so im looking at buying an 86 ranger 4wd looks pretty clean. auto v6 2.9l the guy that owns it is a mechanic. what do you guys know about the auto in them and the 2.9? all input is appreciated!!
86 ford ranger
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It's 26 years old. Probably older than you...
Uhmmm the age was obvious i know the age. Thats irrelevant to my questions. I dont care about age.
at the oldest I would go for a mid 90's which ever year that r134a was mandated ( 94 or 95?) that way keeping the a/c going will be easy.
but then again I'm in TX and a sucker for A/C
but then again I'm in TX and a sucker for A/C
You need a 4WD pickup now? You just sold a pickup that was newer than this recently.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
Mechanic owned doesn't mean much. It's still a 26 year old truck and will need work.
It sounds like you have $1000 burning a hole in your pocket. Save it or buy another Saturn if you have to get something.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
Mechanic owned doesn't mean much. It's still a 26 year old truck and will need work.
It sounds like you have $1000 burning a hole in your pocket. Save it or buy another Saturn if you have to get something.
Get a newer one with the 3.0l the 2.9 is an old inefficient engine that will always leak oil and is underpowered. The 3.0l is much longer lived and trouble free. I have seen far more cracked heads than blown head gaskets on the 2.9l. As for the a4ld un less it has been replaced the later years had upgraded internals that were much more reliable. I would pass and keep looking.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Uhmmm the age was obvious i know the age. Thats irrelevant to my questions. I dont care about age.
The age is extremely relevant to your question. At 26 years old all bets are off as far as trends, what's been repaired, what needs to be repaired again, wiring and vacuum lines getting brittle, etc. The age is exactly what you should care about, and given your lack of ability to repair even minor issues without a lot of hand holding, you'd do well to stay away from something this old that may need a lot of care to keep it on the road.
Uhmmm the age was obvious i know the age. Thats irrelevant to my questions. I dont care about age.
The age is extremely relevant to your question. At 26 years old all bets are off as far as trends, what's been repaired, what needs to be repaired again, wiring and vacuum lines getting brittle, etc. The age is exactly what you should care about, and given your lack of ability to repair even minor issues without a lot of hand holding, you'd do well to stay away from something this old that may need a lot of care to keep it on the road.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
You need a 4WD pickup now? You just sold a pickup that was newer than this recently.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
The 2.9 actually rarely blows head gaskets. However, it is notorious for cracking heads, which is even worse.
The A4LD is indeed pretty hit or miss. I have 171k on my Explorer's A4LD, but it was the last year for that trans with all the upgraded parts. If the fluid hasn't been changed routinely, I wouldn't count on it lasting long.
You need a 4WD pickup now? You just sold a pickup that was newer than this recently.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
The 2.9 actually rarely blows head gaskets. However, it is notorious for cracking heads, which is even worse.
The A4LD is indeed pretty hit or miss. I have 171k on my Explorer's A4LD, but it was the last year for that trans with all the upgraded parts. If the fluid hasn't been changed routinely, I wouldn't count on it lasting long.
sometimes you guys flat out amaze me. i dont need a truck its just there and its clean its had a lot of stuff done to it, and no for a grand the age isnt very important. what matters is how mechanically sound it is. how its been cared for ect. and pop rivet i ask a lot of questions but i probably know more than a lot of people on here. i can rebuild an engine and transmissions. i ask questions to get other points of view and insight. and lastly it obvious you guys dont buy a lot of 1000 cars. some of the stuff that has been said is flat stupid. its a grand its not going to be a new car its a beater. it gets 20mpg roughly and is 4wd . i dont need a truck i just need a reliable source of transportation. so its really sad that a few of the people on here always have to throw snark comments in and what not. sure would be nice to just have a conversation. and if anyones aware its not eassy to find a good running mid 90s for 1200 or so usually theyre beat up or have a ton of miles. i know the a4ld is weak and the 2.9 cracks heads but on a 26 yr old truck its probably not very relevant , probably already been fixed.
