is it worth it?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Chrisney Indiana
is it worth it?
I have found an 86 4x2 ranger for sale and am considering buying it but wanted a secound opinion on weither it is worth the money. The truck has a good body for the most part. No fenders are rusted threw and there is only one dent in the driver side front that would be easy to pop out and fix with bondo. There is a mirror missing. It has lund visor and spoiler. It has also had a v8 conversion and has a 302 in in. Automatic overdrive transmission with a ratchet shifter on the floor. The motor i can not hear run because the carb and all accesory brackets have been pulled. They admitted that it has a rod knock and needs a rebuild or a new motor. I don't know if transmission is good but body is solid. I have a good 302 that needs at least a freshn up. They are asking 500 for the truck as is and they will give me some bucket seats they have for it as well. Any body have any idea as to what this truck is really worth and what i might be able to get out of it after a new motor and paint job if i wanted to sell?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: north carolina
the main question is, is it worth it to you? its 20 years old. has a 5.0 swap that needs a rebuild (being it has a bad bearing) you have a donor motor that may need a freshen up. and buckets are a nice plus for a sporty truck, as long as you dont have strict emmision laws, and money and time to spare i would say go for it, though the average resale would be around 1k-2k. pending how how much you jazz it up. though you may have more than in it, but rarely do you get out what you put in. though look at the lil things too. like are the ball joints good, is the stearing asembly good, etc. about a year i bought an 86 4x4 ranger for 500 with a rough body.. that wasnt all that was rough, got it home and on the lift, and was amazed that the front end had not fell out of it. between rebuilding the brake system, stearing, and new rubber bushing i have put over 700 in parts alone. so now i have a 20 year old truck with a bad cab that i have 1,200 invested in, and still need to rebuild the front axle, if i where to sell it today i would be lucky to get 750 for it. so i would say its up to you on how much you want the "project" truck to play with and pick up where some one else gave up. and like any used vehicle your buying thier headaches. good luck to you. 
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Moneta, VA
I think a lot of this depends on the quality of their V8 Conversion. If they did a sawzall and duct tape job, I wouldn't mess with it.
Go underneath and pay attention to the little things, such as how they mounted the tranny and motor mounts. Also check the rear axle, has it been upgraded? Are brakes still the stock units?
Back on top, you'll want to look at how they modified the heater case for clearance, and also the cooling system. The stock radiator isn't going to cut the mustard, and these things can be expensive.
You are really going to need to look at their wiring. Did they butcher everything? Do the gauges, headlights, and other electronics work?
You are going to have at least $500 in freshing your motor, and getting it running (factoring in things like a new fuel pump and carb). To get a decent paint job is going to be another $1000. You are probably going to need some interior pieces too, setting you back another $150. Wiring and misc electronics, we'll allow $100. Hopefully the transmission is good, did they include the Lokar TV cable conversion? You can find some nice wheels and tires for $500 if you look around.
So for around $2500, you can have a decent truck. You will have to shop around, however, for good deals. If it's done right, you can easily get $2500 back out of it. But remember your labor costs, too.
Go underneath and pay attention to the little things, such as how they mounted the tranny and motor mounts. Also check the rear axle, has it been upgraded? Are brakes still the stock units?
Back on top, you'll want to look at how they modified the heater case for clearance, and also the cooling system. The stock radiator isn't going to cut the mustard, and these things can be expensive.
You are really going to need to look at their wiring. Did they butcher everything? Do the gauges, headlights, and other electronics work?
You are going to have at least $500 in freshing your motor, and getting it running (factoring in things like a new fuel pump and carb). To get a decent paint job is going to be another $1000. You are probably going to need some interior pieces too, setting you back another $150. Wiring and misc electronics, we'll allow $100. Hopefully the transmission is good, did they include the Lokar TV cable conversion? You can find some nice wheels and tires for $500 if you look around.
So for around $2500, you can have a decent truck. You will have to shop around, however, for good deals. If it's done right, you can easily get $2500 back out of it. But remember your labor costs, too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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500.00 is a decent price for a good body reguardless of the drive train. So for all practicle purposes, your buying a good body, and thats not a bad . The v8 swap is great and all that, but keep in mind that you may need to get past emssions testing, you know better than I about your states emssions laws. Sounds like it could be a fun project, but very seldom do you get the money back that you put into a project like this. So do it for yourself, not to make money, that way you won't get disappointed.
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From: Chrisney Indiana
i think
The truck has stock brakes and i think the rear axle might be stock or could be modified. The tires have equal wear so this leads me to think maybe a locker. It also could be a welded locker witch i don't want. The wiring is rather cobbed there but i am not afraid of wiring. I am a confided person with wiring. I have wired in tach's gauges and even made my own flame thrower kit! The truck already has costum rims they just need a little TLC. The paint i can live with it just isn't a good color and it has some fading in places. The interior needs a lot of cleaning, the owner was a heavy smoker because there are a lot empty cigerate boxxes. I am in college and can get it painted for the price of supplies. I can rebuild the motor in my class paying only for parts. They told me that the front syspension on the truck is brand new as well the guy finish the front end and then the motor went bad so he got mad and quit working on it. The truck is in the same state that i am. Good ole indiana!
No emission testings! so so no worries with that!
No emission testings! so so no worries with that!
Last edited by 81fordf-250; Sep 24, 2006 at 01:54 PM.
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On these conversions workmanship is everything, They may have quit driving it because the conversion didn't work out as planned and the only way to know for sure is to drive it. Of course you can't, but if you want a project truck and have the money for it (IT WILL COST MORE THEN YOU THINK) then go ahead.
Dave
Dave
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From: Chrisney Indiana
i know
The truck was driven and suposidly drag raced by a previse owner but i don't believe it. The biggest problem i saw is that the radiator suport was cut to make room for the aluminum radiator. They cut the hood latch so it is held down with hood pins. I would like to change this back to stock.i think a new suport and a electric fan would do the job.
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Posting Guru
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Take a look at the exhaust system, is there one? If it was raced it may be one of the things not quite finished and will cost some money for a new custom bender to fit one.
Dave
Dave
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From: Chrisney Indiana
it has one
It does an exhaust all the way out the back and it has custom fit long tube headers. The truck was used as a daily driver but was keeped in a garage when not being driven. The exhaust is getting a little rusty however. They put some cheap exhaust tips and they are covered in surface rust which is not suprising. The exhaust looks to be 2 1/4 true duals with glass packs.
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Senior User
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From: Chrisney Indiana
I don't have it yet
I will not have the 500 bucks till about the end of the month so i might not get the truck but hey if it goes it goes i will not be crying. I just started a new job and it will be a little while before i get payed. The truck needs a different hood and i know i can find one cheap in a junk yard but I was wondering it anybody knows of a fiberglass hood that isn't very exspensive or maybe a hood scoope?
Last edited by 81fordf-250; Sep 24, 2006 at 03:18 PM.