My 83 4x4 build

[ThatOneGuy]

Well I should have done this sooner but anyway here it is i bought a 1983 2.3 4sp manual transfercase manual hub, long bed Ranger in August 2020. This is my 4th ranger,, my first was and 83 2.8 5sp manual transfercase long bed ranger which had rust take over,, and needed and engine rebuild so I retired it for parts after driving almost daily for 6 years. Second was an 85 ranger 2.3 2wd short bed that I resold shortly after purchase. My third was an 85 2x4 2.8 5sp which I drove for the majority of 5 years, with breaks here and there for repairs, engine finally went, and with a rusted out firewall went to my personal parts yard.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

So when I went to look at the truck at first glance it was rough. The interior was shot except for the after market door cards, and would only start while being jump started. But as I started looking closer, crawling underneath. I saw the body panels were in decent shape except for the doors, the frame was in great shape, floor pans were really good a few pin holes here and there, but new drum brakes, new front brakes on floor board new ignition components installed. Tires were a hazard though, he wanted 1200$, I offered 750 and he took it. As soon as I got the truck home I began dismantling th

e interior, unfortunately I didn't take a photos before I started. Turned out the was the dirtiest truck ever lol.

 

[dvdswan]

Dirty depends on the individual. Regardless, it looks like a great project vehicle.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Once I had it torn down I realized the p.o. had used spray on bed linner over flaky rust, and filth, absolutely no prep work done so I wire wheeled everything and striped all the seam sealer from the inside. Patched pin holes rust converted every where it was needed,than primed, laid in new seam sealer, sprayed floor with spray on bed linner, than painted the rest of the cab interior with the future paint color. Once that was done I opened all the access points, and cleaned out the cowel, once ready I revealed the leaking seam inside there, and sprayed every bit with bed liner, now the cowel leaked no more, there had been a small rust hole from the cowel to above the stearing column through the fire wall.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Then I stripped the dash down, repaired the one crack in the dash pad, repainted the dash and all cab trim peices, sprayed the metal section of dash that sits under the windshield, with bedliner, along with the dash cubby. After wards I installed sound deadener to the floor, roof, and large metal section of the dash. I then installed thermal barrier to the fire wall and back wall of cab. At this time I repaired all the damage to the wiring harness. At this point things were really coming together, unfortunately I didn't take alot of photos.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Then I insulated the engine side air box, installed new carpet, cleaned and painted the shifters.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

This is the final result once I had it all back together with a perfect seat I had from my 85

 

[ThatOneGuy]

My next project was to build a new battery tray the original was nothing but rust, so I bought a welder and some angle, and tried to weld for the first time, I dont have a pic of the finnished installed peice, however the welds have held great , I used some flat stock and the j bolts from an old hold down bracket to build my own.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Now it was time for the first drive since the day I brought her home. Drove to capital forest, and put her through the paces, drove wonderfully, 4x4 worked perfect

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Next I got the tube bumper I had on my original 83 ranger, oh my was it rough surface rust everywhere. And lichen growing on every surface, well I cleaned her up real nice and sprayed bed linner it looks killer now, but I didn't have a place for the license plate, so I installed some garden edging, under the tailgate, and mounted the license plate it it along with 2 led plate lights to keep the cops happy lol. I'll take a photo if it tomorrow.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Next I bought a couple explorers, to collect the parts needed to 4.0 5sp swap my truck, this is where I currently still am at, things take awhile when you can't dedicate all your time to it lol, I'll make more posts as I continue to make progress, hopefully I'll remember to take more pics.

 

[rebuild83]

Wow the interior turned out nice. A little hard can really pay off. How many hours did you have in the interior?

 

[dvdswan]

That will be a nice quiet interior.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Thank you

Wow the interior turned out nice. A little hard can really pay off. How many hours did you have in the interior?

Thank you I was really happy with the way it turned out and still am, it was over a year ago but it had to be 50 -60 hours id guess.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

It

That will be a nice quiet interior.

It is with the windows closed you can have a nice conversation, or enjoy some tunes, even with the exhaust leak and glass pack lol