In reply to Curtis :
Yup, that's why I'm tempted but haven't gotten it myself (as of yet).
In reply to Curtis :
Yup, that's why I'm tempted but haven't gotten it myself (as of yet).
MrSmokey said:Curtis said:1988RedT2 said:Curtis said:Maybe time for a van again.
Or a minivan! Everybody seems to hate minivans, in spite of their position at the pinnacle of automotive evolution. Extreme utility, car-like driving dynamics, and rugged good looks.
Unlike popular but miserably impractical small trucks, used minivans are plentiful and attractively priced.
Meh... I don't hate minivans, just strongly dislike them.
I need 4wd or AWD... which I can get in a minivan, but not the ground clearance. I do some light off-roading getting in and out of camp. Minivan won't cut it. I just like the idea of a frame so I feel less guilty beating the snot out of it.
I could never feel guilty for beating the snot out of a mini van
Me neither. I would just hate to be 6 miles into the woods with no cell service and punch a hole in a transmission pan.
In reply to captdownshift :
I guess I should know more about it though...
If you're interested, though, I'll of course defer to you first.
Going to look at this Fordzda Branger tomorrow.
If I can get him down to $4200 and it A) isn't rusted to heck and B) doesn't have a timing chain death rattle, I'll take it.
Hard to believe I have to go all the way back to OBD1 to get a truck I can afford. I stopped at a random used lot last night and found an 04 Tundra V6 manual with 107k. I was all excited until I looked at the frame... which had been undercoated, but you could tell it was crusty AF.
In reply to Curtis :
Re the Forzda: Anything is possible with a truck that old, but that 4.0 is the pushrod, OHV design, and not the SOHC that's notorious for timing chain issues
That is good to know. As a long time tech and manager of shops, I never did 4.0L chains/guides, but I watched my techs struggle with it.
We had to actually find a junkyard motor for one because on of my techs failed to lock down the cams before taking the chains off and there are no timing marks on the sprockets. It was cheaper to buy a used engine than hire a Ford tech to come help us out.
I'm also thinking about what diesel I could stuff in there that would bolt up to the M5OD, but that's because I'm a psycho freak.
In reply to Curtis :
Maybe some options?
I see that Titan has been listed for weeks so there's probably room there to negotiate. But you're right there's not many small trucks out there that aren't high mileage or rusted.
So I went to look at the 94 Mazda today. Pushbutton 4x4 doesn't engage, so it probably needs an actuator motor. Otherwise, it was pretty much what I expected. When I say rust-free, it really was rust free. The frame appeared to have been steam jetted and there was no pitting, and the few places they missed spraying were actually barely surface rusted. The rockers were pristine, as were the wheel well openings. Paint was fair, but looks like it has been sitting outside in the sun for 24 years. It even looked like the factory exhaust and it wasn't rusted.
He was asking $4900, he offered $4400, I countered with $3500 and he said no way. I'll let him stew on it today then maybe call him back with $4000.
I'll PM you will the # on the ambulance, the seller may be desperate and take your $3500 at this point.
FWIW with the older 4.0 OHV engine you are more looking at lifter noise than anything, mine has some but its an earlier incarnation.
The SOHC has the rattle and 3 timing chains
captdownshift said:I'll PM you will the # on the ambulance, the seller may be desperate and take your $3500 at this point.
Got your PM, thank you. I will call but keep me in the loop on whether or not you're interested. I wouldn't even make an offer if you're still thinking about it.
Antihero said:FWIW with the older 4.0 OHV engine you are more looking at lifter noise than anything, mine has some but its an earlier incarnation.
The SOHC has the rattle and 3 timing chains
I didn't notice any lifter noise, but replacing a lifter is a cake-walk compared to replacing timing chain guides.
Curtis said:Antihero said:FWIW with the older 4.0 OHV engine you are more looking at lifter noise than anything, mine has some but its an earlier incarnation.
The SOHC has the rattle and 3 timing chains
I didn't notice any lifter noise, but replacing a lifter is a cake-walk compared to replacing timing chain guides.
Exactly and its why i much prefer the OHV 4.0. I have 2 cars with them a 91 ranger ive owned for 18 years and a 00 explorer ive owned for 13. 241k and 252k miles on them respectively. The ranger is the one with some lifter noise, one day ill fix it.
I think I'll offer $4000 tomorrow. I'll have to play a little hardball since it's a used car lot, but I've played that game. The F150 I just sold was advertised at $7999 and I walked away with it for $4500, so I have confidence in my negotiating skills. 
Looks like a good buy at $4k if it’s not crusty
Kinda sad that the market is where it is, i bought my ranger for $3500 18 years ago. Its my first car
If you get a Ranger, just make sure you get any recalls done.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-ford-ranger-takata-20180111-story.html
NHTSA actually put out a notice for some of them to not drive them and have them towed in to a dealer for it.
you can run the VIN here https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Weird. I haven’t really noticed any spikes. Maybe it’s regional, or maybe it’s just that small trucks are becoming “rare?”
Still seems like crazy money to me. WTF is so special about rangers?
That first one you linked (to me) is absolute crack-smoking price. 160k makes that a $3000 truck, tops.
The 94 Fordzda Branger I'm looking at has under 100k, but it KBBs at $1500 trade in and $3500 private party.
So I called him and offered $4000 without fixing the 4x4 (since I know its probably just an actuator motor). He said $4200 is the best he can do.
Why am I so trepidatious? Should I go get it?
$200 is standing in your way of getting the truck you can't find elsewhere at any price.
Curtis said:So I called him and offered $4000 without fixing the 4x4 (since I know its probably just an actuator motor). He said $4200 is the best he can do.
Why am I so trepidatious? Should I go get it?
Is that an R12 or R134a AC system.
Curtis said:So I called him and offered $4000 without fixing the 4x4 (since I know its probably just an actuator motor). He said $4200 is the best he can do.
Why am I so trepidatious? Should I go get it?
4200 sounds high to me but really....we are talking only another $200. If you like it, go for it.
Or wait him out, the 4wd system doesnt work, and while it may be an actuator, it could be more severe. Most normal people wont want it because of that
Im confident the ambulance can be had for less than $4200 by a good deal.
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