I am contemplating purchasing '86 ranger, haven't even seen it yet. It's a diesel, tell me what you know about their history, mileage, known problems, etc. I won't see it till Thursday, don't even know the mileage, 88 yr old man hasn't driven it for 5 yrs. Thanks

 

I didn't know they made a diesel for the ranger. I wouldn't mind converting mine, but bet it would be expensive to do.

 

Good luck finding parts. There was a time back in the early 80's that everyone had a little diesel in a small pickup. I almost flew out to Oregon to get a 4x4 Chevy Luv diesel - I think it was an 85. If you do find parts, I'd suggest stocking up on comsumables just in case they stop making them.

This should get you over 30 mpg (fueleconomy.gov) and be sorta unique. If you get it, enjoy!

 

I didnt know they made the diesel in 86. We have a 87 Ranger with a 83 ford ranger diesel engine in it. We bought the diesel ford for a hundred bucks, and got the 87 extended cab with a blown engine for 250. It gets about 50 MPG highway. It is slow though, it also has propane in it (almost like nos for diesels, 25% increase in power) Hes converting it to run on vegitable oil too. I own a 88 ford ranger longbed, were putting a little 100 horsepower mecerdes benz engine in it sooner er later, maybe after winter. Any questions just ask...by the way, the diesel from the 83 ford is actually a Mazda engine that ford uses[:-]

I thought they only made them in 83 and 84 or some two years around there, i know that the little thing on the fuel pump (that you pump in tghe engine compartment to get fuel up to em when there cold used to always break and they cost a lot, or so i heard.) We solved that by getting an electric fuel pump in there...if you want to know more about ours, just ask