Which Ranger should I buy?

[Snoranger]

I've found out that the First Gen rangers with the 4.0 engines with 5 speeds are the best trucks to own so from 1991--1994. This can be 2 wheel drive or 4X4 modals.

1#
Here are a few reasons One is the 1989--94 late meaning it has to have the old Dash from 1989 Is the Heater core change out 20 mins for 1989--1994 heater core swap

The 1995 up Are piles of Scrap when it comes to being easy to do a heater core swap 1995--2099 it will take you 8-10 hours to change out and put back together. That is the one true reason why to turn these trucks into Baha trucks.

2#

In 1995 the 4.0 got the EGR put back on the rangers In 1990-1994 the 4.0 did not have the dreaded EGR valve. 1996 OBD2 came out How can I say this for all you people that hate check engine lights. 1996 ranger and up to 2014 You fart wrong in the seat the check engine light comes on. When you invite more government into your car or truck means more money out of your pocket. Plain and simple.

1990--1994 rangers with the 4.0 was the best bang for your dollar. One problem that all rangers had was that pile sh-t automatic transmission that Ford put in their rangers.

The Automatic was built for the 2.3 it was not meant to pull heavy loads and It was made for the small Mazda B2000 trucks the ford Mustang got the better trans as in the AOD That was a better towing and hauling transmission.

The 5 speed that came in all the years of Rangers where Gate the 4.0 Had the best 5-speed trans.

3#

1989--92 had the better body lines Plus they had drip rails above the door Easier to work on I own 5 of them 1990 ford Ranger extended cab XLT 4.0 auto 1991 ford ranger extended cab 4.0 5 speed 1991 ford explorer 2 wheel drive 4.0 5 speed 1994 4x4 4.0 5 speed 1996 2 wheel drive 2.3 5 speed extended cab.

The 1996 ranger has been the biggest pile I've ever bought spent well over 3500.00 to get it to pass smog An it won't New engine all new smog parts The 2 modules one for the EGR and the #2 downstream O2 sensor will not clear Put 5 of each on this truck finally bought a ford EGR valve for 325.00 It still Not cleared So I tell you all stay away from OBD 2 car's and trucks Buy new trade than in every 3-5 years stay in debt

There’s SO much wrong with this entire comment that I’ll just list what I agree with...
The M5OD is the better trans to have.

 

[Dirtman]

There’s SO much wrong with this entire comment that I’ll just list what I agree with...
The M5OD is the better trans to have.

It is quite a baffling manifesto of lunacy ain't it...

 

[Snoranger]

It is quite a baffling manifesto of lunacy ain't it...

 

[JohnnyO]

I would take the 95 V6. More power and the 3.0 is indestructible as long as it has oil and coolant in it. My first Ranger was a 99 3.0 5 speed 4x4 and granted it was slow but it was pretty good on gas for a 4x4, which is why I got it.

 

[Dirtman]

The 3.0 is indestructible as long as it has oil and coolant in it.

I find that to be the weak link in most engines...

 

[JohnnyO]

I find that to be the weak link in most engines...

As a wise old TRS'er said many years ago, the 3.0 is an old-school lump of iron that doesn't make enough power to hurt itself.

 

[Frozen_Ice]

Show pics of both so we can see the condition

Sight unseen, I say the 2.3L 4x4

 

[Snoranger]

I find that to be the weak link in most engines...

That’s why the 2.9L has such a bad reputation... along with being underpowered.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

I've found out that the First Gen rangers with the 4.0 engines with 5 speeds are the best trucks to own so from 1991--1994. This can be 2 wheel drive or 4X4 modals.

1#
Here are a few reasons One is the 1989--94 late meaning it has to have the old Dash from 1989 Is the Heater core change out 20 mins for 1989--1994 heater core swap

The 1995 up Are piles of Scrap when it comes to being easy to do a heater core swap 1995--2099 it will take you 8-10 hours to change out and put back together. That is the one true reason why to turn these trucks into Baha trucks.

