Rangers.

[FastDoc]

These seem like popular trucks amongst us Chinariders. It seems at least 4 of us have one of these humble solid little vehicles. :D

[Weldangrind]

That's funny, I was just thinking the same thing when I saw Reveeen post about his Ranger. Several of us seem to think alike; China bikes, Rangers, CT-70's...

That might not be a good thing. 8O

[waynev]

Is 2011 the last year of them?, i've heard their done.

[katoranger]

I have had 3 of them. 1986 2.3L 4x4 5spd. 1986 2.9L auto 4x4, and my current 1988 2.3L 2wd 5spd.

I liked the 86 with the 2.9 the best even though the body was shot and the trans slipped. Former city maintenance truck. Well worth the $400.

The 86 2.3L truck never ran well. I got it for free. Again body was done.

The 88 has no rust, low miles, nice interior, AC :lol: and start everyday.

It has never failed to get someplace in the 18 months I have owned it. Paid $750 with new tires and working AC. Spent less than $200 in maintenance. Including a new $75 battery.

Cheap transportation. About equal to 3 car payments.

Downside. Its slow. Cramped with 2 car seats in there. Only gets 22mpg.

[frostbite]

I've had 5 Rangers - '83, '91, '97, '99, and an '03 Sport Trac (same thing IMHO). I liked them all.

The '83 was a fancy XL (SRW and _contoured_ bench seat!) my first vehicle and it was probably washed/waxed more than all the others put together. Dad and I shoe-horned a 3.8L V6 into it. Actually, we did two of them. The first v6 didn't end well :oops:.

The '97 was my first 'new' vehicle. A black flareside short-box with a 5 speed manual and 60 series tires. Nicest handling truck I've every owned but man what a rough ride.

[katoranger]

Yes, my 88 is the XLT with the contoured seat. The other two were base models.

The ride is rough in the 88 two. Unless I put some weight in the back. It smooths out with about 300lbs on it.

[FastDoc]

Mine's a 1992 4X4 4.0 automatic extracab SLT model, a top of the line one with all options best I can tell. I bought it at a used car lot for $2,500. It had 93,000 miles. I serviced it compleatly, new shocks, tires, steering box, a killer sound system from CL, and some sundry repairs. I think I have maybe $3,500 into it. I drive it less than 3,000 miles a year and I expect it will last me the rest of my life.

It's name is Tonto and it's plate says SLOWDOC. :D

It gets about 16MPG, but it's only used in bad weather and to tow the boat or ATV or bikes. It's not a DD.

[katoranger]

So its gets an annual oil change then. I have only put about 12K on my ranger in the past 18 months. Drive the van or car more since they can fit everyone.

[FastDoc]

So its gets an annual oil change then. I have only put about 12K on my ranger in the past 18 months. Drive the van or car more since they can fit everyone.

Yup once a year. It's due this weekend. I like the Rangers because they are inexpensive, easy to repair for the most part, solid simple and very heavily constructed.

I bought mine under urgent circumstances. It was soon after my wife left and she took the new Dakota. The winter hit and I was concerned for snow that my 1989 Ford Probe GT would not get me to work through. I sold my GT ( :cry: ) and bought the truck in a hurry. I'm glad that I didn't get burned, and it's been a good truck.

[Weldangrind]

I've had 5 Rangers - '83, '91, '97, '99, and an '03 Sport Trac (same thing IMHO). I liked them all.

The '83 was a fancy XL (SRW and _contoured_ bench seat!) my first vehicle and it was probably washed/waxed more than all the others put together. Dad and I shoe-horned a 3.8L V6 into it. Actually, we did two of them. The first v6 didn't end well :oops:.

The '97 was my first 'new' vehicle. A black flareside short-box with a 5 speed manual and 60 series tires. Nicest handling truck I've every owned but man what a rough ride.

Frostbite, what was the donor vehicle for the 3.8? Son of Weldangrind and I have access to a free 3.8 in a Taurus Wagon, and I think it will fit, despite the distributor location differences, etc.

[katoranger]

So its gets an annual oil change then. I have only put about 12K on my ranger in the past 18 months. Drive the van or car more since they can fit everyone.

Yup once a year. It's due this weekend. I like the Rangers because they are inexpensive, easy to repair for the most part, solid simple and very heavily constructed.

I bought mine under urgent circumstances. It was soon after my wife left and she took the new Dakota. The winter hit and I was concerned for snow that my 1989 Ford Probe GT would not get me to work through. I sold my GT ( :cry: ) and bought the truck in a hurry. I'm glad that I didn't get burned, and it's been a good truck.

The guy I bought mine from had it on craigslist for months. Nobody would even look at it. Too old. I was happy to find an older one in good shape for what I consider near free. I looked at newer ones in far worse condition for twice the money. Parts are cheap and easy to get and I can keep driving it for many years. Maybe keep it another 10 and I can give it to my oldest for her first vehicle. :)

[Weldangrind]

Including Reveeen, that's five so far.

