XLS Ranger

[RobbieD]

I'm on the fence about the upholstered dash and cubby hole. Although it's kind of coming apart, it appears to very well done. The seams are perfectly sewed and trimmed... way past the skill level of the home hobbyist and it doesn't look like a cheap dealer add on. I think it came from the factory like that but that's just my personal opinion... we'll never know for sure unless we find others to compare with or some documentation.

Understandable, but that sure does look like the kind of stuff we'd do when I worked at van conversion shop in the '80's. In the dash cubby, see if the side panels are fabric-wrapped luan, and I think you'll find the original flocked finish behind the fabric. I've just never seen a fabric dash in any of the first gen trucks or in any factory literature (but by no means is it impossible that it's not a rare stock option). What is odd, though; is that in your pictures the only other aftermarket add I see is the running boards. Usually dolling up the interior included screwing wood trim on the dash and adding cupholders and lighting.

It does not have door speakers. I've never seen a first gen that does. The only ones I've seen besides the ones in the dash have been in little speaker boxes behind the seats in a single cab. Second gen single cabs also had optional speakers behind the seats but they were molded into the pillar trim at the bottom.

Right; first gens didn't have factory door speakers, but adding them was VERY popular back in the day. The OEM dash speakers wouldn't hold up to any kind of radio upgrade, and even a basic 5" door speaker sounded much better.

You do find some of the coolest stuff, Shran. Please keep posting these treasures when you find them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you ever get tired of tripping over those big bulky consoles, let me know...

Or better yet, find me a tan one

My cubby hole has some sort of felt type stuff in it. Looks factory but I haven't come across another one like it. Just a lowly Custom.

 

[Shran]

Here's another random oddball find from my junkyard trip today, a Ranger Explorer. I haven't seen one of those before either. It's an '86, long box 4x4 with a 2.3. Weird truck. It sits pretty high too so I thought at first it may have a lift or something but it's all stock. The Explorer decal is done in the same font that I have seen on mid 80's F150's with the Explorer package.

Understandable, but that sure does look like the kind of stuff we'd do when I worked at van conversion shop in the '80's. In the dash cubby, see if the side panels are fabric-wrapped luan, and I think you'll find the original flocked finish behind the fabric. I've just never seen a fabric dash in any of the first gen trucks or in any factory literature (but by no means is it impossible that it's not a rare stock option). What is odd, though; is that in your pictures the only other aftermarket add I see is the running boards. Usually dolling up the interior included screwing wood trim on the dash and adding cupholders and lighting.

Right; first gens didn't have factory door speakers, but adding them was VERY popular back in the day. The OEM dash speakers wouldn't hold up to any kind of radio upgrade, and even a basic 5" door speaker sounded much better.

You do find some of the coolest stuff, Shran. Please keep posting these treasures when you find them.

Yeah, it could very well be aftermarket. I don't know. The dash cubby fabric I think is just glued straight to the factory surface behind it. You're right, there's not much other aftermarket stuff on it except the running boards and the bug shield on the hood.

If you ever get tired of tripping over those big bulky consoles, let me know...

Or better yet, find me a tan one

My cubby hole has some sort of felt type stuff in it. Looks factory but I haven't come across another one like it. Just a lowly Custom.

Bro... road trip... I guarantee you'll go home with at least one of those consoles and maybe some box sides too

 

[Shran]

I forgot to mention that I got this second XLS truck running the other day!

It's been so long since I've dealt with a carburetor. I'm actually shocked that it runs... I pulled a 5 gallon bucket full of mouse nest off the top of the engine! Wires/hoses chewed threw, the works. Had two fire extinguishers ready when I connected the battery and turned the key but nothing bad happened.

I put the starter back in, redirected the fuel pump feed into a gas can as I'm sure the tank is in awful shape, filled the float bowl and it fired right up! Once it gets running it stays running but it's got the usual leaking carburetor issues.

It also sounds like it needs a valve adjustment job done. Not really a lifter tick type noise, not a knock, but more like a constant typewriter style tick, all the time. Holds oil pressure and seems to run very strong other than that.

I thought I would try to make it move so I dumped 5 quarts of ATF in, assuming that the previous owner told me the whole story about how "it started leaking so I quit driving it." What I did not know was that there was no pan gasket and the pan was only held on by four bolts so it obviously leaked some. No fluid on the dipstick after 5 quarts and no movement... not good... pulled the pan and found metal chunks and a big half ring shaped part, maybe a broken snap ring or something. Obviously junk.

Probably will put a 5 speed in it, although I don't have a good one of those either at the moment... I hate to admit this but I think I'm going to try rebuilding the FM146 I have out back. Then clean out the rest of the mouse nests, a drivers side floor pan, Duraspark swap..................

I have too many projects, I should make my kid take this one on for his first vehicle.

 

[RonD]

Yes, go with the kid, slave labor(well payment is in knowledge) is great while it lasts, they leave home too quick and you don't realize it until it happens
Don't tell them its "bonding" tell them its punishment or a reward which ever works best that day

 

[Shran]

Yes, go with the kid, slave labor(well payment is in knowledge) is great while it lasts, they leave home too quick and you don't realize it until it happens
Don't tell them its "bonding" tell them its punishment or a reward which ever works best that day

I've been poking at him all week to see if he's interested... first it was "is it an automatic? I don't like manuals"

Well kid, you're 13, you have zero knowledge about the subject. It will be undergoing a 5 speed swap.

Today on the way to school I prodded a little more and he seemed to be a little more interested. I think there's a small spark of interest there. I think I've worked a deal with someone for most of what I need for the Duraspark conversion and maybe a couple transmissions that I'm picking up today... it's moving slowly but there is progress!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Needs more A4LD... for experiences.

 

[BlackBII]

Those XLS decals are awesome.

 

[MikeG]

Tell him he can have an automatic, if he can take an A4LD apart and put it back together correctly

 

[Shran]

This is all true, no kid should live without the experience of losing 4th gear on the highway or overheating the stupid thing and watching it puke fluid all over.

If I had a local friend who knew A4LDs I would probably just leave the auto in it and rebuild it myself but the furthest I've gone into one is changing the pan gasket and filter so my comfort level is pretty low.

 

[RonD]

Any one can drive an automatic
Manual trans operation is a learning curve, like riding a bicycle, and like riding a bicycle its something you never forget, once you learn it

Like a secret place in a video game where you can get extra lives, series of button presses and actions, something you learn by repeating over and over

And vehicles with manuals are less likely to be stolen, new generation thieves can't drive manuals, lol

 

[Dirtman]

Any one can drive an automatic
Manual trans operation is a learning curve, like riding a bicycle, and like riding a bicycle its something you never forget, once you learn it

Like a secret place in a video game where you can get extra lives, series of button presses and actions, something you learn by repeating over and over

And vehicles with manuals are less likely to be stolen, new generation thieves can't drive manuals, lol

There's a hack for everything!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is all true, no kid should live without the experience of losing 4th gear on the highway or overheating the stupid thing and watching it puke fluid all over.

If I had a local friend who knew A4LDs I would probably just leave the auto in it and rebuild it myself but the furthest I've gone into one is changing the pan gasket and filter so my comfort level is pretty low.

My junior year mine burned up and I only had the forward gears. No park, reverse or anything. Fluid was metal flake black and smelled exactly like burnt popcorn.

Dad bought a wrecked truck truck and that was my first "big" project on the truck. We got it back together just in time for prom... 19 years ago.

Trans was still good when I turned it in for a core on my M5ODR2

 

[RonD]

I LIKE IT!!!

 

[copyman]

love seeing all these old manual rangers, thanks for sharing