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Newbie looking to revive 1988 ranger


MossCovered

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Vehicle Year
1988
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Ford Ranger
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hi everyone. Just scored a 4wd ranger for dirt cheap. Thought i should ask what to look for before i determine if truck is salvageable. Owner didnt know much about it. Was her husbands. Sat probably 14 years. Heard the frame is known it be weak, so will be pounding it with needle scaler tomorrow to see if i find holes. Fuel pump appears to be seized
 


ericbphoto

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Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
Welcome to the forum ! We look forward to hearing more about your truck.
 

Josh B

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1993
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Ford Ranger
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4.0 V6
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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
That much to start out with is more than some Ranger fans had, most especially the 4WD part.
My first Ranger(an 87 2WD) was given to me by someone I'd never even met, he just wanted it gone. Seems he'd gotten it somehow up north and driven it(with his wife and baby) to Nashville, in pursuit of a Physics degree at Vanderbilt.
I went by there to see if maybe there was anything hopeful about it ( I'd been told it wouldn't start, and had no brakes). The key was in it, after digging around under the hood awhile and cleaning the ground cable at the starter, it started. I got in and drove it home(leaving my ragged 80 Chevy LUV at the curb), using the gears to brake, and hope the lights changed.
The next two months it was up on jackstands while I chipped away at the salt damaged frame and body, repaired the rusted leaky gas tank with some kind of Fix-a-Flat for gas tanks, replaced the shocks, and a rusted off brake line he'd attempted to fix with a stretch of rubber hose and clamps. I came to believe he'd gotten into a tight spot from that, with his wife and baby onboard, and was why he'd "just wanted it gone".
I liked the fella, he was an intelligent young man, just not a mechanic. I went by there after a time, my LUV had given up the ghost, and I was hoping to get it legal before Thanksgiving, cause i was wanting to drive it to Oklahoma for that, and sure to his word, he handed me the signed title.
I drove that truck for the next 3 or 4 years over 6 states, in spite of its weak frame, but it had a fairly new motor, only 20K on the new engine it had, but as the body began to desentegrate under me had to start looking for another vehicle. Watching the paper daily(in 2006 that was still the main marketplace for used vehicles) I only looked in the columns under Ford light trucks (Ranger and F150 ) and guess what, bought my second Ranger.

I think you'll find it worth fixing sir, if you're so inclined, they are good trucks

Oh yeah, welcome to TRS! :)
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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2.9l Trinity
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4WD
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Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Just read the first post:

 

MossCovered

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1988
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Ford Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
I'd post pictures, but haven't figured out how yet
 

Oxxon

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Vehicle Year
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Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Hello and welcome to TRS!
 

bobbywalter

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sawzall?
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My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
88 ranger and weak frame does not compute.


the frame is the best part of it.
 

Josh B

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You have a point there Bobby, actually it was very damaged by the salty roads up north, Wisconsin I think, but mostly the rusted bolts and washers were what I'd hear popping loose while bouncing down the highway
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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177 CID
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A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
My 87 2.9 2wd went from scrap heap to daily driver.

Dont lose faith. Most these little trucks are very saveable.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Ranger
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2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
My 87 2.9 2wd went from scrap heap to daily driver.

Dont lose faith. Most these little trucks are very saveable.
Same here.

A Ranger will make you a better mechanic in every sense of the word "better."

They're near impossible to kill, parts are cheap, and very forgiving when you screw up due to learning experiences.
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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177 CID
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2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Same here.

A Ranger will make you a better mechanic in every sense of the word "better."

They're near impossible to kill, parts are cheap, and very forgiving when you screw up due to learning experiences.
As long as you dont take a pry bar to your fuel rail
 

MossCovered

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61115
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1988
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Ford Ranger
Transmission
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Just hope it rides better than the 2011 base model we got at work.
 

MossCovered

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61115
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
88 ranger and weak frame does not compute.


the frame is the best part of it.
Speaking of the frame. Saw the rear cross member is rotted. Then I noticed theres not many cross members at all. Wonder if the later models are that way.
 

bobbywalter

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Points
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Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
i had crossmembers for the first million miles....then i had to make new ones.
 

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