Questions about Ford Rangers

[Rev_D21]

Is a 1997 Ford Ranger 2wd 4cyl 5spd a decent truck? I see a neighbor up the street has a red one for sale and I could be interested but I know nothing of Ford trucks. I will be searching the ford forums tonight but maybe someone here has some opinion of these trucks?

[ADDirishboy]

I've always looked at Rangers like I have S-10's. Never been a fan.

[Mr1der]

I think it's still the 2.3 in those...that motor has been around forever.

it's a good slow dependable truck.

INBMOD

[Rev_D21]

I hear that but I need a daily to drive through winter. Every Nissan truck up here has the rot. This ranger doesn't look bad, minus a few minor things wrong. His asking price is next to my trigger price. I am just unsure of any 'Ranger' problems to look for besides the obvious things like brakes and steering.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Do you really need a pick up truck? if not then why not look into getting a used Pathfinder or 4Runner. you should be able to find one of those for dirt cheap, they're both strong reliable options and will be able to handle whatever lake effect winter conditions get thrown at you.

[Rev_D21]

P-finders in my price range are infected with the rot up here. Every one has a bad frame.

[Dattebayo]

Fu*ing spammers...

[Rev_D21]

I banned that piece of watery dog s***.

[Mr1der]

I like being able to click the x beside edit and getting insta delete on stuff like that.

[OriginalWheelman]

I think it's still the 2.3 in those...that motor has been around forever.

it's a good slow dependable truck.

+1

2wd Ranger = Good
4wd Ranger = Bad

The Ranger is a solid little truck but Ford didn't make a dependable front axle for that thing. They may have fixed it in recent years, but I have never seen on that didn't eat hubs and axles up front. If It's a 2wd I'd go for it. Nothing like Ford heat for the winter. It'll make the meat fall off your bones.

[Mr1der]

god yes...my Tbird cooked my feet...the leaky sunroof let plenty of cool air in on my head though...

[Kompresshun]

I've had 3 Rangers and would buy another without thinking twice about it. That truck will last you quite some time if you take care of it and the 2.3 gets pretty decent gas mileage as well. The one you mentioned is one of the best years IMHO. They're very easy to work on, have a lot of aftermarket support, and are hard to beat for the money. I drove my last one for 5 yrs before selling it for something with 4drs.

[sx moneypit]

I worked a Ford dealership service department for 17 years,they are pretty dependable trucks.I say buy it.

[themadscientist]

Is a 1997 Ford Ranger 2wd 4cyl 5spd a decent truck? I see a neighbor up the street has a red one for sale and I could be interested but I know nothing of Ford trucks. I will be searching the ford forums tonight but maybe someone here has some opinion of these trucks?

The 2.3 is low on power but reliable. I had an 88' with the 2.9 V6 and it hauled balls. I drove an 84' with the four banger and it lacked umph. Overall, though the Ranger is a well-built truck.

The SVO engine in the turbo stangs and T-birds would swap right in. I'm just sayin....

[Kompresshun]

The SVO engine in the turbo stangs and T-birds would swap right in. I'm just sayin....

2.3 Turbo, yes please

Those are sweet little motors if you can get your hands on one. I had a friend with an 86 SVO Mustang putting 420hp to the ground with a nicely built 2.3T, I wish I could track down a decent SVO or T-bird Turbo Coupe.

[themadscientist]

The 5.0s in my town didn't know what the front end of a certain SVO Mustang looked like, they only saw the taillights. I never crossed the guy's path, but I heard tell he swung a big stick indeed.

[Kompresshun]

The 5.0s in my town didn't know what the front end of a certain SVO Mustang looked like, they only saw the taillights. I never crossed the guy's path, but I heard tell he swung a big stick indeed.

I don't have anything against the 5.0's, I had 2 5.0 Mustangs but there's nothing like spooling up a 2.3T Mustang next to a 5.0 and getting that followed by

I've always been a big fan of sleepers anyways, I don't like driving something that is expected to be fast. What's the fun in that?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I drove a 2.3 liter 5-speed Ranger for years as a DD. It was a '95 regular cab short bed 2wd. I liked it a LOT. It was cheap, basic, and fun. Very dependable, very low-maintenance. Plugs are a PITA to change because the intake manifold is in the way of the rear 3 (of 8--2 per cylinder) but aside from that it's a really easy truck to own. I don't dislike the KA at all, but I like the Pinto 2.3 a LOT more.

