- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 3,876
- Reaction score
- 1,734
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Macon/Fort Valley, GA
- Vehicle Year
- 1999
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- V8
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
Most fitting name I could think of considering how slowly I'm working on it.
For all pics I post click the pic for larger.
Some of you may have heard, but many haven't, that I wrecked my 84 Ranger in October 2009. Driving into work and wrapped it around a pecan tree.
At the time of the accident it had 150-150K miles on the truck. I had recently rebuilt the 2.8L V6, and had all the parts I needed to lower it. Unfortunately I never got the chance to install them, or maybe it was fortunate since they didn't get damaged in the wreck.
Well I had my 99 Ranger, my motorcycle, and my 1996 Probe, but none could quite replace the joy of driving that truck, so I started hunting for a new body almost immediately. In February 2010 I found this 86 short bed for $500.
(I'm not a cowboys fan, that was from the PO, and is practically welded to the bumper.)
Current plans are to build it into what I wanted that 84 to become. Starting out with the suspension. Got everything pulled out. All the parts painted and waiting to go back in.
Will be installing these dream beams, Edelbrock IAS shocks, and all poly body mount and suspension bushings. I've also got a BII 1" rear sway bar and an Addco (I think) front sway bar, but both are currently still on the 84.
While I had the suspension out and no engine in the truck I decided that now would be as good of a time as any to clean and start painting the front portion of the frame. So I started cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning some more. Then I decided the hell with this, If I'm going to this much work I'm going to really tear int it and clean and paint everything so I started pulling the fenders, fender wells etc. Didn't realize how much extra room that would give or I would have done it first.
Then when removing the pass side wheel well liner, this is what I found staring at me:
In case you can't tell that is exterior side of the pass foot well. This is the only major "cancer" I have found on this truck, so far. I know this isn't bad rust compared to alot of vehicles out there, but I'm at a loss as to how to move forward form this point. I'm not a body man, I don't own a welder, and don't know any people who do that kind of stuff. Any suggestions on how to fix this rust will be appreciated.
I also found this CheckerPro Checkmate FX tonneau in craigslist for $150. I always wanted one of these for the 84, but wouldn't come off the cash for it. Glad I didn't now, never could have beat that deal.
As I the title suggests the progress on this will be at a snail's pace. Hopefully this quarter of school won't be to rough and I can work on it along. I'll also be off summer quarter so I should be able to get a bit done then. I'll add updates and more pics as I move along. Of course I think my next step will be striping out the interior to get a better idea of the rust damage and how to fix it.
For all pics I post click the pic for larger.
Some of you may have heard, but many haven't, that I wrecked my 84 Ranger in October 2009. Driving into work and wrapped it around a pecan tree.
At the time of the accident it had 150-150K miles on the truck. I had recently rebuilt the 2.8L V6, and had all the parts I needed to lower it. Unfortunately I never got the chance to install them, or maybe it was fortunate since they didn't get damaged in the wreck.
Well I had my 99 Ranger, my motorcycle, and my 1996 Probe, but none could quite replace the joy of driving that truck, so I started hunting for a new body almost immediately. In February 2010 I found this 86 short bed for $500.
(I'm not a cowboys fan, that was from the PO, and is practically welded to the bumper.)
Current plans are to build it into what I wanted that 84 to become. Starting out with the suspension. Got everything pulled out. All the parts painted and waiting to go back in.
Will be installing these dream beams, Edelbrock IAS shocks, and all poly body mount and suspension bushings. I've also got a BII 1" rear sway bar and an Addco (I think) front sway bar, but both are currently still on the 84.
While I had the suspension out and no engine in the truck I decided that now would be as good of a time as any to clean and start painting the front portion of the frame. So I started cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning some more. Then I decided the hell with this, If I'm going to this much work I'm going to really tear int it and clean and paint everything so I started pulling the fenders, fender wells etc. Didn't realize how much extra room that would give or I would have done it first.
Then when removing the pass side wheel well liner, this is what I found staring at me:
In case you can't tell that is exterior side of the pass foot well. This is the only major "cancer" I have found on this truck, so far. I know this isn't bad rust compared to alot of vehicles out there, but I'm at a loss as to how to move forward form this point. I'm not a body man, I don't own a welder, and don't know any people who do that kind of stuff. Any suggestions on how to fix this rust will be appreciated.
I also found this CheckerPro Checkmate FX tonneau in craigslist for $150. I always wanted one of these for the 84, but wouldn't come off the cash for it. Glad I didn't now, never could have beat that deal.
As I the title suggests the progress on this will be at a snail's pace. Hopefully this quarter of school won't be to rough and I can work on it along. I'll also be off summer quarter so I should be able to get a bit done then. I'll add updates and more pics as I move along. Of course I think my next step will be striping out the interior to get a better idea of the rust damage and how to fix it.
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