The coolant hose on the back of my 2.3 engine is broken, which requires dropping the transmission to fix it. (anyone have the part # for that hose by the way?) The trans is also slipping pretty bad and takes like 5 seconds to **** into reverse. It has plenty of other small issues (motor mounts, A/C dies when accelerating, oil pressure gauge twitches at idle sometimes, oil leaks, etc.) I overheated it when that hose broke and now it has a misfire at 3KRPM's, maybe that's nothing? No idea. Honestly haven't looked into it much.

I have to ask myself, is it worth it? Even if I fixed all of these issues, put a rebuilt transmission into it. Still, its maybe a $2500 truck on a good day. Even then, how much life does a 200K+ engine have left in it?

Part of me wants to just do a 5.0 swap. Problem is I can't find a good donor, and have nowhere to do all the work. Plus I already went out and bought a new car to drive while my truck sits, so I have no money to buy a donor and other parts. I'm in an apartment right now so I don't have a backyard to stick this thing into for years. This place is pretty lax though so I probably got a few months before they would say anything to me.

I always told myself I was going to "Drive this truck into the ground, or have it totaled by some other *******." Guess I was wrong?

 

Its definitely seems like it needs quite a bit of work but its all easily fixeable and the only thing that would cost any real money is the trans, BUT the trans sounds like a pressure issue and could be no more than a leaking valve body which is a easy fix. If it were me and I had the second car I would fix it slowly when I had time. Even if you still decide to sell it the repairs are probably going to bring the value up more than the cost of the repairs unless the truck is an ugly rust bucketbucket or you have to have the work done by a shop. If that is the case id slap a for sale sign on it as is.

 

Well it sounds like you have "driven it into the ground", lol
Not your fault, just saying it is of no use to you in its present state

It reads like it would be best, in your present situation, to sell it as a "mechanics special"
Transmission is the big thing, a shop usually won't just put in a valve body, to many complaints when transmission is not like NEW, some customers don't get the difference between "band-aid" patch and full surgery.
So shop will want to do full rebuild, $2,000-$2,500
But a full rebuild part kit only cost about $800-$900(new pump, clutches, bands, seals, valve body, torque converter) so a mechanic would buy your vehicle, valve body only is about $250 so he may just do that.
The other problems are just a little wrench work.

You can always buy another Ranger when funds permit, especially if they are only $2,500 in your area

 

This is where you look over major components close and make a descision. How rusted out is the frame? How rusted out/banged up is the body? How tight is the steering (ball joints, tie rods, springs, etc)? How crusty are the brake/fuel lines? Rear axle making any noises or leaks?

Yea id throw it on craigslist or facebook marketplace for $1k obo, wont get that but prolly alot of $500 offers so take one.

 

I agree with Danger Is the body in good condition?, frame solid?, suspension solid?

 

I had to scrap my s10 a week or so ago - frame was like swiss cheese on drivers side - already been welded 4 times, starter was failing (had to whack with a hammer occasionally), input bearing was whining on trans, rearend was startign to leak again, fuel lines rusted thru, head had a minor leak in the casting seam, lifters needed replaced, steering had about 4" of nomans land slop in it yet it still started, ran, and drove.

With the frame being that bad there was absolutely no point in putting any money in it.