1988 Mildly sort of rare Shotgun Custom

[Franken5liter]

Got a new windshield installed today to replace the original that came with truck having 4 bb/pellet impacts and the subsequent near full length crack. Tackled the seam sealing too. Used white POR15 and a bunch of Frog tape to limit the mess. Turned put pretty good for the most part. The seams above the read window were the trickiest. Wanted to cover up the rust and bare metal. Pics on the cured seam sealer tomorrow.

 

[Ranger850]

You must love taping. lol. Nice truck

 

[Franken5liter]

You must love taping. lol. Nice truck
View attachment 45253

View attachment 45254

Nice!! Wheres that emblem from???

 

[Franken5liter]

Some snaps of the seam seal spots

 

[09fx4guy]

You are doing a fantastic job! The attention to detail you show is amazing.

 

[Ranger850]

@Franken5liter I just googled "Ranger Raptor Badges"
Looks like a company called "Truck Emblem Warehouse"

 

[Uncle Gump]

I had that very set of Ranger SVT badges in my Amazon cart....

It appears they are out of stock with no date on it returning. I may have to email them. I remember they weren't cheap and why I didn't just buy them.

 

[RobbieD]

I agree, you are doing some outstanding work in giving this truck a new life.

Please keep the updates coming!

 

[Uncle Gump]

I am gonna give the 2.9 an in depth look after its out, possibly next week. In terms of the overall build I may just keep posting here unless a kind moderator/admin can move Me over to a build thread board so I don’t have to re-type and upload what Was posted earlier. Thoughts?

I say just keep posting your info here for a minute. Even though there doesn't seem to be alot of information about it... I believe there is validity in it being a "rare" Ranger. I think we should perhaps pull the build thread info out into it's own thread... but leave the other information here where it is.

@Jim Oaks thoughts?

 

[Franken5liter]

More disassembly for cleaning and reconditioning. Rear sliding window assembly taken apart for proper tinting and some period correct stickers
Also got the tailgate face plate off for polishing and a coat of penetrol. Chipping away at this fine lil beast day by day...

 

[JoshT]

OfferUp I guess I'm going to have to start looking at that site. If I'd seen that thing for sale you might not have had a chance at it. Glad you got it though, you're doing a much better job with it than I would have.

Mind if I ask where in GA it came from?

Keep up with the great work. I'm curious about what's going on with that engine stuff as well.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Late to the game here....but i am of no help. Ive never seen or heard of what you got there.

But, custom or not its a bad ass truck.

 

[Franken5liter]

OfferUp I guess I'm going to have to start looking at that site. If I'd seen that thing for sale you might not have had a chance at it. Glad you got it though, you're doing a much better job with it than I would have.

Mind if I ask where in GA it came from?

Keep up with the great work. I'm curious about what's going on with that engine stuff as well.

Haha! Yeah I was scouring FB marketplace, eBay, Craigslist and OfferUp. When I found it listed in Dawsonville GA, the beauty had only been posted for 11 hours that Wednesday and immediately offered to send money to hold it for me. Hauled ass out that Friday to get it. I don’t even wanna say how big of a deal I got on it haha!
Thanks for the kudos on the work; I want this girl to last a long time here in the rust belt as a daily and look good doing it. It’s been ferociously hot here so I haven’t done much to it in the last week but lots in the pipeline!

 

[Franken5liter]

The big reveal for PetroleumJunkie
I finally got around to pulling the driver’s valve cover. Came off no problem but there’s definitely some crud sludge carbon in them head bolts. A future post build project will be to clean up this 2.9 and build a decent test run stand.
Anyhow, other than the grime let me know what y’all have on the heads. I’m leaning towards factory stockers, but my 2.9 knowledge is novice at best.

 

[JoshT]

Dawsonville is a nice area. Not very close to where I am, but a lot closer than you were I suppose. Been a while since I made it to that part of the state, I need to plan a long weekend trip once the weather starts cooling back off.

Looks like pretty standard 2.9L stuff from here, but I'm more fimiliar with the 2.8L. Might be something special in the valve sizes or porting, but wouldn't know from that view.