Hey everyone just picked up a 1989 4x4 ranger with 5 speed, I beat the hell out of the truck on the test drive and decided to buy it, after driving away I called back and got it down to $3800 155,000 miles

i researched as mush as I could about the truck in my two hours before I bought it.

I thought it was a manual transfercase with manual hubs , but it’s electronic on the dash and automatic hubs.

Lifters are noisy as all hell and get louder as I reach what I’m guessing is redline ( tach is broken)

Valve covers leaking like the internet said they would be.

My only thing is that the truck feels sluggish in the low end.

Is that that just because it’s a 3400lb truck with a 140hp 2.9? I figured this was the case so I bought the truck after calling a friend who is into fords and told me that they aren’t rocket ships.

just wondering if this is how they feel to everyone else, the 4x4 feels great and pops in and out with no problem. Another question I have is how RELIABLE is the whole electronic 4wd system?

I really wanted a manual manual transfercase as I mean what could go wrong with that? But after reading a bit these system are more reliable then the ones implemented a bit later on?

Anyways cheers and good to meet everyone can’t wait to learn as much as possible about these trucks.

i also have a 1991 galant vr4 , 1993 civic hatch Si, and a 1989

 

I have the same truck but with manual lock-in hubs. Twist on the wheels. It has 160000 miles. But the clutch is shot. Has a remanufactured 5 speed. Not looking forward to dropping tranny and transfer case to get to clutch. But good driver

 

Yes, the 2.9l has a noisy valve train, it is oiled by the cam bearings so as miles go up so does the noise, but they keep on running

Looks like a nice Ranger

 

That's a beautiful truck! I wish mine was 4wd, but it was only $200.

Welcome to the forum

 

It's a chore for sure. I just pulled my 2.9 and 5 speed out for some minor work. Good lord it was a lot of work. I'm going to buy a transmission jack.

 

Recently got one too. 200k miles on it. Has the manual locking hubs which work great.

It is definitely not a speedy one. I try to take it easy as much as possible and try not to go over 60-65 on the highway if I can help it. I see you're from the SD area as well. I drove it out to Joshua Tree the other week and it made the trip well. I took it over the mountains through Julian and it was able to climb but I wasn't speeding up the mountains like the other cars.

I have been dealing with a lot of leak issues myself. Just had the oil pan gasket replaced and noticed another oil leak and now a coolant leak today... Other than that I like the truck a lot so far.