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
You need a 4WD pickup now? You just sold a pickup that was newer than this recently.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
The 2.9 actually rarely blows head gaskets. However, it is notorious for cracking heads, which is even worse.
The A4LD is indeed pretty hit or miss. I have 171k on my Explorer's A4LD, but it was the last year for that trans with all the upgraded parts. If the fluid hasn't been changed routinely, I wouldn't count on it lasting long.
True, they warp or crack the heads, at which point the HGs are getting replaced anyway. World Products had an updated head that was supposed to not crack, but I don't think it's offered anymore.
Either way...26 year old truck + 4WD + questionable engine and trans = money pit for the OP.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
You need a 4WD pickup now? You just sold a pickup that was newer than this recently.
The A4LD transmission can be great or unreliable. Same for the 2.9L engine. They are known for blowing head gaskets, though I'm sure they have been done at least once on a 26 year old truck.
The 2.9 actually rarely blows head gaskets. However, it is notorious for cracking heads, which is even worse.
The A4LD is indeed pretty hit or miss. I have 171k on my Explorer's A4LD, but it was the last year for that trans with all the upgraded parts. If the fluid hasn't been changed routinely, I wouldn't count on it lasting long.
True, they warp or crack the heads, at which point the HGs are getting replaced anyway. World Products had an updated head that was supposed to not crack, but I don't think it's offered anymore.
Either way...26 year old truck + 4WD + questionable engine and trans = money pit for the OP.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i dont need a truck its just there and its clean its had a lot of stuff done to it
Reason enough to not buy it. You have laid out your financial situation on this board many times, and based on that the last thing you need to dump money into is a 26 year old 4x4 toy.
Quote:
it gets 20mpg roughly and is 4wd . i dont need a truck i just need a reliable source of transportation.
Who told you it gets 20 MPG? The guy selling it to you? I bet you will be lucky to see 16 MPG with a 2.9 auto 4WD.
Every time a $1000 turd catches your eye, you post about it here, and every time you get honest opinions about the vehicle, it turns into the same hissy fit.
i dont need a truck its just there and its clean its had a lot of stuff done to it
Reason enough to not buy it. You have laid out your financial situation on this board many times, and based on that the last thing you need to dump money into is a 26 year old 4x4 toy.
Quote:
it gets 20mpg roughly and is 4wd . i dont need a truck i just need a reliable source of transportation.
Who told you it gets 20 MPG? The guy selling it to you? I bet you will be lucky to see 16 MPG with a 2.9 auto 4WD.
Every time a $1000 turd catches your eye, you post about it here, and every time you get honest opinions about the vehicle, it turns into the same hissy fit.
i had family who had one actually. they get about 16 city 20 hwy you can even look it up. they dont do bad on gas. my financial situation is fine. im doing very well. ive said that several times as well. its not a hissy fit. i dont appreciate the snark smart [censored] comments! i respect that you guys think its not a good buy and for the most part i agree my fiance does like it , so i told her id ask on here. i agree that age does not do good. but the most important thing is the shape its in . not the miles or age . they're all factors but the shape of the vehicle is number 1. i haven't thrown any fit. im just telling all the internet run at your mouths that i don't appreciate it, there is a mature respectful way to have a conversation and some of you need to learn it. i ask a question and i get smart mouth answers. everyone on here is supposed to help one another which i try yo do but some people on here go around being rude and my guess it its just because in the real world some of yall don't have the gonads needed to stand up to people but over the internet its easy for you and makes you feel good. that's what i think and how i feel. so back to the discussion at hand yes io realize the truck is old. and the 2.9 is so so. ill stay away from it. o and for all the smart mouths who think im getting all excited and think the money is burning a hole in my pocket. ive looked at 16 cars this week. i haven't bought anything so it must not be burning to bad. little piece of advice though get educated and ask about a given situation before assuming you know the facts. remember what they say about assuming?
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i had family who had one actually. they get about 16 city 20 hwy you can even look it up.