Son of Weldangrind bought a one-owner '91 extended cab 2WD XLT. It's a really sweet truck with no accidents and no rust. The original owner loved his truck, and we have a stack of receipts for new parts that he recently installed. It came with the stock 14" alloy rims, a pair of identical 15" rims and tires in an attempt to get better highway mileage and a pair of body colour steel rims with good snow tires.

The truck has a few items that will be removed, like a plastic box liner, a visor and aluminum running boards. Anybody interested?

[frostbite]

Frostbite, what was the donor vehicle for the 3.8? Son of Weldangrind and I have access to a free 3.8 in a Taurus Wagon, and I think it will fit, despite the distributor location differences, etc.

The first 3.8 was from an LTD II. The second from the remains of a Mustang ('86?).

The biggest problem we faced was the heater box housing (needed to be cut back about 35-50%) and the oil filter (conflicted with the steering box). We tried using one of those remote mount oil filter brackets but there wasn't enough room between the steering box and the block to mount the spin-on filter adapter:

http://www.wolfgangint.com/_images/parts/2117006.jpg

At the end of the day I used a single piece of hose and some brass fittings to bypass the filter altogether and run the oil inlet directly to the outlet. Nasty piece of work but I ran that truck for ~4 more years.

There was also the flange joining the firewall to the floor that need a light 'massage'. The truck was originally a 4 speed manual and I didn't want to even try building something to mate the stock tranny to the engine so I simply re-used the auto transmission that came with the 3.8L.

[FastDoc]

Including Reveeen, that's five so far.

Son of Weldangrind bought a one-owner '91 extended cab 2WD XLT. It's a really sweet truck with no accidents and no rust. The original owner loved his truck, and we have a stack of receipts for new parts that he recently installed. It came with the stock 14" alloy rims, a pair of identical 15" rims and tires in an attempt to get better highway mileage and a pair of body colour steel rims with good snow tires.

The truck has a few items that will be removed, like a plastic box liner, a visor and aluminum running boards. Anybody interested?

I kinda liked the running boards. I might be interested. do they interfere with ground clearance?

[katoranger]

Lets see. rwd 3.8Ls. Mustang, capri, thunderbird, ltd, cougar.

If it was my truck I would be going for a turboed 2.3L. Not sure if I will keep this truck long enough to make a change. Plan to upgrade to an F150 or F250 supercrew in a few years.

[frostbite]

My 'dream' truck has always been a Ranger diesel. They're like finding gold around here.

I still think the conditions are ripe for a ~125HP 4cyl diesel ranger. A usable truck you can get an actual 40MPG from .

[FastDoc]

I've seen only one diesel ranger on CL here in the past year. $500, needed a fuel pump injector or something. That part was as rare as 15 inch d/s tires for a Zong so I never looked at ti.

[Reveeen]

Frostbite, what was the donor vehicle for the 3.8? Son of Weldangrind and I have access to a free 3.8 in a Taurus Wagon, and I think it will fit, despite the distributor location differences, etc.

I *think* if you LOOK at the Taurus motor it lacks the engine mount pads required for a fore-aft installation (at least the last one I looked at did).

[davidsonsgccc]

well my ranger is a red 94 model supercab. 4 liter 5speed. every end of this truck has taken abuse some my fault some others but it keeps on going . i will park this thing anywhere and i bet it makes new car owners cringe. if i didnt know the owner i wouldnt let my wife park next to it. :lol:

[katoranger]

My 'dream' truck has always been a Ranger diesel. They're like finding gold around here.

I still think the conditions are ripe for a ~125HP 4cyl diesel ranger. A usable truck you can get an actual 40MPG from .

I found one locally, but the guy wanted $5500 for it. :roll: I can buy alot of gas for that.

Was looking at a JDM mazda diesel and transmission to swap into my ranger. Still parts are all over in japan and not the US.

Allen

[Weldangrind]

Frostbite, what was the donor vehicle for the 3.8? Son of Weldangrind and I have access to a free 3.8 in a Taurus Wagon, and I think it will fit, despite the distributor location differences, etc.

I *think* if you LOOK at the Taurus motor it lacks the engine mount pads required for a fore-aft installation (at least the last one I looked at did).

I think you're right again. I'll check for mounting pads before I accept the car.

[Weldangrind]

Including Reveeen, that's five so far.

Son of Weldangrind bought a one-owner '91 extended cab 2WD XLT. It's a really sweet truck with no accidents and no rust. The original owner loved his truck, and we have a stack of receipts for new parts that he recently installed. It came with the stock 14" alloy rims, a pair of identical 15" rims and tires in an attempt to get better highway mileage and a pair of body colour steel rims with good snow tires.

The truck has a few items that will be removed, like a plastic box liner, a visor and aluminum running boards. Anybody interested?

I kinda liked the running boards. I might be interested. do they interfere with ground clearance?

Not terribly. These shots are at 2WD stock drive height, plus one leaf in the rear.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/Weldangrind/RunningBoardBack.jpg (http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/Weldangrind/?action=view&current=RunningBoardBack.jpg)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/Weldangrind/RunningBoard.jpg (http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/Weldangrind/?action=view&current=RunningBoard.jpg)

[Reveeen]

I'm not saying you can't get "creative" with the engine mounts, but I am sure it won't be a bolt-in.

