Hey guys, I'm new here and am looking to get a nice ranger. Not sure if I'm even posting in the right forum. I currently have a hatchback but a truck will fit my lifestyle better and I'm sick of getting thrown around on these $hitty Los Angeles freeways.

Anyway, I've been searching craigslist for a few months now and came across an ad today for a 98 2wd 2.5L 4cyl. The problem is they guy says its not running because the engine has been removed and is in his garage. Besides that the truck looks decent. He's asking $800obo.

I was thinking if he takes like $500-$600 it may be worth it but I'm not sure. I'm not mechanic so I wouldn't be able to do any of the work for myself. I found these remanufactured ranger engines online and the 2.5l 4cyl is around $2100 shipped. Then I would need to find a good mechanic to install it correctly. Here is the site I found http://www.remanufactured.com/Ford_4...er_Engines.htm

I need something reliable that I can trust. What do you guys think? Is it better just to find a lower mileage ranger? Thanks and sorry for the long post...

 

$800 is ALOT for a non running/driving truck. If you cant do the work yourself to get it on the road, its not worth it. This is of course my opinion

 

Keep searching. Pay the extra money would pay for a new motor and buy one that actually runs.

 

Not worth it check out bakersfield craigslist lots of rangers for sell

 

Cool thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll just keep looking for something that runs.

 

Yea if it was ME i would find a 302 rebuild and install. But since you have no mech experience i would pass and find another ranger with the engine all ready in the truck.

 

2100$ shipped for a motor!??!!? when I was looking into buying a reman 3.0, it was 1400$ shipped. from a company my dad has used before.

 

Autozone has the 2.5 for $1823 damn thats still to much for me. Rebuild kits FTMFW. I rebuilt my engine inc machine work for just a little over 600 bucks....

 

or you could enroll at a community college and take a engine rebuilding class that what i am doing to rebuild my engine since i dont have access to all the tools and the college has teacher/ fellow students that have lot more work for me