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Bad day on 1990 engine startup

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Old Jan 20, 2006 | 09:09 PM
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FreeXLT
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Bad day on 1990 engine startup

Well, after a few weeks of laying off of the 2.9 ranger startup I finally tried and fired up the bugger yesterday. If anyone recalls I received a free 1990 Ranger last month but was told that there were overheating problems that were not corrected. I changed the hoses, thermostat, changed the oil (which showed no signs of water contamination), replaced a burned positive cable, flushed the radiator, etc.

As soon as I fired her up I noticed a water leak coming from the driver's side rocker cover and steam started coming out of the exhaust. The dipstick was also creamy white upon inspection. Shoot!! Now I have to decide what to do with this truck. At minimum I would excpect a cracked head and maybe a complete rebuild but I'm no expert in this area. The selling price for the same model in these parts is around $1500 - $2000. Any ideas on what to expect repair wise and the costs associated with the repair, or, should I chuck it and get another truck?

Thanks for your input.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2006 | 12:41 AM
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Any body care to comment? Has anyone been stuck in this predicament?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2006 | 12:57 AM
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
2.9s are known for cracked heads if even slightly overheated, so I bet you're in that boat. How much mileage does she have on her?

Low mileage = rebuild, will run for years to come
high mileage = rebuild, or junk and buy a new one

Not sure on price, but look for a mom and pop shop if you can't do it yourself. It's not too challenging.
 
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