2#

In 1995 the 4.0 got the EGR put back on the rangers In 1990-1994 the 4.0 did not have the dreaded EGR valve. 1996 OBD2 came out How can I say this for all you people that hate check engine lights. 1996 ranger and up to 2014 You fart wrong in the seat the check engine light comes on. When you invite more government into your car or truck means more money out of your pocket. Plain and simple.

1990--1994 rangers with the 4.0 was the best bang for your dollar. One problem that all rangers had was that pile sh-t automatic transmission that Ford put in their rangers.

The Automatic was built for the 2.3 it was not meant to pull heavy loads and It was made for the small Mazda B2000 trucks the ford Mustang got the better trans as in the AOD That was a better towing and hauling transmission.

The 5 speed that came in all the years of Rangers where Gate the 4.0 Had the best 5-speed trans.

3#

1989--92 had the better body lines Plus they had drip rails above the door Easier to work on I own 5 of them 1990 ford Ranger extended cab XLT 4.0 auto 1991 ford ranger extended cab 4.0 5 speed 1991 ford explorer 2 wheel drive 4.0 5 speed 1994 4x4 4.0 5 speed 1996 2 wheel drive 2.3 5 speed extended cab.

The 1996 ranger has been the biggest pile I've ever bought spent well over 3500.00 to get it to pass smog An it won't New engine all new smog parts The 2 modules one for the EGR and the #2 downstream O2 sensor will not clear Put 5 of each on this truck finally bought a ford EGR valve for 325.00 It still Not cleared So I tell you all stay away from OBD 2 car's and trucks Buy new trade than in every 3-5 years stay in debt

I'm only going to address your comments on the body.

1) '89-'92 is second generation, not first. Yes, Wikipedia says that in '89 the first generation ranger only got a refresh that included an all new interior, new sheet metal from the A pillar forward (The creases are in the same place, but it's a new fender), a new rad support, and new headlights and grill. However, around here, most people throw a fit when the '89-'92.
2) The sheet metal was changed in '93. That's the year that eliminated the drip edges. While the third generation had an all new body, the interior was carried over, and then changed in '95 (I think).
3) Gen1 ('83-'88) never had the 4.0. It had an assortment of 4cyl engines (2.0, 2.3, and a couple of diesels), and a 2.8 V6. In 1986 the 2.8 V6 was dropped, and replaced with the 2.9. Gen2 ('89-92) started off with the 2.3 (diesels and the 2.0 were long since dropped), and the 2.9. In1991, the 3.0 joined the lineup, as did the 4.0. I'm told that in 1991, you could choose the 2.3, the 2.9, the 3.0 or the 4.0. In 1992 the 2.9 was dropped. I'm sure somebody will correct me on the engine availability years if I'm wrong.

 

[Snoranger]

I'm only going to address your comments on the body.

1) '89-'92 is second generation, not first. Yes, Wikipedia says that in '89 the first generation ranger only got a refresh that included an all new interior, new sheet metal from the A pillar forward (The creases are in the same place, but it's a new fender), a new rad support, and new headlights and grill. However, around here, most people throw a fit when the '89-'92.
2) The sheet metal was changed in '93. That's the year that eliminated the drip edges. While the third generation had an all new body, the interior was carried over, and then changed in '95 (I think).
3) Gen1 ('83-'88) never had the 4.0. It had an assortment of 4cyl engines (2.0, 2.3, and a couple of diesels), and a 2.8 V6. In 1986 the 2.8 V6 was dropped, and replaced with the 2.9. Gen2 ('89-92) started off with the 2.3 (diesels and the 2.0 were long since dropped), and the 2.9. In1991, the 3.0 joined the lineup, as did the 4.0. I'm told that in 1991, you could choose the 2.3, the 2.9, the 3.0 or the 4.0. In 1992 the 2.9 was dropped. I'm sure somebody will correct me on the engine availability years if I'm wrong.