Just don't buy a 5-speed Ranger with a V6. The two don't get along, and the V6 will inevitably kill the trans.

I think it's still the 2.3 in those...that motor has been around forever.

it's a good slow dependable truck.

INBMOD

The new 2.3 is actually a Duratec, which is unfortunate. But it wasn't until '98 that that happened, so a '97 should still be the Pinto block.

The 2.3 is low on power but reliable. I had an 88' with the 2.9 V6 and it hauled balls. I drove an 84' with the four banger and it lacked umph.

The 2.3 got 2 plugs per cylinder in '89 and made a fair bit of torque for its size (130 ft-lb at 2300 rpm). Low-end grunt feels genuinely excellent.

[sharjt]

Just don't buy a 5-speed Ranger with a V6. The two don't get along, and the V6 will inevitably kill the trans.

I had an '89 V6 for years. destroyed 3 tranys but the motor ran forever. I finally gave it up with around 300k miles on the motor and no syncros left in the trans. the only other problem was the heater core went out twice and it's a pain to change out.

[Kompresshun]

Just don't buy a 5-speed Ranger with a V6. The two don't get along, and the V6 will inevitably kill the trans.

Yep, I destroyed 1st and 2nd gear in my '04 Edge with a 3.0L V6 and a 5spd with only 60k miles on it. Of course I did do a massive burnout right before I realized I grenaded 1st and had to limp it home, needless to say I never did something that dumb again

I had an '89 V6 for years. destroyed 3 tranys but the motor ran forever. I finally gave it up with around 300k miles on the motor and no syncros left in the trans. the only other problem was the heater core went out twice and it's a pain to change out.

I'd take swapping out a heater for in a Ranger any day over anything else. I can swap one out in 15-20 min flat... take out 4 small screws in the cover, unhook the hoses, pull the heater core straight back then straight down.

[Rev_D21]

At 177k miles I might take a pass on this truck. While my 96 Hardbody isn't impressing me much at least it's paid off. If I can stay car payment free for just another 8 months I get to treat myself.

[OriginalWheelman]

Let me know IF / When you decided to sell the Hardbody. I'd love another D21 that isn't rusted to hell.

[Rev_D21]

I take it you are talking about my green Hardbody?

[sldewyz]

I've got a 97 2.3 AT, got it in december not a bad little truck for what it is. Don't get a v6 cuz of the previously stated transmission issues. Only thing I suggest looking at is the rear leaf spring shackle and mounting bracket. They have a bad tendency to rot out real bad. Like 40$ in parts per side is all it costs to replace but can be pretty time consuming depending on te condition I've done one aide so far and need to do the other before the coming winter. There cheap to maintain cuz there's soany of them around. Most buddies I know with um dropped 2.3 third parts in it and boost um.

[OriginalWheelman]

I take it you are talking about my green Hardbody?

Do you have more than 1? I've seen a few in your sigs over the years but yeah, that was the one to which I was referring.

[Jesda]

I take it you are talking about my green Hardbody?

[alms24sebring]

I don't see you getting too far with a light 2wd truck.. in the snow.. in New York snow

[OriginalWheelman]

I don't see you getting too far with a light 2wd truck.. in the snow.. in New York snow

Learn to drive. It's called throttle control. I've owned 4 2wd light trucks and driven them in winter with no weight w/o incident.

[Rev_D21]

I take it you are talking about my green Hardbody?

Actually I was hoping you were referring to this.^^^

I have 2 NISSAN hardbodies, one is pretty rough but runs ok.

[OriginalWheelman]

Yeah I usually look for solid bodies that need some mechanical work. I can't do body work but engine swaps and head gaskets don't scare me. I used to ride around in mechanically perfect rot boxes but I got sick of junking good runners cause the frame separated. Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't bought a car in New York in about 5 years. I always go south.