Tom Francis wrote:
On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:17:21 GMT, James Sweet
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"Steve" wrote in message
news:gNUXg.27372$Go3.3527@dukeread05...

I have a '99 Ford Ranger with 4.0 L V-6; V-6's are usually jokes, but I
have
320,000 miles on it with no serious engine work at all; starts and runs
like
new, uses no oil.

Mustangs are now rice burners, by the way, built by Mazda. Yeah, I know
Mazda is about 40% owned by Ford, but US content is about 35%.
The Ranger is a great little truck. One of Ford's (Mazda's) better
products over the years. Hard to believe the current model dates back to
1982. I've had two of them and both were very reliable, good trucks.
I had one of those too, '88, never ran well but it always ran, never let
me down. I know someone with a '94 with 200K on it and it too runs well
but is *completely* gutless, dunno if it was always like that or if it's
just real tired. Interior is falling apart but then he isn't exactly
anal about taking care of it.

I think everybody has a Ranger pickup story.

Mine was an '86 four cylinder, four speed that, at last check because
it's still running, had about 280.000 miles on it.

I put a clutch in it and two universal joints.

I beat the crap out of the truck banging it through my woods. I never
changed the oil, never changed the filter and I just took the air
filter out entirely. When I gave it to a local farmer who still uses
it to chase cows out of his pasture and haul feed. The bed rusted off
of it and he put a wood bed on it, boxed the frame a time or two, but
the damn thing keeps running. I think he put a clutch in it

When I owned it, I turned it over at 200,000 and had to take it to the
CT Emissions station - it passed. :)

Just goes to show you - either it's a tough truck or the emissions
testing in this state is a joke.

I think it's the later. :)

I had a '92 with the V6 and auto trans, great truck. Got about 26 MPG
from the day I bought it until 9 years later when I donated it charity
and it was towed away. Hauled 50 bags of 3 cu.ft. mulch many times. Had
the bed filled to overflowing the sides with dirt a couple of times. 1/4
ton truck my ass, it did a hell of a lot better than that.