new 83 v8 Ranger owner in Massachusetts

[CoreyTilton]

Hi guys!
my name is Corey, big fan of older body styled boxy fords. I have a mildly done up 93 F150, and an 82 econoline that has been custom converted to 4x4.
but ive always had a soft spot for really small, mid 80s rangers with v8 swaps.
ive been searching for years for the perfect truck to do the swap in.
needed to be standard cab, short bed, gen1 body.
needed to either be cheap enough to nab and do my own swap, or already have a swap done.
looks weren't a concern, as I planned on the end result being a kind of haggard looking weekend rat-rod like something you'd see in Mad Max.
a sort of Pickup Truck version of the V8 interceptor as it is in the 2nd and 4th films.

ive been mildly looking as of recent because of a handful of other projects i currently have going, so i had planned on doing a really hard New England search next summer or next fall.

however 2 weeks ago i stumbled on a vehicle that fit all my criteria and then some.
so after a lot of phone calls back and forth with heated negotiations, and a race against other buyers with what had to be the Craziest Car trailering experience ive ever had, I'm now the owner of a 1983 Ford Ranger. standard cab, short bed.

The truck, as it stands right now, has a 5.0HO swap that supposed had had some sort of performance mods done to it before going in (looks like heads, maybe cam), a T5 manual transmission with hurst shifter, 8.8 posi rear end, A-link style traction bars, and 6" wide center line drag wheels up front and 12" wide center line drags in the rear.

currently it needs a new starter, a fuel pump, and a battery to run. breaks are pretty seized up, the interior is in pieces, the wiring looks like a nightmare, and the exterior lacks something to be desired.
but for $1,200 im happy as a clam.
super stoked, and super stoked to join this forum.
i'll be asking Lots of questions!

- corey

 

[chvlfrk]

Welcome from SE TN!

More pics of this new toy......looks like you got what you was lookin for.....

Also start a build thread to keep us up on progress..........

 

[CoreyTilton]

thanks chvlfrk
i'll start a thread and throw up some pictures next week.
the name of the game on this is going to be "Baby Steps" for me.

- corey

Welcome from SE TN!

More pics of this new toy......looks like you got what you was lookin for.....

Also start a build thread to keep us up on progress..........

 

[Elutheros]

Welcome to the TRS! Always amazes me how some folks jump to buy wheels when the rest of the project is a mess. Good Luck!

 

[CoreyTilton]

That was my thought exactly elutheros.
That was the previous owner's big selling point/argument with me. He was claiming that the truck has $1200 worth of wheels and tires on it alone.

I begged to differ

- Corey

Welcome to the TRS! Always amazes me how some folks jump to buy wheels when the rest of the project is a mess. Good Luck!

 

[1qaz]

Welcome! Look forward to seeing those 'baby steps'.

 

[CoreyTilton]

thanks 1qaz!
step 1 is to get it turning itself over.
meaning a new mini starter with built in solenoid, and the wiring that goes along with doing away with the fender mount solenoid, and a battery.

after that step 2 will be making it run.
meaning a 15 gallon fuel cell in the bed, an inline electric fuel pump and filter, dropping the old tank, ripping out the old lines and replumming and rewiring.

I want to have it able to move in the driveway under its own power by the first snowfall. that's my current goal.

- corey

Welcome! Look forward to seeing those 'baby steps'.

 

[chvlfrk]

To each his own>>>>

thanks 1qaz!
step 1 is to get it turning itself over.
meaning a new mini starter with built in solenoid, and the wiring that goes along with doing away with the fender mount solenoid, and a battery.
after that step 2 will be making it run.
meaning a 15 gallon fuel cell in the bed, an inline electric fuel pump and filter, dropping the old tank, ripping out the old lines and replumming and rewiring.
I want to have it able to move in the driveway under its own power by the first snowfall. that's my current goal.- corey

====================
Yep! Been there done that

I like havin the fender mounted solenoid.....easier to bump it when your runnin valves & that kinda stuff.

I ran NEW lines from the fuel cell to the engine compartment, but personally like a "mechanical" fuel pump........if she's turnin over, she's pumpin!

