I have a 1993 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 with a blown V6 4.0L engine. I've brought it to two different mechanics and both said that the engine had to be replaced. Both gaskets are blown and the mechanics are assuming that the head is cracked and the pistons blown. It can still run, but pressure cannot build up. It just blows the fluids out.

My wife was driving it one day and the engine started to make noise, the check engine light came on, and the temperature gage shot up. AND... she kept driving it until it died. She claims only 1-2 mintues though. I have a feeling that if she pulled over immediately, I wouldn't be in this situtation.

I don't know anything about engines, sooo...

What should I do with the truck? Should I have them replace the engine? If I were to sell it, would it be worth more since it has a newer/refurbished engine? Should I sell it as is? If so, how much do you think I could get for it and what channel can I use to do that, ebay, classified???? It's worth about $4,000 with a good engine. The truck is in really good shape, has new tires, brakes, clutch, radiator, shocks, and more. How much does it cost to replace an engine. I've been quoted up to $3,000, but have heard it could be around $2,000. Thanks for the help.

Brian

 

You will get pennys for it now. I would put in a create motor with like a 80 or 8 year warrenty, and that will add to the selling valvue of your ranger.

 

Depends on where you buy the engine. There are lots of 4.0L laying around in junk yards. Should be able to pick one up in reasonable shape for $500-$700 range and get it installed for $400-$600 range. Unless your planning on driving it for many more years I wouldn't spend the money to put a new crate engine in a 11 year old Ranger.

 

Unless you plan to keep it for many years/miles to come, I'd look into a used engine with low miles. Try car-part.com.

 

I agree with the others, get another motor. 4.0s are plentiful and fairly cheap. If you don't replace the motor you might get a $1000 bucks for it.

 

if she stopped when it made noise which was probaly due to little or no oil pressure the thing might not be where it is now...

The temperature shot up almost instantly or over a couple minutes?

a couple minutes= cooling failure, most likly thermostat

real quick= spun a bearing, or lost oil pressure....Metal on metal heats up pretty fast at 2500rpm

 

I'm actually planning on buying a 2004 Dakota because I don't want to deal with an old truck anymore. So, would it be better to replace the engine and sell it or sell it as is? If I can replace the engine for $1000-$1200, I might be able to get $3,500-$4,000 for it.

Thanks

 

youre at a real difficult juncture now. Like the others said if you plan to keep the truck for years to come then you can either get a junkyard motor for $300-700 and have it installed for between $400-600 and hope you got a decent motor that will last. I would install a new water pump and timing belt or chain into it before installing a junkyard motor just so you know its done probably another couple of hundred more.
You could go to Ford and see what a crate motor ( factory rebuilt motor) would go for. You dont have to have a Ford dealer install it anyone can but you would need to check as to whether Ford would want to check the installation to honor the warranty ( and i do believe that its a pretty decent warranty on it) or you could go to www.jasper.com ( or search out jasper motors online and find out how much they would want for a jasper rebuilt motor and buy that for installation. Jasper seems to be kinda high for their rebuilt but they are on par with factory rebuilts and offer a 3 year 50K mile warranty, and ive owned a windstar with a rebuilt jasper motor and i was quite impressed with its quality. I obtained mine through a warranty company so it cost me my $250 deductible etc so i was tickled pink with it.
the rest of the truck needs to be professionally evaluated as to its condition , what will go soon ( if anything) mechanically, and the condition of the chassis and body of the truck.
These days you can get rangers cheap i found a brand new 2003 leftover for $8000 with all the rebates then you start out with a brand new truck, in addition in my area, rangers seem to not hold their value that well my 99 ranger will only get like $2500-3000 on trade in value, yet its in good shape so if you can afford payments, maybe a new truck should be y our choice.
The other t hing to consider is that if your ranger gets repaired and y ou have a decent investment on a crate motor or almost $2000 into a used motor, you will probably lose that if your ranger is totalled in an accident , as insurance companies dont consider a replacement of a stock motor anything more than maintenance when evaluating the value of a damaged vehicle.
Personally ive been in your shoes a time or two and for my work vehicles ( particularly the ones my crews use) i tend to throw decent junkyard motors in em and pray alot. i was able to find crate motors in one yard that allegedly have like 40K on em so thats how i got my two C 10s running. Luckilly my ranger is still workng on its original motor and at 85K i expect it to for a few more years.When that motor goes ill prolly just get a new truck, and in actuality then i have an excuse to go get one of them brand new F150s that i love so much. Let us know what ya wind up doin

 

My best advice to you is to NOT get a Dodge product. I have a caravan that has been nothing but problems, but i cant convince my old lady to berid of it. their transmissions stink for lack of a better word, the steering systems stink, and its gone for many parts. The warranty is not with the paper its writen on ( i have an extended chrysler warranty) they always find ways to not fix it right. hell it took four dealers and five breakdowns to figure out the reason it would quit was the computer fried . If you do wind up buying a dodge i would buy the perfect second car a tow truck and in a few years im told mercedes will be selling off dodge when the current CEO retires and forecasters say it will be chrysler's death knell if this is true, parts will become scarce and the warranty will be useless id never consider a dodge after that dont buy a dodge get another ford

 

I sold the truck on ebay for $1,225 without fixing anything.

Brian

 

WoW! Sounds like the person got a pretty good deal.

-Matt