15-18 MPG is more like it. 20 MPG would have been optimistic for a new one on the highway. 26 years later in mixed driving, forget about it averaging that. I owned a Cologne V6 Explorer, and while it did break 20 MPG on the highway, that certainly wasn't its typical fuel economy. 15 was typical.
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my financial situation is fine. im doing very well. ive said that several times as well.
You have also made posts saying $1500 or whatever is the max you can spend on a vehicle. There's nothing wrong with that, but you should be realistic about it and spend it wisely, not just buy a 4x4 toy "because it's there." If you lost your job tomorrow, could you still blow that money on a truck, or would you wish you had saved it?
I think people get frustrated when they try to give you advice and just get a fit about "using some tact" and "I don't want to hear about..." Not everything you take offense to is meant to be mean, it's just being realistic. You ask about 20-30 year old cars like you're going to the dealer to buy a new one. All we're trying to tell you is that at that age, you don't know what the vehicle will be like! Each and every one is a gamble. It's not in Consumer Reports.
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its not a hissy fit. i dont appreciate the snark smart [censored] comments! i respect that you guys think its not a good buy and for the most part i agree my fiance does like it , so i told her id ask on here. i agree that age does not do good. but the most important thing is the shape its in . not the miles or age . they're all factors but the shape of the vehicle is number 1. i haven't thrown any fit. im just telling all the internet run at your mouths that i don't appreciate it, there is a mature respectful way to have a conversation and some of you need to learn it. i ask a question and i get smart mouth answers. everyone on here is supposed to help one another which i try yo do but some people on here go around being rude and my guess it its just because in the real world some of yall don't have the gonads needed to stand up to people but over the internet its easy for you and makes you feel good. that's what i think and how i feel. so back to the discussion at hand yes io realize the truck is old. and the 2.9 is so so. ill stay away from it. o and for all the smart mouths who think im getting all excited and think the money is burning a hole in my pocket. ive looked at 16 cars this week. i haven't bought anything so it must not be burning to bad. little piece of advice though get educated and ask about a given situation before assuming you know the facts. remember what they say about assuming?
That looks like a hissy fit to me. You are the only person who complains so much about the input they get here.
i had family who had one actually. they get about 16 city 20 hwy you can even look it up.
15-18 MPG is more like it. 20 MPG would have been optimistic for a new one on the highway. 26 years later in mixed driving, forget about it averaging that. I owned a Cologne V6 Explorer, and while it did break 20 MPG on the highway, that certainly wasn't its typical fuel economy. 15 was typical.
Quote:
my financial situation is fine. im doing very well. ive said that several times as well.
You have also made posts saying $1500 or whatever is the max you can spend on a vehicle. There's nothing wrong with that, but you should be realistic about it and spend it wisely, not just buy a 4x4 toy "because it's there." If you lost your job tomorrow, could you still blow that money on a truck, or would you wish you had saved it?
I think people get frustrated when they try to give you advice and just get a fit about "using some tact" and "I don't want to hear about..." Not everything you take offense to is meant to be mean, it's just being realistic. You ask about 20-30 year old cars like you're going to the dealer to buy a new one. All we're trying to tell you is that at that age, you don't know what the vehicle will be like! Each and every one is a gamble. It's not in Consumer Reports.
Quote:
its not a hissy fit. i dont appreciate the snark smart [censored] comments! i respect that you guys think its not a good buy and for the most part i agree my fiance does like it , so i told her id ask on here. i agree that age does not do good. but the most important thing is the shape its in . not the miles or age . they're all factors but the shape of the vehicle is number 1. i haven't thrown any fit. im just telling all the internet run at your mouths that i don't appreciate it, there is a mature respectful way to have a conversation and some of you need to learn it. i ask a question and i get smart mouth answers. everyone on here is supposed to help one another which i try yo do but some people on here go around being rude and my guess it its just because in the real world some of yall don't have the gonads needed to stand up to people but over the internet its easy for you and makes you feel good. that's what i think and how i feel. so back to the discussion at hand yes io realize the truck is old. and the 2.9 is so so. ill stay away from it. o and for all the smart mouths who think im getting all excited and think the money is burning a hole in my pocket. ive looked at 16 cars this week. i haven't bought anything so it must not be burning to bad. little piece of advice though get educated and ask about a given situation before assuming you know the facts. remember what they say about assuming?