 

[CoreyTilton]

====================
Yep! Been there done that

I like havin the fender mounted solenoid.....easier to bump it when your runnin valves & that kinda stuff.

I ran NEW lines from the fuel cell to the engine compartment, but personally like a "mechanical" fuel pump........if she's turnin over, she's pumpin!

very true very true.
other than being able to easily bump start it from under the hood, are there really any advantages to the fender mount solenoid?
ive replaced the fender mount in my 93 F150 about 3 times now, the one in my 82 econoline4x4 twice, and i have a Boston whaler with a built 351 in it that is also on its 3rd starter solenoid. not sure if its just me buying cheap chain-autoparts store solenoids, or what, but i read that the built in ones don't fail as much.
i have the same luck with starter motors to be honest. my 93 f150 is on its 3rd, my econoline has killed more starters than i can count, and the whaler.... salt water and starter motors just never play nice.

i ended up ordering an SVE High-Torque Mini Starter from from LMR.com . they claim (and it appears reviews back up) that these things are a ton more reliable than the standard oem starters, have waaayyy more clearance room for the headers, kick out some more juice, and don't get heat lock up running beside headers (which is something i do get everyonce in a while with my econoline when towing distances).


as for mechanical vs electric fuel pumps, although i am more a fan of mechanical, the truck currently has an electric In-Tank, so i figured it would be easiest to just stick with electric for now. i think i read on some mustang forums that there are some mods that need to be done to even make this engine accept a mechanical pump if it wasnt set up for one originally.

eventually... after i have this thing on the road and running nice for a while, i'll build a carbed 351W for it. because i really am not a fan of tinkering with fuel injection. but for now, this is what is in the truck.

- corey

 

[AzLizard]

Welcome

 

[Jeff190]

Oooooooh I like that!

 

[chvlfrk]

Oh yah............

Other than being able to easily bump start it from under the hood, are there really any advantages to the fender mount solenoid?
ive replaced the fender mount in my 93 F150 about 3 times now, the one in my 82 econoline4x4 twice, and i have a Boston whaler with a built 351 in it that is also on its 3rd starter solenoid. not sure if its just me buying cheap chain-autoparts store solenoids, or what, but i read that the built in ones don't fail as much.
i have the same luck with starter motors to be honest. my 93 f150 is on its 3rd, my econoline has killed more starters than i can count, and the whaler.... salt water and starter motors just never play nice.
- corey

=======================
From my 40+ years of experience, I don't buy electrical stuff from AutoBone or O'Reilly's.........I buy "lifetime" warranty parts, but don't want to be replacing them for a lifetime!

 

[det107]

Welcome to TRS

I've replaced the fender mount in my 93 F150 about 3 times now, the one in my 82 econoline4x4 twice, and i have a Boston whaler with a built 351 in it that is also on its 3rd starter solenoid. not sure if its just me buying cheap chain-autoparts store solenoids, or what, but i read that the built in ones don't fail as much.

WoW !! I smoked my older model trying to jump start it & hit the fender mount relay w/jumper cable. Never again making that mistake-

I have the same luck with starter motors to be honest. my 93 f150 is on its 3rd, my econoline has killed more starters than i can count, and the whaler.... salt water and starter motors just never play nice.

My Ranger is from is from lower Cape Cod area....Lucky me !

 

[bobbywalter]

i can dig this.

 

[CoreyTilton]

=======================
From my 40+ years of experience, I don't buy electrical stuff from AutoBone or O'Reilly's.........I buy "lifetime" warranty parts, but don't want to be replacing them for a lifetime!

Yeah. My problem is there is an autozone 1/4 mile from my home. So when a starter in my f150 or van does seize up (every couple of years) or a selenious starts sticking I'm always like "well, I could order an expensive after market unit and wait for it, or I could just go down the street and get the car running in 20 minutes.". It's just a bad habit I need to break at this point. I'll wait for all kinds of performance parts and upgrades when those things need to be replaced, but I always skimp out on starters and selenoids and occasionally batteries. So I'm trying to not do that with this ranger.

- Corey