Looking to buy a 94 Ranger w/Column cylinder drilled out

[MrCreosote]

I'm looking at a Ranger to buy, their son lost the keys at a BMX bike race, so they had to drill the cylinder out of the column to get home.

Question: Can you get the door keys from Ford with a VIN number? or a number from the door lock cylinders? Obviously the number on the column cylinder is gone. Although I'm guessing you can buy a "Lock Set," there will be pieces missing from the column. I will say it would be nice to have the locks right.

As far as the column goes, I'm guessing finding another column is the easiest way to fix that part of the problem.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

FYI, the deal is:

94 Ranger 4-cyl 5-spd 2wd
240k
Emission Inspected to 4/2014
Uses 1/2 quart per 3000 miles (makes it next oil change)
Grille broken but intact,
Small rust hole behind rear wheel
Column cylinder drilled out
No keys for door.
Needs TPI switch
Rear tires 14" factory alloys very good tread
Will need front tires 15" steel wheels (I'll try to find alloys for it)
Everything in dash works
Has CD player with USB port
Interior in good condition,
Paint in good condition,
Owner seemed knowledgeable and honest, I asked him if he would think of using the word "clean" to describe the truck. He said he thought about it (although he never brought it up after my 15 minute phone call with him.) I know its very subjective, but from one car person to another, a very useful condition.
Price $650

I haven't looked at it but it sounds like the truck is fairly uncobbled and nothing too critical requiring repair.

My use would be about 3000 miles per year mostly in the winter.

Opinions? I have to drive 20-25 minutes to see it.

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by MrCreosote

I'm looking at a Ranger to buy, their son lost the keys at a BMX bike race, so they had to drill the cylinder out of the column to get home.

Question: Can you get the door keys from Ford with a VIN number? or a number from the door lock cylinders? Obviously the number on the column cylinder is gone. Although I'm guessing you can buy a "Lock Set," there will be pieces missing from the column. I will say it would be nice to have the locks right.

As far as the column goes, I'm guessing finding another column is the easiest way to fix that part of the problem.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

FYI, the deal is:

94 Ranger 4-cyl 5-spd 2wd
240k
Emission Inspected to 4/2014
Uses 1/2 quart per 3000 miles (makes it next oil change)
Grille broken but intact,
Small rust hole behind rear wheel
Column cylinder drilled out
No keys for door.
Needs TPI switch
Rear tires 14" factory alloys very good tread
Will need front tires 15" steel wheels (I'll try to find alloys for it)
Everything in dash works
Has CD player with USB port
Interior in good condition,
Paint in good condition,
Owner seemed knowledgeable and honest, I asked him if he would think of using the word "clean" to describe the truck. He said he thought about it (although he never brought it up after my 15 minute phone call with him.) I know its very subjective, but from one car person to another, a very useful condition.
Price $650

I haven't looked at it but it sounds like the truck is fairly uncobbled and nothing too critical requiring repair.

My use would be about 3000 miles per year mostly in the winter.

Opinions? I have to drive 20-25 minutes to see it.

Ford used to be able to make keys from the vin number.

[MrCreosote]

Keys from Ford by VIN would be great, however, that would leave me missing the column cylinder.

I wonder if I could get that cylinder from Ford?

If yes, I'm thinking I'll be missing a few pieces too - so maybe I could find an junk column (airbag deployed) to cannibalize parts from?

If they have a Lock Set (all cylinders and keys), I'd have to tear the doors apart AND do the column.)

Unfortunately, all the Ford Dealers are closed already....

Thanks
Tom

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by MrCreosote

Keys from Ford by VIN would be great, however, that would leave me missing the column cylinder.

I wonder if I could get that cylinder from Ford?

If yes, I'm thinking I'll be missing a few pieces too - so maybe I could find an junk column (airbag deployed) to cannibalize parts from?

If they have a Lock Set (all cylinders and keys), I'd have to tear the doors apart AND do the column.)

Unfortunately, all the Ford Dealers are closed already....

Thanks
Tom

I'm sure they can do everything including the steering column the problem is cost.
I would check a yard like U-pull it for everything you want. It would be a lot cheaper to carry two keys.

[MrCreosote]

I guess if I decide to buy it, drive around for a year before I decide to invest in fixing that problem. Frankly I could care less about starting it with a screwdriver or not being able to lock the doors.

Do you think the truck is worth buying?

Fellow mention a tip about checking wobble in the clutch fan blade. It really didn't make much sense but he was saying if you could wobble the fan around (grabbing a blade tip) it meant that there were bad bearings in the engine (not the water pump!) which I really could not fathom. Something about either the cam or crank bearings or crank pulley. Didn't make any sense to me. But supposedly an idiosyncrasy of the 4-cyl Ford engine.
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EDIT: Just called Ford dealer - you can get a key from VIN number only on 2005 and newer Fords. They did say a locksmith can "measure" a cylinder (without removing it) and cut a key. I didn't know that would have been possible. They also said there is a very good chance the column would only need a new cylinder.

Calling a locksmith now...
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EDIT: HaHaHaaaa. They want $29 to make the call and a minimum of $95 each for the column and door cylinder read.

I'll handle this.