Should I keep my ranger "original"

[sgtsandman]

Ditto. Not into the whole aftermarket strap on look. I see jeeps outfitted to hell that you can totally tell are complete pavement queens.

I am trying to figure out a sleek way to add lighting. So far I have a light bar that is on heavy magnets and removable. but it jiggles a lot. I gotta come up with a better removable system.

Do you need to have the lights high mounted? You could mount them behind the grill, if not. Of course, style of grill kinda dictates how do able that would be.

 

[Snoranger]

I wouldnt leave it original, but I’ve modified leased vehicles.

 

[stmitch]

You're a part of the most advanced species on this planet. That truck is an inanimate object. Don't let that object tell you what to do. As long as it's not hurting any living thing, make that object what you want it to be.

A bone stock Ranger really isn't worth any more than a well kept and tastefully modded one, so there shouldn't be any financial reasons to hold back either.

 

[Shran]

I modify just about everything I own although my exception to that would be a really nice, low mileage, all original truck (if I had one) would be hard for me to change. It's only that way once.

I've got no problem putting anything else under the knife. As was mentioned sometimes it will increase the value. I bought a junker '89 a while back that had a butchered 4 cylinder swap and a lot of junk in it, bullet holes in the hood and no wheels/tires for $100. A 4.0, M5OD, Explorer 8.8 and D35 were swapped in and everything cleaned up really well. Sold it for $3500.

 

[19Walt93]

I've never added lights to a vehicle- other than the ones on a plow frame- and now I can't stay out late enough to need lights except in the dead of winter when the days are short.
The trucks purpose in life is to make you happy, if you want to change something, do it.
There's a "pristine" Vega wagon in Hemmings this month for $25,000+, an old, rare turd is still a turd.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Do you need to have the lights high mounted? You could mount them behind the grill, if not. Of course, style of grill kinda dictates how do able that would be.

I would like to. I mounted some cheapos on the grill to try out, wasnt too happy with em and one already burned out from water getting in.
I have a ladder rack I may adapt to bolt on, and mount the light on that. I deally I would have a light bar high mounted and two better ones behind the grill.

Its funny you mention the grill. What started this thread was deciding not to replace my OEM grill with one of those fancy aftermarket grills.

 

[doorgunner]

Just don't go OVERBOARD with the mods.....
like some members do.....





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Harley exhausts...talk about rumble!

 

[Lefty]

Having friends who worked in the Ford Ranger assembly line, I find myself paying more and more attention to the little things that went into the original. I carefully replaced a lot of things that were stock. I got rid of the new aftermarket radio and replaced it with vintage. (By the way, they both sound the same). The old radio looks like it belongs there. And while I only listen to the radio, it is both a cassette and a disc player too. I replaced the hoodliner with one that in better condition, replaced the windshield, the rear window too, the center dash bezel, a tire change kit cover, and even the little round rubber stops inside the door jamb. I repainted the old rusty frame and had a body shop do the same on the top side.

Still I made some changes. I've put on new wheels and bigger tires, improving traction and increasing its value. Ford factory wheels were boring. Most show their age. The aluminums are rather boring. I added fender flares (which didn't come on stepsides like mine). Those flares help reduce the effects of mud sling that comes with those wider tires,

I added nerf style step bars so that my wife could get in easier.

Mine is an Edge which came from the factory with a three inch lift. I lowered it one inch to improve handling.

I trashed the heavy fiberglass Edge hood and replaced it with lightweight aluminum.

I had a dual exhaust installed to improve mileage and performance as well as brighten up the back end.

Regular cab step sides have become a thing of the past. No one else seems to have shed a tear, but this is a100 year old tradition. I chose to modify and create a retro look on purpose. Blackout headlights make them look like old round lights. I made a custom egg crate grill, a design which dates back as far as the fifties. I added some pinstripes. The old bed floor was beginning to rust out, so I made one from oak, so typical of older trucks.

Under the hood is an electric fan, a popular improvement here on the Forum, also a high performance intake filter. Both improve mileage and handling. I just added an uprated voltage regulator which keeps the battery charged even at idle with the air conditioner and all the lights on.

The word that many here use is RESTOMOD: Restore first then Modify, or Modernize, improving the truck's performance, maybe even giving it a custom look. It wasn't cheap, but then again, I'm driving a new/old truck, and driving it for much much less than a new Ranger, Bronco, or Maverick. i don't want to sell it. I love it, but if i did, I'm sure I would get more for it than if I sold one that is simply stock.

 

[superj]

i like the stock look but upgraded performance. a sleeper so you can go fast when you need to, either through the turns or light to light.

but, my ranger is still stock because its not broke down to change anything yet.

 

[Blmpkn]

That's what I thought about first-generation Mustangs and Camaros, when I was in high school- that they'd always be common, and cheap.

