Just thought I would post and see how many high mileage 2.9s and 2.3s there are out there. My 2.9 has 175k on it and still runs fine. I saw where some had head cracking problems and wondered if different years were more likely to have problems. When you post please tell the year it is and if you've had any major work done.
Jeff

 

Have an 83 with a de-stroked 2.3, it's a 2.0 with 140k, no problems, even though it went for a major swim sometime in it's life(past owner thought it was a submarine?)! Flood vehical! Have only had to do maint. items due to wear, tear and rust, timing belt, dist., brakes/bearings, exhaust, ect., and not much else. Does use a little oil though, about 1/2 qt. every 500-700 miles. Some leaks out and some burns out when started if sitting for a while, over a week and longer sometimes.

 

I have a little over 141,000 on my '93 Ranger XL This truck is in perfect contition everything is stock execpt hoses,oil, etc of course.

 

Mine just rolled 275,000 on a 2.9L. Only thing that's been done to it is a new fuel pressure regulator and a clutch. Everything else is as it came from the factory when I bought her new in '87! Except of course the normal tune up stuff. Still driving her everyday!

 

I have an "89 with 150,000 on it and it runs like a Swiss watch. Or, maybe these days I should say Japanese watch. It's a 2 WD with manual tranny and it's one of the finest vehicles I've ever owned. And I've had a few. I'm 65 years of age and November ordered a 2001 RangerXLT with all the bells and whistles. It should be coming of the line at the St. Paul assembly plant any day now. I'm staying with 2WD (4-door, 4-Liter, Auto-Everything). Even being a lifelong resident of Minnesota, I have no need for a 4WD (off-Road). I typically stay on the road. Plan to keep the "89 in the family. My son's buying it.

 

Hi all. I'm just here to say that old rangers don't die they just get re-sold. I just sold my '89 4x42.3 5sd for $1200.00cdn with 236k on it. It was a daily driver, 100 miles a day, got 24mpg and used 1ltr. of oil in 900 miles. The body was showing some rust mainly due to highways dpt. trucks leaving their sanders on ( read: pit-run)and the windshield was hooped too for the same reason. I live near Revelstoke B.C. Canada which is very mountainous and therefore snowy except for this year! Normally we get up to 15 ft> yes 15! but this year we have only 3 ft. It seems like Texas got our quota this year.

For you stat guys I am 49 years old and work in the lumber industry. I had the truck for 6 years and had very little trouble with it, just routine stuff mainly, brakes , mufflers, u-joints etc. Syill had the same timing belt that it had when I got it, remeber, 100 miles a day for 6 years, do the math, so I have to say that this has been the bestm most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned. I only sold it 'cause I needed a bigger truck to tow my boat so I got a '93 F-150 4x4 5.0 5sd club cab to do the job. It is getting about 18mpg cdn right now.

The one thing that I did do to the ranger is disconnect the octane plug alowing it to run on 87 octane gas as if it were 100! This simple task made a remarkable difference on the performance and milage and general running quality of the truck. For those of you that have a 2.3 liter motor, give it a try you will be suprised by the results. I even put it back to double check and the performance and running quality diminished so I pulled it out again.

Good luck and keep between the lines. SR

 

glad to see a high mileage section! my truck is a 1991 2wd xcab w/175,500 miles on it. it has the 2.3L 5spd combo. my truck is better than most imports, i think so anyway. the only problems i am having now are transmission related (syncros). the only engine work done was to replace the oil pump and pickup but this was done only because the pickup was clogged. other than that this engine is great. still has factory installed timing belt! this truck has also been lowered 5.5 inches in front and 6 inches in the rear. it has 16 inch wheels and rides ok. the only problem w/the suspension is that it does not take well w/mods. my truck is pampered so results may vary, just take care of it and it will take care of you.

 

my dad has an 89 ranger 2.3l he has 375,000 on it the only major work is that the valve have been replaced once or twice. one total brake replacement three or foru sets of tires to blower motors one alternator one starter one flywheel one tranmission. ala in all it has been a good truck certainly has gotten his money worth.

 

I've got a little over 260000 miles on my 88 Bronco II. I did have to replace one of the head because it was cracked, but that was only about 5000 miles ago. The oil pump went out about 50000 miles ago, but the transmission is still factory with only a new clutch and ring gear on flywheel.

 

My uncle has a 86? ranger 4x4 with the 2.9 that has a little over 200,000 on it, the only problems being the auto trans went out, all 4 tires are completely bald, a few tie rod ends. The rust took over here in WI, so he retired it to a wood truck.

 

I have a 87 2.9 V6. 130,000 miles. Replaced the rear end, clutch, radiator, distributor cap/wires/plugs. Changed oil and filter every 3,000 miles since new and uses no oil between changes (registers full on dipstick after 3,000 miles). Engine runs like new.

Pat

 

What did you doto improve performance. Just to let you know, am retired 72 yrs old. Just picked up my 90 ranger custom with 96K+. Just put in 60/40 seats now?

 

1987 2.3 175,000 still runs great

 

'96 Ranger Splash 2.3L 117,000 miles. Runs like new. (It's had a K&N filtercharger on it for the last 3 years, and I always use premium gasoline and Engine Restore at every oil change.

 

My 86 has almost 190k on the 2.3l 5spd. The shifter is extremely sloppy, replaced the timing belt as preventive maint., new fuel pump (didn't need it though-it was the hidden filter in the accumulator giving me fits), new clutch (original flywheel), new shocks, brakes. Been set on side trying to avoid lady ahead of me with no brakelights, driven home. Slid into guardrail with 2 inches of ice on road, pulled off be wrecker and driven home. Now sits with a slight knock when cold, needing new calipers from setting for year, waiting for the 351W. Still be driving it except I was driving 45 minutes to college and then to work, and wanted the 4x4, not sure of the knock that got louder every week and not having time to repair it.

88 F-150 4X4 XLT Lariat w/5.0 EFI 5 spd (DAILY DRIVER)
86 Ranger 2WD w/2.3L EFI 5 spd to be 351W 4bbl C4 (NEW TOY- DETAILS WHEN FINISHED)
85 Old Cutlass Supreme 350/TH350 Holley 4160,Edelbrock Performer intake, el-cheapo headers, General Kinetics 270H series cam, 15.588 best 1/4 mile with original 10 bolt 2.41 gears (OLD TOY)