Thinking about getting another ranger...

[dangerranger83]

Well as the title says Im thinking about getting another Ranger. Im told that it is an 85 though the VIN doesnt show a 5 but instead a 3 and the door sticker has been painted over (and ways around that too). But anyways they want $1500 for it, $500 down ans $40 a week until paid off, since it is a buy here pay here place but may go get a loan so that I can start getting some credit.

As you can see stuff has been done to it such as the thermostate relocation mod but in the process, they didnt hook the heater core back up meaning no heat (probably leaks if thats been done). None of the emissions is hooked up but is there and if is hooked up, doesnt work. Started up easily and ran great but has a high idle that wouldnt go down meaning it must be being forced to stay high. Has 3.08 gears, 5 speed TK5 tranny. Looked under it and the floor boards look fine. The bed wheel wells are now just starting to rust and I when I felt the back sides, I didnt feel any bondo or body filler. Exhaust shows alot of soot but didnt show signs of burning oil.

If I did get her then I would end up doing the duraspark mods to her but see how the mileage is with what it currently has. Kinda regret getting rid of that other duraspark dizzy now but then again who knows if I get her or not.

Some work will have to be put into her but I expected that and may try to talk down the price a bit.

I could get one for less and ya it is 4wd (my dads old one off my bro in law) but it has been getting terrible fuel mileage and dont want another 4wd ranger, would just end up doing the same stuff to it as I did mine and all I want is a commuter one that may end up getting some work done to it one day but nothing extreame.

Basiclly asking, what do you all think about it from what I have said and from the pictures and the video.

Heres a video, audio sucks but showing that it runs high idle, miles, etc....

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[jhammel85]

Do it! It looks pretty clean for how old it is

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Go an E Fan conversion! Looks like a pretty decent truck too me.

 

[4.0B2]

i'd like to find one that's a 4.0/md05/8.8/d35 for a dd..but, i like my b2 to much!

 

[dangerranger83]

My cousin says dont do it, its a peice of shit. But he doesnt seem to know that I know how to work on these. Most people would take a look under the hood, see all the wires and run. Me, I see it as a bunch of BS stuff and rip it all out.

Now I dont think that I saw a computer wiring harness but I do remember seeing the wires to the new solenoid that have the inline fuses so it must be there plus when revved up, it didnt hesitate on me, not even being just started up either.

Also forgot to say that the windsheild does have a crack, but its right on the passenger side windsheild wiper and its not in the line of view either.

In the next few days will be seeing about a loan and whatnot, adding up what little bills that I do have and go from there.

This truck will become a winter project due to it doesnt have heat, wiring and emissions stuff on it looks sketchy, dont like driving 2wd vechicles (trucks worse) in the snow. Will pull it into the gararge for the winter take the engine out if the height of the garage will allow for it (home made ceiling/storage area above it) and go through the engine putting new seals, gaskets, etc...on it.

One thing that I did forget to say is that it doesnt have the infamous 2.8 lifter tick to it, first one that I have heard that doesnt have it (but yet I do love to hear the slight one that is on my truck).

Above all want it to get me around without having to drive my current truck as much and get better mileage (pray for that one) then what my DD is getting.

One thing I didnt check is, how is the E fan all hooked up and what makes it turn on...should have look for the sensors and whatnot but thats small details I guess.

 

[superds]

If really what you want is better mileage, I would hold out and get a later model with EFI and a four cylinder (with manual transmission). You can sometimes find those around here for $500-$1000 with very little to no rust. The one you showed looks ok but I still think for mileage it's not going to be that great.

 

[dasfinc]

I live fairly close in IL, and you can get a far nicer truck for the $... you can get a 93+ 2wd/5speed for sub $1000 EASILY in chicagoland. Buy Here/Pay here is such a scam, they probably bought that truck at auction for $200, PLEASE don't waste your money.....

I bought my 98 back when it was a 4 banger for only $800!!!!!!!

 

[dangerranger83]

True but I want a gen 1 though. And being 2wd, I can put almost any engine/tranny combo under the hood. Could make it a turbo ranger or a diesel ranger later on down the road or maybe a v-8. I had a 2.3 FI in what I have now and it had no guts at all and no power, could barrley get to 55mph and that was running in a 4 speed 3.73 geared truck, all factory too.

The truck didnt come from an auction, that I do know. It used to be own by a set off people that dont live far from me and traded it in for a car. I know a guy who knows the owner and says that he can talk down the price for me and I will also point out all the stuff that it needs too, they cant play me for dumb on these trucks, I just know way too much about them.

I have lifted a truck and made it for off roading now to have one for lowering and street use.

 

[dasfinc]

I wouldn't pay more than $500 for that thing is all else i have to say I suppose...

If you are in the market for one, shop around, don't buy one just because its local/easy.

 

[dangerranger83]

Another reason for buying such an old one is this...insurance cost. Im paying under $50 a month for what I have now and look what I have done to it. This truck would probably cost less or the same.

 

[dasfinc]

Another reason for buying such an old one is this...insurance cost. Im paying under $50 a month for what I have now and look what I have done to it. This truck would probably cost less or the same.

Insurance cost really doesn't play a role in cars worth less than $5000 honestly unless its a 'boy racer' car and your 25 or younger (I'm 24 so I'm still eating higher rates)

My insurance is $73 a month for my 98 V-8 ranger, and my 97 Explorer...

 

[dangerranger83]

Ya but I just love the look of a gen 1 ranger plus want a winter project too and something that I want to say lacks electronics that make it run also.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The 2.8 is no power house some guys get lucky and the computer/emission stuff still works. The high idle could be just a stuck choke cam but wouldnt spend much money fixing the smog crap and just duraspark it. I see the throttle motor wires are there so it is running on the computer it could be a bad ECT of just out of adjustment. If you pull the codes and get a 11-1-11 it is probably something mechanical. The noise it is making sounds air pump related to me there is just alot of stuff to look at on the early EEC-IV with the feedback system.

 

[dangerranger83]

No the noise you hear is the shitty audio that my device picks up. But in person, sounded nice and no bad noises at all. I dont need a power house, but want more then a 2.3 can give.