At some point the work exceeds the value.

A 4" cab lift + Cummins BT4 3.9 liter out of a 80's Grumman P-30 step van, or a 4 cylinder Perkins

[katoranger]

The cummins 3.9L would be my engine of choice.

Check out this one with the 5.9L.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzN5aO-mo_g


Reveen, you mentioned you have 55 series tires on your ranger. What size tire were you running? Is you truck lowered?

[waynev]

My 'dream' truck has always been a Ranger diesel. They're like finding gold around here.

I still think the conditions are ripe for a ~125HP 4cyl diesel ranger. A usable truck you can get an actual 40MPG from .

Good News, the 2012 ranger has been revised and there's 2 diesel engine options, Bad news, they will not be for sale in north america as their about 90% size of an F-150 and Ford thinks that it will hurt the F-150 sales if they sell them here.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1050522_all-new-2012-ford-ranger-not-coming-to-the-u-s-heres-why

[katoranger]

Why not drop the F150 and just sell the Ranger as the replacement. Most F150 owners don't haul anything, but people either. People who really want to work buy the F250. That or offer the larger diesel as an option in the F150. Oh wait. It probably doesn't pass emissions here, but is fine in every other market. :roll:

[waynev]

Why not drop the F150 and just sell the Ranger as the replacement. Most F150 owners don't haul anything, but people either. People who really want to work buy the F250. That or offer the larger diesel as an option in the F150. Oh wait. It probably doesn't pass emissions here, but is fine in every other market. :roll:

But Ford's F-150 is "The best selling truck", i think their scared to lose that status, i agree that the new ranger would satisfy most F-150 owners needs, and i love the looks of that 2012 ranger, oh well, big oil probably doesn't want the best selling pickup truck to actually have a fuel efficient diesel engine, that would really cut into their bottom line, lol.

[katoranger]

But it would help with CAFE standards in the US.

[Reveeen]

I'd be "game" to try a 3 53 Detroit in there, but you would probably end up picking the cab up 6", and doing some serious re-work of the front suspension.
Sorry, just gotta love he sound of a 2 cycle diesel!

I'm sorry the tires are 215/60/15, as I said, bought for my Subaru (turbo legacy). Truck is not lowered.

Ranger Diesels:
http://www.ford.co.uk/Commercialvehicles/NewRanger/Powertrain

[2LZ]

Uh oh.....I guess a multiple S10 owner just walked into the wrong bar..... :oops: 8O

[FastDoc]

When you walk into a bar in Kalifornia you best check out the clientle thoroughly before you sit down if you know what I mean...

[katoranger]

I tried an S10 and was not happy. Lots of power with the 4.3, but it was expensive to maintain. It did well on gas though. Almost the same as my 2.3L

Allen

[FastDoc]

I prefer the Vortec to the 4.0 Ranger engine. A little more power, and much better gas mileage, and it is also very reliable and durable.

I think though that the S-10 drives and sits more like a car, and I prefer the comfort and upright sitting position of the Ranger to the S-10. Both good vehicles though.

[katoranger]

The S10 is definately more car like. My ranger can handle a heavier load in the bed, but it rides like a truck. Overall for driving I prefer the ranger.

Too bad the both GM and Ford discontinued the small trucks. The Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado etc are all big trucks now. No real reason to buy one when a full size gets the same mileage.

At least there is plenty of used rangers out there yet.

[FastDoc]

I'd really like a small 4WD diesel extracab with a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission.

Big enough to carry a bike trailer or a small boat and 3-4 people and get 35+ MPG.

[Barnone]

I went to look at the Ranger to replace my 2002 Tacoma since the Ford is the only small truck left for sale in the US but backed off when I found that the 4 cylinder tow rating was only 2200 lbs. Funny because it had a receiver hitch from the factory. Guess I'll keep the Tacoma.

[katoranger]

The 4cylinder is not really a towing engine. The 4 cylinders were setup for economy with fleet sales in mind.

[Barnone]

My 4 cylinder Tacoma is rated at 3500 lbs. Pulls my John Deere diesel 4x4 tractor just fine. Book says the tractor weights 1850 lbs, bush hog maybe 500 lbs. trailer another 500bs.
Don't want to pull it long distance but 30 miles is ok

My wife's 2010 Outback is rated at 4000 lbs in Europe and in the USA at 2700 lbs.
Why?
"straight from the subaru rep's mouth :

The US has more lawyers." :D

[Reveeen]

The US has more lawyers.

Yes......to obtain you warranty transmissions.

[katoranger]

It may tow it, but I wouldn't want to have something fail on the trailer.

My last jeep was rated for 5K. 3K was fine with little stress. It could stop it and pull that load all day.

No way I would tow 4k with a subaru. Expensive transmission repair waiting to happen.

[Barnone]

You ever hear of trailer brakes?

[katoranger]

Yes, but still that is alot of weight for a lightweight vehicle. I know you are not traveling cross country with that load and probably keep you speeds reasonable.

Most people do not know how to use trailer brakes or do not even have them. The read that tow rating and immediately buy a trailer that weighs right at the limit. The don't use equalizer hitches or follow tongue weight ratings.