what to look for

[watertownbob]

new to the site.
What kind of things should I be looking for. I might buy a ranger in the morning. Its a 88 w/ a 2.9 4wd and manual trans.

The owner said the odometer reads 10xxx.x how could I tell if it has 210000 miles on it or 110000?

Any advice

Thanks Bob

 

[JohnnyO]

You really can't tell unless the previous owner tells you or you get a Carfax.
That said, a lot of people have Rangers with over 200k on them and they still run fine.

 

[watertownbob]

Talked to the owner, he needs to change the steering coulum. I guess he has been starting it with a scewdriver.

How long do you guys think it would take to pull a coulom out of a junked ranger and intall in the one I plan on buying?

Bob

 

[Crunchy]

I guess he has been starting it with a scewdriver.

You sure he "legally" owns it? Didn't just borrow it with the universal "screwdriver key"?

 

[BlackBII]

You sure he "legally" owns it? Didn't just borrow it with the universal "screwdriver key"?

I'm wondering the same thing...


And you probably don't need an entire steering column, just the lock cylinder.

 

[JohnnyO]

Friend of mine has a 96 Ranger with 230k on it and it starts just fine without the key.

 

[Shran]

A busted ignition cylinder doesn't mean it's stolen... I have legally owned a bunch of cars that you can start without the key. Ford ignition cylinders just suck.

 

[watertownbob]

No not stolen. He has tital for it. He said the sheet metal in the area that the lock cylinder goes into is all bent out of shape.. This is the way he bought it.

Must have been stolen at one time. Or mabey a repo not shure...

Just wondering if its resonable to expect to have the repair only take a few hours. taking out two coulums and installing one good one.


Also he had duel exaust installed. Is the O2 sensor something to be concerned about after duel exaust is installed?

Bob

 

[Psychopete]

Also he had duel exaust installed. Is the O2 sensor something to be concerned about after duel exaust is installed?

Since the 2.9L only had one o2 sensor, I would be really curious on how it was ran. I have what appears to be dual on mine, but I have headers and they still go into a collector (y-pipe) and into a muffler that has dual outs. It's a "fake" dual exhaust.

Pete

 

[baxtej44]

i have a 1988 ford ranger xlt


83k miles on it (grandpa bought it brand new, overcharged the hell out of me, but it's in great shape, and i love him)
have spent about a grand in repairs, but, it's pretty nice.
really look into it.
have an auto shop price out the parts you will need.
take a look at the rotors/pads
have the most auto intelligent person you know look at everything under the hood, tell them to be meticulous

be overly cautious. it's better safe than sorry.

 

[Rico]

Check that coolant level. Those 2.9 cylinder heads are known warp and a low level of coolant is one of those signs.