Well for awhile now, I've been looking for a second gen Sport with a manual transmission.
a few days ago, I came across one for $800, the guy said it was clean, and needed a fuel pump. So I checked it out, like it for the most part. It had a few big scratched on the rear left quarter panel, and the obviously hit something with the front right, because the hood and quarter panel are a little beat. Oh well, the rest of the body is great, the interior is great (Compared to mine) Great!
He said it had some transmission work and engine work done. Alright, cool.
Looking under it, it was quite clean for having 170k miles on it, and ALMOST NO RUST. but we jumped it to hear it turn over, and it sounded alright. However, I still found it hard to pay $800 dollars for something I couldn't test drive. Also, I noticed the engine had numbers on it with a paint pen, I thought junk yard engine, so that had me worried. Well, he went to go pick up the title, and I went home to think about it.
It was really hard to decide, so I asked him if he'd take any less, and he said the lowest he could go if $700, but he would like $800. I replied, if you could take $700 I'll be down there to pick it up.
Well, I went down there, did the paper work, handed the money over, and had my brother help tow it home with my 1992 Explorer!
When I got home, I looked over the receipt he gave me of the work the shop did.
This was all done at 165k miles, so only 5k miles ago, however, about 4 years ago.
I thought, oh wow, all new clutch hydraulics and clutch 5k miles ago? Sweet!
And then "Engine has been replaced with raman... blah blah" Popped out to me.
So I ran outside to go inspect the finer details of the engine, and I start noticing, WOW there is not a drop of oil anywhere, even though it was full of oil! The valve covers are super clean, all the bolts a perfect, even the heads just BARELY have rust creeping from the manifold onto them. (Well, the exhaust system and drive shaft are the only things with rust) So I figured well, it must be rebuilt or such a low mileage engine, that the shop thinks it's rebuilt! Score!
So I sprayed starting fluid in it, and jumped it again, (Dead battery) And it sounded SMOOTH! It held a perfect idle for like 3 seconds, immediately even after sitting for a few years! No ticks at all either!
Well, here are some pics!
I'll get more detailed pictures of the interior, engine, undercarriage, and damage later.
I started diagnosing the pump myself, just to make sure it was a power issue, I could here the relay clicking, so I checked for power through the inertia switch, it was good! So today, I dropped the tank! SO EASY! NO FREAKING RUST! (My '92 took four days to drop because of rust!)
I love not living in the rust belt, or near the coast! (The latter, is the issue with my '92)
I pulled out the battery charger, and put power directly to the pump, nothing! reversed polarity, a small jolt, and nothing! (Except a little arcing.) That thing is FROZEN!
And now here I am, I have to pay off my debt, and then get a new pump. Or find someone willing to loan me and put me further in debt.
I am so excited to drive this thing! If it turns out as good as it's appearing to me, this thing is a STEAL! Then I plan to give the dude the $100 I talked him down.
Thanks for reading!
a few days ago, I came across one for $800, the guy said it was clean, and needed a fuel pump. So I checked it out, like it for the most part. It had a few big scratched on the rear left quarter panel, and the obviously hit something with the front right, because the hood and quarter panel are a little beat. Oh well, the rest of the body is great, the interior is great (Compared to mine) Great!
He said it had some transmission work and engine work done. Alright, cool.
Looking under it, it was quite clean for having 170k miles on it, and ALMOST NO RUST. but we jumped it to hear it turn over, and it sounded alright. However, I still found it hard to pay $800 dollars for something I couldn't test drive. Also, I noticed the engine had numbers on it with a paint pen, I thought junk yard engine, so that had me worried. Well, he went to go pick up the title, and I went home to think about it.
It was really hard to decide, so I asked him if he'd take any less, and he said the lowest he could go if $700, but he would like $800. I replied, if you could take $700 I'll be down there to pick it up.
Well, I went down there, did the paper work, handed the money over, and had my brother help tow it home with my 1992 Explorer!
When I got home, I looked over the receipt he gave me of the work the shop did.
This was all done at 165k miles, so only 5k miles ago, however, about 4 years ago.
I thought, oh wow, all new clutch hydraulics and clutch 5k miles ago? Sweet!
And then "Engine has been replaced with raman... blah blah" Popped out to me.
So I ran outside to go inspect the finer details of the engine, and I start noticing, WOW there is not a drop of oil anywhere, even though it was full of oil! The valve covers are super clean, all the bolts a perfect, even the heads just BARELY have rust creeping from the manifold onto them. (Well, the exhaust system and drive shaft are the only things with rust) So I figured well, it must be rebuilt or such a low mileage engine, that the shop thinks it's rebuilt! Score!
So I sprayed starting fluid in it, and jumped it again, (Dead battery) And it sounded SMOOTH! It held a perfect idle for like 3 seconds, immediately even after sitting for a few years! No ticks at all either!
Well, here are some pics!
I'll get more detailed pictures of the interior, engine, undercarriage, and damage later.
I started diagnosing the pump myself, just to make sure it was a power issue, I could here the relay clicking, so I checked for power through the inertia switch, it was good! So today, I dropped the tank! SO EASY! NO FREAKING RUST! (My '92 took four days to drop because of rust!)
I love not living in the rust belt, or near the coast! (The latter, is the issue with my '92)
I pulled out the battery charger, and put power directly to the pump, nothing! reversed polarity, a small jolt, and nothing! (Except a little arcing.) That thing is FROZEN!
And now here I am, I have to pay off my debt, and then get a new pump. Or find someone willing to loan me and put me further in debt.
I am so excited to drive this thing! If it turns out as good as it's appearing to me, this thing is a STEAL! Then I plan to give the dude the $100 I talked him down.
Thanks for reading!