That looks like a hissy fit to me. You are the only person who complains so much about the input they get here.
Find something newer if you want a reliable DD.
I got rid of my Saturns because they were not flat out reliable for my long commute. They were not bad, but there were surprise repairs and added costs. They were 1996 and 2000. 1986 is a weekend toy at best.
I got rid of my Saturns because they were not flat out reliable for my long commute. They were not bad, but there were surprise repairs and added costs. They were 1996 and 2000. 1986 is a weekend toy at best.
Whatever. Im done with this conversation. Me putting. People. In their place isnt a hissy fit. And yes im not spending a lot on a car because i dont want a car payment before i am out of college. If i lost my job i could still afford. To buy a car. I seen several people take offense to the way they're. Talked to on here. I ask for advice i dont ask to be told that i cant fix stuff so i shouldnt bother or anything like that. I realize its all because everyone one here "cares" so much but really the topic wasnt my ability. Which i have plenty of. Its all the stupid. Nonesense from people that needs to leave this board all the rude stuck up jerks ruin this place. Theres a lot good people on here but the select few bad ones really suck. Now im done i am not furthering this stupid conversation.
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Buy a Crown Vic, Grand Marquis or a Town Car. They are cheap, reliable, and get decent fuel mileage (better than this Ranger).
Do you want to tinker and add value? What potential does this vehicle have to have value added to it? Could you whittle the seller down and add sweat equity? If you put $300 into it would it be worth $300 more?
Mechanic owned should mean run away screaming.
Mechanic owned should mean run away screaming.
Avoid the 1986 like the plague. The 2.9 wasn't a especially good engine and at that age parts probably will be a PITA to find.
Look for a 1994 and up. Decide if you want good gas mileage (2.3 or 2.5 2wd 5-speed) or power (4.0) Stay away from the 3.0 because while it is durable, you get the worst of both worlds, bad gas mileage and no power. How do I know? I own one.
If you want 4WD, go with the 4.0 (later versions, that's the only choice.) If you can find a supercab, all the better.
They are tough little trucks and are extremely dependable if maintained well. I like them enough that I've owned four of them and frankly think that it was shameful that these trucks were not refined and updated and were allowed to wither until they were discontinued. Not everyone wants a full size truck. Best of luck with your search.
Look for a 1994 and up. Decide if you want good gas mileage (2.3 or 2.5 2wd 5-speed) or power (4.0) Stay away from the 3.0 because while it is durable, you get the worst of both worlds, bad gas mileage and no power. How do I know? I own one.
If you want 4WD, go with the 4.0 (later versions, that's the only choice.) If you can find a supercab, all the better.
They are tough little trucks and are extremely dependable if maintained well. I like them enough that I've owned four of them and frankly think that it was shameful that these trucks were not refined and updated and were allowed to wither until they were discontinued. Not everyone wants a full size truck. Best of luck with your search.
We have a neighbor (real genius) who just bought a used 1986 Ranger and even though it is a southern car (no salt, just a little rust) the vehicle is a piece of junk, auto transmission is slipping, engine stalls when hot, burning a LOT of oil, ect. Previously this same guy had a early mid 90s Chevy S10 which was decent then he sold it.
He isn't mechanically inclined except for basic oil changes...so he's probably spent at least 10 times what he spent to buy the piece of [censored], maybe 300 bucks?
Honestly how do these "trends" get started? I noticed that I've seen a number of people buying these exact junkers. Monkey see monkey doo? LOL
He isn't mechanically inclined except for basic oil changes...so he's probably spent at least 10 times what he spent to buy the piece of [censored], maybe 300 bucks?
Honestly how do these "trends" get started? I noticed that I've seen a number of people buying these exact junkers. Monkey see monkey doo? LOL
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