Posted: Yesterday 5:19:26 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Silverbulletz06][Edited]
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Need little truck to HD and garbage dump run and use as second car. I do not need a 5500-series to tow 50' yachts with. Found a guy selling a 2000 4.0 5spd. Body looks in good condition. Surface rust on frame, will need to be worked on. Cheap enough that I don't care too much, but would like some help from anyone who has had one. Aside from shackle and strut mounts, anything I need to check? They seem stupid reliable and plenty are still running around. |
WTF is up with this bullshit anti-bayo lug crap. Was there a group of irrate japanese guys bonzai charging disabled school children and puppies that I wasn't aware of?
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I have a 94 ranger. Had it since 96. Its a 5 speed with the 4 cylinder. It only has 165,000 miles on it. i had a timing chain put in last year. Had a windshield put in it today. Wouldn't start when I went to leave. Bad alternator. Getting it replaced now. Had a clutch put in probably 20 years ago. Other then that just breaks battery and tires. Been a good backup ride for a long time. |
The 4.0 is a good engine and the M5OD is a pretty solid transmission. I still have my 03, it is a yardwork truck and garbage hauler. More like yard ornament I guess , but it's super nice having something you can reach over the bed when needed. It can sit for half a year and it fires right up. It has about 180k on it, my dad had just under 300k on his 96 when he traded it in, probably close to 150k on his 2012.If you buy it, clean and grease the slide pins on the brake calipers. And check that the hose on the PCV valve isn't chaffed through, I replaced mine with a piece of fuel line. No need to pull the metal hose part. |
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The one I had (170k) had a bad head gasket. I just filled it up with water occasionally and it ran until I sold it to a buddy. He drove it for a while and parked it for a few years. He put a battery in it and sold it to someone else. (Hg issue was disclosed) It also had an abs light I couldn't figure out. But all I do was replace the abs sensor. I bought it for 750. Sold it to Buddy for 500. He sold it for 1250.00 |
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As long as there's no undercoating hiding any rust, sounds like you found a rare one that wasn't driven in the winter much. I'd like to find one like that. Would be a great little truck. |
Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.
"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
| Snag it. You can't swing a dead cat out here in the forest without smackin one. They are everywhere. More than the old Nissans and Toyotas combined. One reason I traded my '17 onefiddy eco phaser bomb for a new '21 danger Ranger FX. |
Political correctness is a devious weapon designed to silence those whose arguments cannot be refuted.
Embracing the "Progressive" American democratic party is akin to volunteering your time to erect the gallows you will one day swing from.
Embracing the "Progressive" American democratic party is akin to volunteering your time to erect the gallows you will one day swing from.
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| I have a 2002 with 129,000 and the 4.0 auto… interior looks like new silver paint is still intact it has a few bumps and bruises but running strong… I let my wife use it to make Lowe’s and HD runs… currently have new control arms and ball joints ready for installation as all the boots on the ball joints have disappeared and a brake line kit to stay ahead of the game. |
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Make sure the transmission fluid is at the proper level. I bought one for $200 years ago gave it to my nephew. Fluid was low and it melted a critical plastic part in the 5 speed due to lack of that sweet Mercon 5 |
Who cares what she thinks? My cat thinks licking his asshole is fun, he's obviously not too bright so I'm not too concerned about what his opinion on gun control is.~AIMLESS
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That is the ideal Ranger. I've owned three OHV 4.0s and they are great engines. All three still on the road, one had over 250k and another almost 400k. No typo there - the near 400k one was a 91 Explorer with manual transmission. The biggest problems they have at this age are failing plastic vacuum lines, and many have leaking lower intake gaskets. In many cases the intake manifold bolts just need to be retorqued. Valve cover leaks are also common and you'll know if it's leaking. What a great smell. People will say that the 4.0 cracks heads but I never had a single problem with any of them. If you ask me it was a better engine than the Jeep 4.0 - and I've also owned one of those for comparison. |
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I have a 2003 4.0 5-speed manual with 222,000 miles on it. It's old enough to drink. It has never failed to start or left me stranded. In my opinion, they are one of the best pickemup trucks ever made. I prefer to drive it over my current generation manual Tacoma. The powertrain in the Ranger is vastly better and it is much more fun to drive. |
| I have a 2001 Ranger with 83,000 original miles ,that I bought from my hunting buddy. It was his 80 yo Dads , only used for around the house. I bought it for my 80 yo Dad to use because he couldn't climb into his F150. It was in great shape and I got it back from Dad when he passed. 2 months later wife drives to store and wrecks. $6000 in repair to get it back to normal. Now I'm wanting to sell it for a down payment on a newer SUV. |
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Originally Posted By DKUltra: What is the best year/engine if you're looking for old school. Something that you can do most maintenance yourself? Carbureted? Man you have to go way back in the Ranger to get something carbureted. Not even worth it. The EFI systems in these trucks are stupid simple and will continue running with quite a few sensors totally disconnected. Last year of any carbureted V6 was 85. Everything went EFI in 86 and the only holdout was the base model 2.0 I4 that iirc was dropped in 89. Even the carbureted engine options sucked and were computer controlled. |
, but it's super nice having something you can reach over the bed when needed. It can sit for half a year and it fires right up. It has about 180k on it, my dad had just under 300k on his 96 when he traded it in, probably close to 150k on his 2012.