Another truck question...1987 Ranger 4X4

["Turbo-T"]

Found one of these for sale...reg cab, short bed, 4X4, locking front hubs, manual shifted transfer case. Truck has a 2.9 liter V6, auto on the floor, it has a repaint but does have some rust starting to bubble...you gotta look hard for it. It looks like this truck does not have the independent front suspension. Truck has 123k on the odometer.

Asking price is $1900. Book value is $1825 according to Kbb.com. I think I might see if he'll take $1600-$1700 for it.

Are these pretty good little trucks? How good are the 2.9's? Anything these trucks are notorious for?

 

[usetaboost]

Seems like a little much, is it even FI? It would have to be pretty clean and at least have the FI motor.

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

maybe it is just me, but everyone of the mid-late 80's Rangers front wheels are tilted out like they have weak front end parts....

I am not a fan of them, but lots are running around.

 

[GNeric]

Major thing to watch out for is the A4LD trans. They like to strip out the input shaft in the overdrive planet. The servos also harden up and the apply is usually lacking and burns the bands. If you do buy it, start saving up for a trans over haul. Not that expensive compared to the 4.0 litre version. Those torque converters are more expensive than the "lesser" versions.

 

["Turbo-T"]

I just got off the phone with the owner. He says before he bout it 6 months ago the former owner had the trans rebuilt and then he had new tie rod put on it, and a new fuel pump and sender. $1800 is his lowest dollar.

I think it's fuel injected. I forgot to ask but I thought by 86 they were all FI models.....????

 

[benoitthegr8]

The A4LD is a major POS.... I ended up replacing the trans in my old ranger 3 times...

 

["Turbo-T"]

I think this truck has the C3 automatic trans.

 

[GNTIM]

From what I saw in the auto repair industry, the Ranger was the better bet from the domestic small p/u trucks. As long as it was maintained. Chrysler auto trans were bad 4 years.