adsm08's Ranger build up

[adsm08]

Oh it is in amazing shape, but it could be better.

Given the configuration of this truck I have to believe that it was originally sold down south.

It's V6, 2wd, with AC and dog-ears. For an 80s Ranger that just kinda screams South. Especially when you take the condition of the under side into account. I have seen 2010 and newer trucks that were sold in PA in much worse shape than this.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Oh that's good!


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[bobbywalter]

yeah, its crazy about the steel content qualities....the 93 and newer trucks may as well have had cardboard frames if you were in a rust zone...


the frames are designed stronger and in relatives, lighter, especially post modularization. and of course much stronger post ttb/tib as long as they were not exposed to water


superior engineering with inferior materials is still an epic fail at the end of the day for us rust belters.

a few years back we counted over 40 rangers at a parts galore in flatrock. there were only 4 gen 1 trucks. every gen 1 truck...while rotted and with higher miles on the ones we could see then the gen 3, had all of their bracketry as delivered on the rear suspension...the rest of the trucks....some 2010.....100 percent failure and replace of at least one bracket...if not all, an soe of the the replacement brackets were already ready to fail


out west even some of the later trucks develope rot issues on the chassis.

only thing not ridiculously overbuilt on the gen 1 was the powertrain, but in relatives even that save for the a4ld was superior to the competition.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah. Both of these trucks still have 100% original brackets. The only thing on my black one that's been replaced was the trans cross member, and it was replaced with the one from the red truck. All the spring stuff, and maybe the coil buckets, are getting replaced during this. I will probably acid bath and paint the old spring hangers and shackles and keep them for backup.

Anyway, on to the pictures.

Here is the missing one from last night of how I lifted the front of the cab:


I am working on getting everything off the sides and middle of the frame, then I will take out the first and last cross members.

Passenger side:







Driver's side:






That's as far as I have gotten. I am hoping to finish stripping the frame, except for the engine cross member, today. I really wish I had a torch right now because I'd probably be done already.

 

[adsm08]

Got a bit more done before calling it quits for the day:





Two bolts still hold that rad arm bracket on, and obviously I haven't touched the shock/coil tower yet. But aside from those two things cross members are the only thinks left on the driver's side. It's only about half as far as I wanted to get today, but progress is progress.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Lol that's way too much work!


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[adsm08]

It actually hasn't been that much work. I spent a lot of time not working on it yesterday.

Also, when I am done this thing should last long enough to give to my boy when he starts driving. I'm not giving it to him, but it should still be around.

In about 7 years I am going to find him something old, missing power train a plus, and buy it for him and we are gonna do this all over again.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

That's a good plan!


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[adsm08]

Yeah, I like it.

I have always believed that the more you have in something the better you take care of it. As such I am going to let him pick any car he wants, he will have to find one, I will buy it, I will buy the parts, but we are gonna build it.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

That's cool, he will look back on that when he's an adult and realize how much you love him. I never got to do anything like that with my dad. He was always working.


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[adsm08]

Today's progress:

Rear axle out:



Last free bracket off:


Front axle is sort of out:


I called it quits around noon so I could get lunch. Didn't really plan to get a lot more done today since I needed to help clean up the house. Any further progress has now been delayed for at least several days due to a new situation.



Some of you (or maybe none of you) may have caught that I said all three of the crew were in the one picture from Sunday, but only my wife and son were visible. At 5:35 tonight the newest member of the family showed up. From first suspecting her water broke to baby she was only in labor for 5 hours.

 

[1qaz]

Congrats to you and Mom!! Another great creation!

 

[adsm08]

Thanks man. We are all pretty excited to have the little one here.

 

[1qaz]

She is BEAUTIFUL!!

 

[97RangerXLT]

Congratulations! Another one to help in the Ranger restoration!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while sitting in my underwear