1988 Ranger Restoration - Keeping a Promise

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Busy day yesterday. But hey, at least it will pass inspection now. [emoji1787]

Sad part is, from what I can tell, that's the original color of the truck.

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[Rangerx2]

I'm subscribed. As I live in the Pittsburgh area also I see all the time what the snow/salt does to trucks. The elements definitely weren't kind to this truck, but at the same time I can see where someone took care of it over the years. I'm hoping this truck helps cure you of your MOPAR addiction. There is hope! You can be cured! I once had a Dodge Dakota that was always costing me money for one repair or another. After that Dakota bit it when yours truly zonked out at the wheel one night after a very, very long day of work and school; another Ford Ranger helped me to overcome my Dodge habit. And thanks to Ford I have now been Dodge-free for almost 17 years!
Seriously though man, I sincerely hope that she is able to one day get her dad's truck back. Or at least see it restored to like-new condition and take a long ride in it for old time's sake. Do you know if her dad was the original owner?
I always get sentimental about these first-gen's, especially the super -cabs. I grew up in VA and learned how to drive on an 86 Ranger Supercab with the 4-popper /5-speed/2wd. I miss my old truck. I'm hoping it's still down there somewhere waiting for me to buy it back.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

New 'bama doors are on, and 'bama fenders are at a buddys being un-crinkled. Smittybilt bumpers are in their first coat of bedliner. Still shaking off the feeling of being able to taste sound and hear colors from the fumes of painting them in the basement.

Right now it's the technicolor truck. Need to snap a few photos of the interior. Laid down 80 mil Noico sound barrier over the interior, repairing rust, etc as I went. Damn thing is almost dead quiet inside now.

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[bobbywalter]

hell i would need heavier springs to put enough sound deaden-er in mine to make it sort of normal...and i already have heavy springs.


1 step at a time.


at least here in the cuckoo nest your not out of place.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I'm subscribed. As I live in the Pittsburgh area also I see all the time what the snow/salt does to trucks. The elements definitely weren't kind to this truck, but at the same time I can see where someone took care of it over the years. I'm hoping this truck helps cure you of your MOPAR addiction. There is hope! You can be cured! I once had a Dodge Dakota that was always costing me money for one repair or another. After that Dakota bit it when yours truly zonked out at the wheel one night after a very, very long day of work and school; another Ford Ranger helped me to overcome my Dodge habit. And thanks to Ford I have now been Dodge-free for almost 17 years!

Seriously though man, I sincerely hope that she is able to one day get her dad's truck back. Or at least see it restored to like-new condition and take a long ride in it for old time's sake. Do you know if her dad was the original owner?

I always get sentimental about these first-gen's, especially the super -cabs. I grew up in VA and learned how to drive on an 86 Ranger Supercab with the 4-popper /5-speed/2wd. I miss my old truck. I'm hoping it's still down there somewhere waiting for me to buy it back.

Dad was the original owner. Truck saw both coasts at one point or another.

Dropped off the old seats to her the other day. She is making a garage sofa out of them and was very happy to have them.

Pulled the seats out of a 1991 and a 2000 both. 1991 are so I have headrests while I figure out how in the hell I'm making tracks for the 2000. I want that damn cupholder haha

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[PetroleumJunkie412]

Oh. And need to have a fire sale of some of the takeoff parts that are building up. Or will trade for a FM146 [emoji23]

Need to.drop mine out to put the rebuild kit in it. I know the second I do though I'll need the truck. [emoji58]

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[PetroleumJunkie412]

Well. Despite my splatters and horrible flux core weld job, a new floor exists.

All of the crappy looking plates are just that; every spot that had a hole was patched with 16 gauge. Because that's all Lowes had.

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[bobbywalter]

good enough for me...wont you be a good chap and head over to my place down 22 and hop down 250 to dennison and do mine while i am still laid up at home in detroit....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

good enough for me...wont you be a good chap and head over to my place down 22 and hop down 250 to dennison and do mine while i am still laid up at home in detroit....

And after that you can jump on westbound I80 for a ways and do mine really quick.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Cross post from another thread I started. Before photo of the same floor.

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[bobbywalter]

yeah....remember.....we all play that floor game round here...



some of us on 2nd and 3rd floors...

 

[bobbywalter]

i got a 146 that might be rebuildable...


they are getting expensive....same or more then a m5od around here. i suggest just getting an m5od.

 

[Macneil87]

What floor? I don’t see a floor! That is typical for me around here. Northern Ontario Canada. We get pelted with road salt 4-5 months out of the year. Good job on rebuilding it with flux core!


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[PetroleumJunkie412]

Well, noise barrier on the floor is finished. That was a MASSIVE PAIN IN THE ASS. Next up is the walls, etc. Saving the ceiling for last.

Word of experience with the Noico butyl noise barrier: spring for the Noico brand name roller. I tried the clear/green knock off one, and lost a day to it. Had to order the brand name one immediately. The Noico brand name one makes the job go very fast (by comparison) and shows you wherewith bonded vs. not.

Stopped by the u-pull it yard today to look at a '86 and a '91 that had come in to see if either had a set of 15" factory aluminum rims. Neither of them had the wheels, but scored a set of the rear jump seat deletes that convert the jump seats to toolboxes, and a factory rear seat area tonneau cover out of the '86. I didn't even know that was a factory option. It's freaking awesome.

Also landed the duplicolor trim paint in flat black on a coupon combo from Advance. Six cans for $12. That combined with a black steering wheel with cruise control I found laying on the floor of another truck means black interior here I come. I will never make the mistake of painting a steering wheel again.

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[PetroleumJunkie412]

i got a 146 that might be rebuildable...





they are getting expensive....same or more then a m5od around here. i suggest just getting an m5od.

I'd definitely be interested in the FM146. I thought about doing the m5od conversion, but after I get this little headache back to factory-ish, I'm considering starting a collection for the parts to swap it to a 5.0l.

I figure I've built quite a few Mopar motors, and a few ancient air cooled Honda bike engines, so might as well learn Ford v8 while I'm at it. If it ever happens, it would be with the goal of building a sleeper that looks updated, but mostly stock.

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