'm close to buying a 1997 Ranger with the 2.3L that needs some serious maintenance - high miles, few records/receipts, low price. The first project I plan to do is replace the cooling system and while I'm at it, the timing belt.

I've searched for answers to a bunch of questions and couldn't find them so I'm hoping for some guidance:

1) do any vendors or parts stores sell a cooling system "kit" with hoses, radiator, water pump, included? If not, I can piece it together myself.

2) are there any brands to look for or to avoid for water pumps and radiators? Any difference between online vendors like RockAuto and Advance Auto Parts, NAPA, or my local parts stores?

3) do you have to remove the dash to get to the heater core in a 97 Ranger? If so, can I do any preventative maintenance while I'm replacing everything else? Can I flush the core - is there any special type of additive to use to clean it out?

4) is there a better brand to use for the timing belt and tensioner?

Thanks in advance!
Dan

 

[RedRanger1991]

I got all of mine at Oreillys.As far as I know there are no kits.water pump $19,radiator $100,and timing belt was whopping 8 dollars. I think the tensioner ran 20 something bucks.Took all of an hour to swap it all.I didnt do the heater core,if it aint broke dont fix it.

 

[modelageek]

on 95+ you have to pull the dash to change the heater core. rockauto is a good place for parts and if you are getting a bunch of them the shipping is very reasonable. I am not adverse to buying lower priced parts for my 99 ranger. however if it is a part that is labor intensive I usually get a good one so I dont have to worry about it. I would only use a motorcraft tstat on these engines becuase they work the best. rock auto has a motorcraft waterpump for $58 and an ac/delco for $42. I would get the best timing belt possibe

 

[pocket-rocket]

Don't go cheap on the heater core. Been there, done that on my wife's old 95 T-bird. Go cheap if you want if you live in a warm area, but if it gets cold at all I would advise going to the dealer and choking up $100. Heat is well worth it in the cold and cheap cores don't have as many fins and suck bad. That's why the new one I have is on the shelf and not in my truck. The old one might leak a little coolant, but at least I have heat.