I'm looking at buying a 1989 Ranger, 2.9; 6 Cylinder.

What should I look for in buying it?

Thanks

 

low miles and a good price, u'll find that more often in private sellers, i got my dual sport mazda for 7200 with only 15k miles on it. dont jump onto one truck shop around

 

I think I found the truck, what I meant was what should I look for when I see the truck... IE: What should I inspect?

Thanks :)

 

check the frame for damage or repair, check the engine bay n see if it was kept, n i guess ask the test drive it

 

Look for rust, oversprayed paint to see if it has been wrecked. Listen for noides when test driving it.

 

Maintenence records! Ask to see bills for repairs as well as basic stuff like oil changes and transmission fluid changes.

Also, wipe off the dipstick and check for varnish. A lot of varnish could indicate that oil changes were not done as frequently as they should have been. Check the other fluids as well for any extreme discoloration, foaming, crud, cross contamination, etc... You should also look under the truck for major leaks (there will be small leaks on an old truck), rot on the body and frame, and the general condition of the important parts of the truck.

Drive the truck a good bit as well on different types of roads (highway, in town, slow speeds, faster speeds). Let it get warmed up and look for a check engine light.

Damage/excessive wear is not always a reason to pass up a vehicle, but it is good to know just what you are getting into and make sure that any problems with the truck are ones that you could either fix or learn to live with.

You should also ask if the truck has ever been overheated. 2.9Ls do not like to be overheated, and it sometimes results in warped heads.

 

is it a auto or a manual... if its the auto it will have the A4LD tranny which is a POS... i went through 3 trannys in my bronco 2 in the 3 years i had it

 

or take it to a friends shop and have ur friend do a thorough inspection of the vehical. you could also, take it to your states 'official' inspection station, and theyll tell ya wtf is wrong with it.

 

Jack it up and look underneath. Check the Cab mount, especially the rear cab ones. Check the bottom of the doors and tailgate for rust, as well as the rear of the cab. Rust is one of your main enemies. Also check the rear diff for when you put it and gear for and play (You'll know what I mean if its there).