To Buy or Not to Buy

[Byrd]

Ok so heres the deal, found a nice looking 91 Ford Ranger xlt 500 bucks is what I'd give him, guy says only bad thing is blown head gasket. Now granted, I havn't been out there to see if there are chunks missing out of the head or if it is just an old blown gasket so I cant say if its going to be an easy fix or a nightmare. Basically I'm calling on you all to see if there are any known weak points in the gaskets themselvs or if the heads are pron to cracking in certain spots or what the deal is, dude says its moveable so I'm guessing its pretty much a sitting duck but I figured for the price and all thats been done to it recently it could be a very cheap economical vehicle once fixed.

Here's the link to it so yall can make a better educated decision:
http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/824539418.html

Thanks in advance for any and all info,
-Byrd

 

[Mark_88]

BUY IT!~

That truck looks like it is in great shape...the head gaskets can blow between three and four (most likely) and is an easy fix if the head isn't cracked...and they tend to crack around the valve seats but can be ground out if not too bad...but have the head magnafluxed and if it's scrap you can replace them fairly inexpensively...

How many Klicks on the bottom end would be a deciding factor as to whether to swap the whole engine or have a rebuilt head put on the short block (bottom end if you're not familiar with the term). They are great trucks and the 2.3 can last a long time if treated right...and you might be fortunate to just have to replace the gasket...

If you do the work yourself, see if the pistons move side to side as that indicates worn rings...meaning the bottom end needs work too...

Otherwise, it'd be a great project for a motor install and you'd have a keeper that should last you a long, long time...

 

[Byrd]

Thanks for the info and the positive re-enforcement!

Now, all I have to do is find out If they will allow it on base and how to get it here! I am very excited... Still need to look at it before I start throwing greenbacks at him... Any other weak points I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks Again!

-Byrd

 

[Mark_88]

When you get a chance to see it. check the inside thoroughly...as in pulling back/up carpets to check for rust...and check the firewall for weak spots...they usually rust out around the upper corners of the firewall and windshield drain...but you're in HI and they probably never see salt (other than sea salt) and it could be in immaculate shape bodywise...

If this is the original owner then you can find out about maintenance history...but if the mileage is low enough and the body is clean it could be worth it regardless...there is not much to them and replacing all fluids would be a good place to start once you get to work on it...

 

[Byrd]

Ok, I just got back from looking at the truck... it is so straight and the paint looks perfect. It might have been repainted but the floorpans look great and so does the bed, both inside and underneath. The motor starts and runs, doesn't tick and the oil looks good on the dip stick, so its eather very new oil or the coolant hasnt made it to the bottom end yet! which is a little re-encouragement. The truck has 164 thousand on it and has normal road grime and leaks for its age. looks like it has a very small oil leak but there is no puddle of anything under it, past or present and its been sitting now for almost 3 months.

Do the clutches in those last long if they are babied? Because if they normally go past 100k I'm probably going to throw a new one of those in too if i can get my hands on one for not an arm and a leg (im in Hawaii).

Thanks for all the input guys.
-Byrd

 

[Mark_88]

The clutch in my first Ranger went at just over 300,000 km...if you don't ride it they last long...my Tempo clutch went at 380,000 Km and I owned that from day one...drove it for 14 years...

Looks like it could be a good catch though...the oil could have recently been changed...did you run the engine for very long and then check the oil? Blown head gaskets don't always result in coolant in the oil if they happen to miss the water jacket passages...just interferes with the compression and detonation of the fuel since there is a leak through to the other piston...

 

[Byrd]

Wow, sounds like they can live quite a while if your not too mean to them. I'm glad to hear that. Means I can probably wait to do that untill I replace the whole thing with a t-5!

Didn't let it warm up a little, I just ran it for a short burst to make sure everything turned and just how bad it was blown. (I didn't want to push the little thing into submission before I even got it home)There was deffenitaly oil deposites in the coolant overflow reservoir but the coolant in the radiator appeared clear with no oil 'water marks' floating on top... could mean absolutely nothing but It seems fairly promissing.

Just got the VIN not too long ago so I'm going to bust out the books and see what it was when it was born, primarily what color it was and just what if anything else has been changed.

Time to order a port grinding kit!

-Byrd

 

[Mark_88]

I ported the head on mine myself too...still not sure if it improved anything because I haven't driven it in four years...it runs good but I have an issue with the carb where it won't stay running if I open the butterfly...probably needs a new carb...

Hope there's no surprises in the search...it looks good but not even sure if that color was a stock color...mine is an 88 and it is sortof deep brown originally...I've seen that color on newer Rangers but can't recall any of that vintage...but I haven't seen everything yet...

 

[Jimmeh]

I've seen a couple of gen ones in that color running around here. None in that good of shape, though.

 

[Byrd]

Well, I decided to let the guy sit on it for another day or so while I figured everything else out I needed to on my end, Safety Inspection (hard to get done when it don't run), Insurance, Registration, and The tow. Found out just today that I can register it through the State of Hawaii as a Non-Op vehicle and not need a current safety inspection or insurance and they'll let it on base like that, WHEW! ... pretty sweet.

So I'm going to call the guy tomorrow and see how bad he wants to get rid of it.

Wish me luck!

-Byrd

Ps. Forgot to look at the door tags to see what color it was supposed to be... oops.

 

[Byrd]

Well, I am now the proud owner of my Second ranger! WOO! Got it for $650... a little more than I wanted to pay but I do have to remember that I AM in Hawaii... Beaters here go for a grand so I did ok I think. Will be in the shop Saturday, hopefully getting torn into! Pics soon to follow!

-Byrd

 

[Mark_88]

Good stuff! Hope it turns out to be just a head gasket and you're driving it shortly~!