Close... The 4.0 first came in 1990 and was only available with the automatic. ??

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Close... The 4.0 first came in 1990 and was only available with the automatic. ??

Thank ya, sir!

 

[racsan]

I had a 93 supercab 4.0 , 4x4, manual transmission. my favorite vehicle of everything ive ever owned. Had it 14 years, longest Ive had anything. Ive had (1) 3.0 -only automatic ranger Ive ever had, no 1st gear and had to start out in 2nd the shift to D above 30 mph. Didnt have it on the road long (but I still have the engine & trans) Ive had (3) 2.3 4 cyl trucks. 1st one was really good, 2nd one had compression issues and wouldnt get over 17 mpg, 5th gear wasnt useable due to lack of power (and it was a 3.73 rear gear with 195/75/14 tires) Current truck has been good, its 2.3 is in good shape and I tossed the 3.45 rear axle for a 4.10 , I highly recommend a 4.10 with a 4 cyl. Next truck Im thinking of a ohc 4.0 but Id really love to find a 97 4.0 ohv 4x4. cant be many of those left that aint wore out or rusted out. some day Id like to build a 302 V8 sleeper street machine. across the street from me there sits a late 90’s ranger reg cab stepside with the hood popped, hasnt moved in the last year, good candidate for a repower, I may have to ask about it someday.

 

[91stranger]

So you don't advocate the purchase of any vehicle made in the past 25 years because you couldn't fix an EGR valve?

Or spend a day doing a heater core swap.... Not every vehicle needs a heater core swap if they are taken care of.... That's a lot of personal preferences.... This will be a buyer preference for sure.... Sounds like it will be a daily driver so the 4 cyl would be the better choice as the 3.0's get terrible gas miles unless you have the 5 speed and even then its worse than most v8's lol. Although being a 4 cyl leaves you wanting more power.... Yeah its a fun truck until you are trying to merge onto 80mph freeways with dumb drivers that aren't getting over and you got the pedal to the floor struggling to hit 70..... At least the 3.0 has some get up and go. Don't let the haters tell you it's slow, most of the time it's just a stretched throttle cable which means yes it will be slow when full throttle gas pedal is only opening the throttle body half way....

 

[Ranger_XL]

I had a 93 supercab 4.0 , 4x4, manual transmission. my favorite vehicle of everything ive ever owned. Had it 14 years, longest Ive had anything. Ive had (1) 3.0 -only automatic ranger Ive ever had, no 1st gear and had to start out in 2nd the shift to D above 30 mph. Didnt have it on the road long (but I still have the engine & trans) Ive had (3) 2.3 4 cyl trucks. 1st one was really good, 2nd one had compression issues and wouldnt get over 17 mpg, 5th gear wasnt useable due to lack of power (and it was a 3.73 rear gear with 195/75/14 tires) Current truck has been good, its 2.3 is in good shape and I tossed the 3.45 rear axle for a 4.10 , I highly recommend a 4.10 with a 4 cyl. Next truck Im thinking of a ohc 4.0 but Id really love to find a 97 4.0 ohv 4x4. cant be many of those left that aint wore out or rusted out. some day Id like to build a 302 V8 sleeper street machine. across the street from me there sits a late 90’s ranger reg cab stepside with the hood popped, hasnt moved in the last year, good candidate for a repower, I may have to ask about it someday.

Would you be interested in a 1995 Ranger XL Super Cab (Extended Cab) with a 4.0 OHV V6, 5-speed, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive? It is essentially immaculate and has 152,100 miles.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

The owner of the 2.3 I4 4×4 was having second thoughts of whether to part with the truck, albeit yes, I did purchase two trucks after all: I purchased the abovementioned 3.0 V6 4×4 and another F-250 Super Duty XL with the 6.8 Triton V10 and ZF6, manual transmission.

I'm sorry, did you say "manual transmission"?

We're friends now.