Hello all.. new member here. I hope I'm posting in the correct forum(mods please delete/move if necessary).

My 2008 Ranger only has 52K miles on it and it runs great. Unfortunately, the rust on the body and frame are too far gone to fix so I'm left with two options..

Sell the truck to someone who could use the engine and anything other than the frame or body.. transmission, wheels, brakes, etc are all fine.

Or, try to find a similar ranger that has a blown(or missing) engine that I could purchase and swap motors.

I'm not much of a mechanic so I would hire someone to do the work but with the prices of used/new trucks these days I think option #2 may be viable.

Anyone have any thoughts and/or leads how one would go about looking for a ford ranger that is missing or needs an engine?

Thanks
Van

 

Where are you located?

 

Central MA

 

4.0l SOHC engine was used from 2001 thru 2011 in Rangers
Same automatic 5R55E 4x4 as well
Same Manual trans, 4x4 M5R1

transmissions are engine specific and 2WD or 4x4 specific

The 4.0l SOHC came with faulty timing chain tensioners from 2001 thru 2003 so should see those years popup as "mechanics specials", bad engine
People often sell Rangers with bad automatic transmissions for alot less, cost $2,500-$4,000 to replace transmission

 

Thank you! I'm going to do some searching and hopefully find a matching truck in need of an engine! Thanks again, Van.

 

I am curious what would rust out his truck? Anyone know ?

 

Rust is Oxidation, oxygen is very reactive, cut open an apple and leave it a few minutes, the contact with oxygen in the air is what's turning it brown
Any unpainted metal(that has iron in it) will oxidize/rust in our atmosphere
Water with minerals(most water) increases oxidation
Salt increases oxidation, salt is a mineral
Salt + water = much faster oxidation

Painting metal protects it from contact with oxygen
The under sides of vehicles are constantly being bombarded with road debris, dirt, sand, water, this WILL wear away paint, "water"????, seen the Grand Canyon?
So when the paint is gone in some areas the oxidation gets to work, and it spreads to under painted surfaces and paint chips off, so even more exposed metal

In places where roads are salted and sanded in the winter oxidation can come on faster, the sand eats away the paint, and the salt causes faster oxidation on already exposed metal

Burning wood in a fire is Oxidation, faster process but same thing, the wood is burned up, gone, same happens to the metal, its oxidized until its "burned up", gone
So rusted parts can no longer be trusted to support any weight, i.e. a vehicles frame, metal gets too thin as its "burned up"

As to why certain vehicles or a specific vehicle may rust sooner
Poor painting at factory before assembly, most metal parts get a primer coat and then at least 2 coats of paint, unseen parts, body panels get clear coat as well
When you are painting 100's of frames a day, well slightly thinner paint on unseen parts saves lots of money, and won't be a warranty issue
Also helps Dealers to make extra money in offering "under coating", a spray on compound that protects under side of vehicle from losing its paint

Local conditions, as said sand and salt can cause faster oxidation if metal gets exposed
And in areas where there is more rain, water on its own promotes oxidation