First time putting pics up here

Bought my 1997 in June 1997, sold it, bought a few more, bought it again and decided it was a keeper. Been working on it ever since.

Forgot the stang

Any other plans for that truck?

I've been looking for a fiberglass bed cover for a few years, but vermillion stepside covers are hard to find, especially in the ones that lay mostly flat. I don't like the high rise or angled ones I see around.

I've had plenty of chances since 1997 to do anything I want, but in 15 years I've only seen one set I like and they were way too pricey. I WOULD have done the pony wheels in polished finish, but I waited too long and now everyone and their brother has a set so back to square one.

I'd change to bucket seats, but I actually really like the 60/40 tweed because they are so comfy and I have been leaning on that armrest for 15 years so I'm not looking to change my comfortable driving habit.

I bought a truck to have a truck, I bought the Stang to have a low fast car. I intend to keep them that way, that's why I have both....... so lowering the ranger is unlikely. I have considered bagging it so I could pick my ride height, but again I've spent 15 years learning how to drive this truck backwards, asleep, in a tornado, on ice.....so screwing up the handling and ride isn't much in my plans. You could improve it obviously, but if you are used to it, you're not doing yourself any favors.

So I'm sure I can come up with something to do if I try, but the mods I've done over the last decade and a half have been after I took years to consider them. I REALLY like my truck better than most anything so I'm really picky about it.

Right now it's been colormatched, bug guard, visors, striped, Eclipse head and Autotek amps I put in back in 1997 (old school 44 & 66) Focal mids and RF sub, flowmaster, and more maintenance parts than anyone will ever put on in mods. For instance I put new transmission and engine mounts on every 20k just to keep the 4 bangers vibration down.

I am properly anal about the truck which is why it looks like this at 160,000 miles.

That truck looks 3 months old, not 15 years old. You obviously take a lot of pride in it. Nice work!

Truxedo LoPro tonneau cover and a tailgate lip spoiler... Perfect solution.

BTW, truck looks amazing! Deserves STOTM nomination....

Trucks is clean as hell! Looks nice with the clear front lights.. Not a fan of the painted red lights tho.. Way cleaner than mine that is not even half of yours mileage. Nice to see that you are the original buyer and still have it!

Where does these interior door panels come from?

Panels? Interior is stock.

Thanks all..

Awesome truck! Don't be afraid to throw a few pics of that Mustang up either

I don't think I have but 3 or 4 pics of the car. I should take some.

Couple of the truck with the covers off the front. Forgot to mention I upgraded the tails.









Car has Flowmasters, K&N intake, Steeda Quadrant kit, Stage 4 clutch, adjustable dogleg shifter, etc......

Truck looks killer bro, I kinda like the painted head light covers with the racing stripes kinda gives that hot rod look. Lay her out an she'd be a dream!

How come you have black door handles and trays for stuff in them ? I am jealous lol. I also got the ugly black rubber carpet in mine.. Must have been some options at the dealer.

beluga420 said:

How come you have black door handles and trays for stuff in them ? I am jealous lol. I also got the ugly black rubber carpet in mine.. Must have been some options at the dealer.

Click to expand...

Yours must be an XL.
My old 98 XL had flat door panels, till I swapped in the XLT parts from a B3000.
Your visors are probably vinyl too huh...

beluga420 said:

How come you have black door handles and trays for stuff in them ? I am jealous lol. I also got the ugly black rubber carpet in mine.. Must have been some options at the dealer.

Click to expand...

FORD was nowhere near as stingy in the 90's as they are today about carpet, chrome, sliding glass, etc. XL's had a standard package, XLT's had a standard package. Anything that differed from that was options.

XL's had solid rear glass, no power options, vinyl bench seat, radio only - no tape or cd, brushed emblems, no carpet, painted bumpers, grey headlight trim, plain door panels with no pockets, no pin striping, even the dome light was different sporting one light instead of two. Many XL's were sold without A/C, it was an option.

XLT's had sliding rear glass, carpet, chrome bumpers, chrome headlight trim, tweed 60/40 seats with console, chrome emblems, upgraded door panels, better radio's, if extended cab it had power locks standard. Pin striping was standard but I always pulled it off, LOL. Plenty more to list..........

The latest versions have 5+ trim levels and none have chrome, most don't have any carpet, Sliding rear glass is hard to come by, etc.......... just terrible what they did to the ranger before they canned it last year.

I worked at Ford when I bought this truck in 97 and they were much more well equipped before they cut costs.

I think your truck would look sweet with the folding mirrors or even the 2006+ style mirrors painted to match the truck instead of that old style FLAG mirrors