What to Do

[BlackBII]

Okay now that mine and everyone elses brain is hurting because of the plane and conveyor bit, I decided to focus elsewhere.

I was looking to buy a new ranger for my Fiance as a christmas gift, like an 01 or newer, 4.0 4x4 extended cab and swap on a BL and some wheels and BFG's, but I saw a '97 Ranger for much cheaper with a 4.0 4x4 and extended cab and I have a D35 and 7.5 with 4.56's and lockers and a 5 1/2 lift just sittin in my driveway that i could swap on.....

Should I buy a new one (more money, nicer truck, less lifting capabilities) or use my setup on a slighty older(less money, more lifting, lockers, gears) one?
4.0 ohv VS 4.0 sohc
ttb VS ifs
new VS older
7.5 VS 8.8

Suggestions? Advice?

Or should I buy a new one, let her drive it, then restore the BlackBII legacy?

 

[Jspafford]

If a woman is going to drive it I would personally just buy a newer truck that is road worthy. Not saying that older trucks are not worth anything, but with a newer truck you will not (or should not) have to do as much maintenance right off. I like the SOHC 4.0 a lot more than the OHV. The newer auto's are 5 speeds too. Faster off the line.

I bought my fiancee a 1999 with the 3.0L and now wish I had waited and gotten a 2001 (like I had and sold) with the 4.0L and ext cab. The reg cab is too damn small.

 

[BlackBII]

If a woman is going to drive it I would personally just buy a newer truck that is road worthy. Not saying that older trucks are not worth anything, but with a newer truck you will not (or should not) have to do as much maintenance right off. I like the SOHC 4.0 a lot more than the OHV. The newer auto's are 5 speeds too. Faster off the line.

I bought my fiancee a 1999 with the 3.0L and now wish I had waited and gotten a 2001 (like I had and sold) with the 4.0L and ext cab. The reg cab is too damn small.

Ok, thats what I was also thinking, being that she can't even drive a stick, lol, I guess 5 1/2 inches on a TTB and lockers combined with a woman is a bad idea, lol.
I just wanted the truck also, lol.
Thanks for the advice, a second opion really helps see better.

 

[JoshT]

I'd do the later, but then I haven't got a fiancee (or girlfriend) either.

Hard for me to say cause if I was to do it over again I wouldn't have gotten my 99. I had both the option of both the trucks you listed above. I'd have taken the 97 if they would have come down on the price (bank wouldn't finance for what they wanted). If ont the 97 I'd have gone with the 01 for the SOHC motor, but it was few thousand more than I was willing to go.

 

[BlackBII]

Yeah I've been leaning towards the SOHC, Is it really that much better? Like a few thousand dollars more? What about the rest of the truck? What if I can find an Fx4? Worth it?

 

[Jspafford]

The SOHC is really the only 4.0 I had driven and only because it was in the truck I bought. Back in June of 2003 I bought a 2001 Ranger, ext cab 4x4, auto, all the bells and whistles for 12K, that was one hell of a deal on a 2 year old truck.

I drove a 4.0OHC the other day, testdriving it for Heather and It seemed gutless. It may be because it only had a 4-speed and not the 5-speed they used with the SOHC. But I told the salesman to call me when he had a SOHC for me to look at.

 

[exbass94]

My Ranger (4.0 SOHC, ext cab, 4x4, 5r55e auto, 4.10 gears) HAULS ASS. I'm VERY satisfied with the acceleration of it. My Explorer has the 4.0 OHV, 4x4, auto (A4LD) and 3.27 gears and it's pretty gutless, but I'd say it's almost entirely because of the 3.27 gears. The engine in it has been extremely trouble-free for all of it's life. (bought it with about 20k on it, now has 137k). My Ranger only has 16k on it now, but I have no doubt it'll be just as reliable as the OHV.

 

[lil red]

if she is gonna(or you) wheel it
than go for the older one
but if its gonna be a hiway ride
go for a newre truck

i like the older trucks better but i also like the mud
hope i helped

 

[86ford]

buy her the newer truck and keep your damn hands off it as long as you can fight the urge! i wouldent make it 3months before the tinkering begain snowballing into better tires for"traction" they just happen to be the biggest tire i could stuff into the wells. then the body lift would happen first time she leaves for a week... i better get married to a redneck...... remember it is hers!

86

 

[BlackBII]

buy her the newer truck and keep your damn hands off it as long as you can fight the urge! i wouldent make it 3months before the tinkering begain snowballing into better tires for"traction" they just happen to be the biggest tire i could stuff into the wells. then the body lift would happen first time she leaves for a week... i better get married to a redneck...... remember it is hers!

86

Damn! I knew it, I just didn't want to admit it. Okay I'll buy the new one and not touch it. I'll just keep drivin my old pos B2 and lift/lock it

 

[alaskan155]

could always do a frame swap(93-97) and put the lockers and stuff on the 01....

 

[97ranger4x4]

So you have the axles seperate for the Gen 3 correct? Because a 4.0 will have the 8.8 behind it and the D35 in front stock. looks like you are pulling everything from your B2. How much will it take to get that road worthy again?

 

[BlackBII]

I could do a frame swap, great suggestion, thanks......but I think i should finish the Fiat, the '68 Fastback, the 327 powered 280z, the cafe racer xs1100, the opel gt and the B2 collection, lol

So you have the axles seperate for the Gen 3 correct? Because a 4.0 will have the 8.8 behind it and the D35 in front stock. looks like you are pulling everything from your B2. How much will it take to get that road worthy again?

Yeah the axles/lift/shocks are seperate, I pulled it all off the black B2 cause the frame was jacked, I have another '90 B2 thats really nice, probably going to swap the lift/axles under that..... and a 4.0.....That won'y be till spring, need to clear out my garage