Should I buy it?

[Diesel Fiend]

Hey folks I'm looking at a 1986 Ford Ranger Diesel. It's a 2 wheel drive, the body looks good, the injection pump has been rebuilt, but has a leaky power steering pump. The guy is asking $1,000. I'm wondering if this would make a good truck for landscape maintenance. I would be hauling a 4x8 trailer with somw lawn mowers and other equipment.

[g_k50]

How many miles, automatic or manual transmission, do you like working on Rangers as well as lawn mowers? Then you'd have to be concerned about having two different types of fuel. Any truck is worth around 1,000 if it runs.

[sfcwoodret]

I agree. Any running Ford Ranger is worth having these days.

[tomw]

Ford put two different diesels in the Ranger. The first one could not get out of its own way going down hill with a tailwind. The second had a turbo that made it much more responsive.
The problem with these engines is that spare parts are like hens teeth. And the fact that the parts you can get are obviously made out of unobtainium given their price.
[ Ub is the chemical symbol for things that are made of unobtainium. It is Unobtainable..]heh
Other than that, they are fine trucks.
tom

[racsan]

and if your turbo blows its around 1,000 alone just for that part, and a rebuilt unit at that! while they are cool in some respects, id rather have the more dependable, cheaper and easier to maintain 2.3 gas engine. i am hopefull of the mahindra diesel thats supposed to be coming to the u.s. market. 150 hp 4 cyl and available crew cab, the onlything i dont like is the only trans available is the 6 speed automatic. of course it will be 10 years before im able to afford one. thats why my '93 still is in the driveway.

[Old93junk]

Pass on the diesel, not enough parts support. Better off with the 2.3 4cyl or the 2.9v6.