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85 Mad Max Build


TheStig88

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hey all
thought i would FINALLY post the build thread for my 85 4x4 over here on TRS...

i don't post much here but i figured i would change that (i'm mostly found lurking over on FRF)

after i wrecked my 87 a few years back, i wanted another 1st gen REALLY bad so i started hunting around craigslist and local ads for the perfect project truck.

after about 6 months i found one that fit all my criteria....but she was rough...

my plan was to build a bare essentials 4x4 rig that would drive through hell and back
i wanted EVERYTHING to be manual
no electronics
nothing automatic
i brought her home on september 18th.....she was ready to roll Decmber 6th
and i'm still doing little odd mods here and there

but here is my (long) story....








some old farmer had her tucked away in a barn after sitting outside for the better part of a decade....he decided to try and fix her up but it was too much work for him...
he had it listed with a bunch of scrap metal and the guys who came to look at it before me were gonna take it and have her crushed :icon_surprised:

after talking to the guy and telling him i was an avid Ranger enthusiast he let me have it for $600 instead of the $800 he was asking... :headbang:

after getting her home i went to work immediately....
the interior had to go
















after all that was cleaned out, i decided to get the ol' girl running again....
and with a 2.8.....of course you have to do a duraspark conversion

to give you an idea....this is the motor BEFORE













mmmm....varnished plugs






putting the new tank in...


heres all the computer stuff i yanked out...


heres the motor somewhat back together....










with the bed still off....i replaced ALL the u-joints and power washed the frame and undercoated it...





meanwhile.....the bed got a facelift.....







and with everything else being updated and renewed....i took the front axle apart as well








with everything renewed and cleaned.....i started piecing her back together and gave her a fresh coat of paint....

the engine is all complete...



the bumpers got bedcoated...



heres a nice before paint shot....









Paint is done...


and polished up all the chrome and added some new chrome badging...





now...about that interior....




found this stuck to the visor....


custom made new door panels....


made a switch panel....






oh...and custom LED cluster...



re-painted the needles...





got all the lights wired up and relays working...




after MANY hours of labor just over 2 months.....i had her running and looking like new and ready to rock :headbang:




 


Boggin

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sweet build!
 

94xlt4.0

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that tings come a long way, good to see another rbv being saved from the scrapper
 

railman

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really nice way to bring a good old truck back :icon_thumby:

keep us updated....

l8r, John
 

Chevelle Kid

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Nice! Going to lift her?
 

Bennybooster

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That looks really good
 

TheStig88

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Nice! Going to lift her?
i do plan on a long arm lift with a Dana 30 sas in the future...haven't decided on how much just yet...depends on what parts are at my disposal when i go to do it.

gettin married next year so my "Fun" funds are froze for now so a lift won't be anytime soon

right now its just a bullet proof DD.....i'll drive her til she breaks, then upgrade :icon_thumby:
 

WesB

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Great looking 1st gen. How do you like those tires? My local tire dealer has them and I've been thinking about them.
 

TheStig88

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Great looking 1st gen. How do you like those tires? My local tire dealer has them and I've been thinking about them.
love em

my dad had them on his jeep and was always braggin on them so i got a set

we just had that blizzard here in the midwest and i had no troubles moving around in the 18+ inches of snow

they do have a slight drone but thats what driving a badass truck is all about :headbang:
 

SnC RangeR

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wow what a turn around. awsome truck!
 

4.0B2

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sweet man.. looks great. i like that ranger emblem on there like that... and your switch panel, might steal that idea since i don't use a/c... lol
 

TheStig88

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what did u do for seats? i see something new in there.
i went to a JY and found a rolled 96 ext. cab with buckets

shortened the mounting brackets and bolted the driver side in with some custom tabs...
it doesn't slide forward anymore cuz i cut it too short (i'm 6'2" and needed all the room i could get)

the passenger side i did the same thing but left it 1/4 inch taller so it is adjustable...

i'll go back this summer when i redo the floors and re-adjust the drivers side but it works for now
 

TheStig88

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sweet man.. looks great. i like that ranger emblem on there like that... and your switch panel, might steal that idea since i don't use a/c... lol
the panel is actually an aluminum "emergency exit" sign off a school bus...

i had it laying around since high school :thefinger:


it fit perfectly...the only thing i had to do was drill the holes for the switches
the original mounting holes i just bored out a little larger for the pop rivets i uesd
 

177CIOfPureLove

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Wow man, thats a really nice job! I couldn't believe that picture you took of the valve train, she sat that long and is still that clean? It looks like a really well taken care of 2.8, thats for sure. I really like what your doing there!
 

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