There's no better time than now to buy a the cleanest truck you can and stick it in the garage to (hopefully) appreciate over the next few decades! Once I have a garage, I'm buying something to do that with.. not sure what it'll be yet.

While it would definitely appreciate, even the cleanest, most optioned up first gens wouldn't get anywhere close to the level of desirability an old muscle car has imo.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve gone different ways with my builds. My green Ranger is probably going to end up slightly lower than stock, it is supposed to look stock-ish (sleeper), and I’m tricking it out a bit with custom stereo, lighting and such. And the engine that should have been offered, 5.0.

My F-150 looks stock if you don’t look close enough. When you dump a ton in the bed, it still looks stock, except anyone that knows even a tiny bit about these is suddenly raising an eyebrow that something is amiss. I’ve upgraded a ton of stuff with mostly stock parts, just for a heavier truck, like a F-350. I wanted it stockish in appearance because it doesn’t draw attention when I’m using it for work.

My choptop was already hacked when I got it which was entirely fine for my purposes with it presently on 35’s. I don’t care that it’s not stockish. It’s towards the wild side and that’s what I wanted with it.

My 88 I’m heading for a resto-mod. I want it to appear stockish, but to anyone who knows these trucks it will be heavily modified.

It’s all what my purposes for it are and where I decide to go with it. It doesn’t bother me that I chopped the radius arms on the 88 to do extended arms. I did it for improved ride quality and flex possibilities even though I’m only shooting for a max 2-3” of lift (1-2” suspension and 1” body). That lift goal may be reduced, I don’t want it to appear lifted but I want it slightly lifted. Specific goals. My choptop I have no problem cutting more on the body to achieve what I want out of it. Sure, Bronco II s are getting more rare around here and there’s very few un-modded ones, but I have different goals.

So it’s really where you want to go with it. If you want a modded one but don’t want to mod your nice one, pick up another to mod to the hilt, not like they are super rare yet so that’s easy enough to do as long as you have the space to get another to mod.

 

[RobbieD]

There's no better time than now to buy a the cleanest truck you can and stick it in the garage to (hopefully) appreciate over the next few decades!

Sick minds think alike.

The Twins. The green is the daily driver, and the white is the backup, that lives in the garage and is only driven occasionally.

Both are still all stock, and both are still factory original paint. They're both in great shape, well maintained, and dependable. Best of all- no car payments; and I think that they'll hold value, or maybe even appreciate over time.

As long as I can get parts (and gasoline!), I can keep them running myself without depending on a dealership or garage, or any "proprietary software" BS. I don't need a TV in my dash, and I don't need to adjust the house thermostat while I'm driving down the road. And I certainly don't need the damn thing to drive itself (I'm dangerous enough as it is, thank you). Basic transportation, baby.

It works out just fine for me, and I actually enjoy driving the old stuff. And it beats the hell out of walking or having to keep a horse around just to get to town.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There's no better time than now to buy a the cleanest truck you can and stick it in the garage to (hopefully) appreciate over the next few decades! Once I have a garage, I'm buying something to do that with.. not sure what it'll be yet.

While it would definitely appreciate, even the cleanest, most optioned up first gens wouldn't get anywhere close to the level of desirability an old muscle car has imo.

Not a Ranger but even if you cut the price in half you have more than a lot of "classic" cars.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-toyota-pickup-20/

But yeah, market is more limited. Time marches on though, 80's stuff is pickup up in value (even before everything got all weird)

My goal is to make my truck look like it is stock while virtually nothing about it is stock. It a fun game once you get into it.

 

[19Walt93]

Sick minds think alike.

The Twins. The green is the daily driver, and the white is the backup, that lives in the garage and is only driven occasionally.

View attachment 82575

Both are still all stock, and both are still factory original paint. They're both in great shape, well maintained, and dependable. Best of all- no car payments; and I think that they'll hold value, or maybe even appreciate over time.

As long as I can get parts (and gasoline!), I can keep them running myself without depending on a dealership or garage, or any "proprietary software" BS. I don't need a TV in my dash, and I don't need to adjust the house thermostat while I'm driving down the road. And I certainly don't need the damn thing to drive itself (I'm dangerous enough as it is, thank you). Basic transportation, baby.

It works out just fine for me, and I actually enjoy driving the old stuff. And it beats the hell out of walking or having to keep a horse around just to get to town.

We sold a pile of early Explorers but I don't think I've ever seen more than one 2 door at a time. It's nice to see them, it's a crime what road salt does to our vehicles.

 

[Blmpkn]

Not a Ranger but even if you cut the price in half you have more than a lot of "classic" cars.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-toyota-pickup-20/

But yeah, market is more limited. Time marches on though, 80's stuff is pickup up in value (even before everything got all weird)

My goal is to make my truck look like it is stock while virtually nothing about it is stock. It a fun game once you get into it.

Damn, even came with a nice ATC lol.

Your right though, 80s stuff is getting up there. Gotta buy more 80s vehicles while we can.