I am looking to purchase my first ranger, a 1988 Ranger STX 4x4 with a efi 2.9,and I was if anyone had any opinions on these trucks, what to look for, pro and cons of the STX, things that go wrong with these,ect. all help will be aprecited

 

These trucks are rock solid. It kinda depends on what you want to do but a Ranger will go a lot of places a 1/2 ton cannot and do a few things more (getting airborne in a Ranger is not as hard on equipment as a 1/2 ton).

Weakness? Be sure and check the inside wheel bearing seals on the front drive shafts. I know I replaced several outside before I realized that the inside was toast. Other than that keep the number of miles it has in perspective, do a little maintenance and drive it like it was new. They are a very good truck and with a ****** rope will pull out your 1/2 ton buddies when they get stuck. And if (God forbide) you get stuck - you are a lot easier to get unstuck than a full size. I put over a 140,000 on mine before I sold to my brother-inlaw and it is still going strong.

I would recommend the K&N airfilter. If you go off road and eat some water the engine sucks air hard enough that it will start to suck in the paper filter at full song.

98 F250LD 4X4

 

As a former owner of a 87 STX I'll warn you to stay away from the 5 speed manual transmission (it's manufactured by mitsubishi, enough said). Also the 2.9L is notorious for destroying the lifters. These are the only problems I had with that particular truck.

 

In your comment about Mitsubishi. I seem to recall that they made a very formidable 4wd twin turbo sports car that Dodge also used as the Stealth. I never had much trouble with the 5 speed. Synchronizers were a bit slow going into 2nd every now and then but other than that the tranny worked for me.

98 F250LD 4X4

 

I thought that ford used mazda parts, not mitsubishi. My escort and Mustangs use Mazda trannies.

Matt

 

The Rangers are good solid fairly cheap to work on truck but unless its from the south or southwest you need to look for rust. They are prone to rust around the front core support, the rear fender area but all fords do this, cab corners also check the gastank under the plastic shield on the front since dirt builds up there and causes pin hole leaks and the floor boards.Also check the body mounts to make sure they are not rusted out. The 2.9s are a good engine as long as you do not overheat it. Install a good aftermarket water temp gauge keep the cooling system in good shape and consider a 180* stat in the summer, these engines will crack heads pretty easy if they are overheated the castings were not very thick around the valves where they are most prone to crack. The Mistu 5 speed are allright but they start to head south around 130,000 miles.I have a 155,000 on mine in a 87 Ext Cab no problems so far. The Mazda 5 speed is better ford switched to the Mazda in 88 or 89 I think? The biggest problem is the mitsu will just break without any warning unlike the Mazda which will start to shift hard grind etc. Hope this helps....SC 4x4

 

I have a 97 super cab 2wd,312,000 miles!! Just replaced the starter and alt.at 282,000 miles,torque convertor @ 237,000 miles!! no other major problems! Engine is quiet,doesn't use oil and still holds excellent oil pressure,what more can I say?

 

>torque convertor @ 237,000 miles!! no
>other major problems! Engine is
>quiet,doesn't use oil and still
>holds excellent oil pressure,what more
>can I say?

What did your Torque convertor do when it was going out? I have one that a friend of mine brought in that has some sort of knock in it, coming form the tranny (auto). Could a bad Toque convertor be the problem?, the tranny fuild was changed, and the filter has also been changed

 

It just made a loud noise while driving and wouldn't move!!! I didn't really notice any noise prior but it would bang into overdrive ocassionally!

 

I had an 87, look for the high rider package it makes quite a differance. I was able to run 30x9.50-15 tires with no lift kit.
also when ordering parts make sure to specify that it is an STX With the high rider option if so equiped.There is a differance in many parts....sway bars.spings.spindles.steering links are much beefier and expensive.

I beat my 87 STX like a stepchild for almost 15 years and 230,000
miles and was still getting 20 mpg when I traded it in(NO #####).
Good luck and enjoy
Ed

 

I have an '87 STX and love every thing about it except the gas mileage(~15), oil leaks, and lack of an extended cab. This one came with grillgaurd, rollbar, tubular rear bumber, deluxe bucket seats, and limited slip, are these items part of the STX package or just extras? It also has the "high rider" package.

>The Rangers are good solid fairly
>cheap to work on truck
>but unless its from the
>south or southwest you need
>to look for rust.
Oh yeah, mine I believe is from texas.

>these engines
>will crack heads pretty easy
>if they are overheated the
>castings were not very thick
>around the valves where they
>are most prone to crack.
How can you tell if the heads are cracked? Does it have anything to do with the common ticking of these engines. Mine started ticking during a 160 mile trip, after I changed the oil. It wasn't running real hot on that trip but has run almost to the red on other occasions.

 

 

Where could I find a front inner wheel seal for an 88 ranger stx 4x4 2.9. I have new rotors but the seals I bought for it are not matchin with the old one. Stayed at the parts store for an hour trying to figure it out. But there part numbers are showing its the same seal. Could anybody help??