1990 Supercab rock crawler build

[MalcolmB]

I've been looking on therangerstation for years and I have owned my 1990 for years and realized I should maybe post a bit on it. So first some backstory.
I bought this truck in late 2022, it was already solid axle swapped with Duff long arms and 5.5 inch lift coils. d44 and 9 inch the usual. It was on its 3rd 2.9 v6, but I was a dumb highschooler wanting a easy way into off roading (little did I know how little id go off road and how much work I'd be doing).

So it was covered bedliner and had a 93-97 ranger splash step side bed on it.
it sat for 5 years before I got it. In my first week of ownership the distributor broke, fixed it, later the truck caught fire on the interior due to some wiring issues, and so the journey of a constant battle of tear apart and repair started.

I bought a 1986 single cab for 300 bucks, this is after I stripped the truck down, the frame and cab were damaged badly on the drivers side.
It's bed got swapped onto my truck and while inspecting my truck I discovered my radiator was held up with self tappers, so I thought "oh I like the 83-88 front end it should be a easy swap." yea no.

Nearly a month of work later and I had a full front clip from a 84 ranger installed along with new 35 inch falken at3ws. I shortly after swapped the entire interior to a 87 red interior.

Now we are almost caught up, so I drove the truck maybe 1000 miles just enjoying it, making sure everything is fine before I do my first simple trail off road with a friend, this was roughly 3 years into owning it and I had started college. I was driving home from class when suddenly I lost a lot of power and couldn't climb above 45. Get home and the little 2.9 with 50k miles had started knocking. I did a oil change and just got everything cleaned up enough to keep it running till I could get ahold of all the parts to shove a 302 into it.
I went through I don't even know how many engine options, transmissions, transfer cases. first was f150 302, e4od, bw1356. The 302 was junk, the e4od was damaged. So I sold it all then got a np435 for cheap, and np205, and my neighbor offered me his freshly rebuilt 302.
The "16,000 mile" np435 was full of water rust and lots of metal. I am still finishing the rebuild as it needed a new idler gear. The np205 is all buttoned up and pretty.
before

after

I eventually gave up on a budget build, so I picked up a np203 for 150 bucks, and bought a Offroaddesign doubler

Then progress got stagnant as I didn't quite have a space to swap it, since a engine hoist doesn't roll well in gravel and sand. So the marketplace addiction struck and I ended up with a ZF8HP70 4x4 and a 5.4 dohc, thought I was going to use it, changed my mind and sold the zf8 and am trying to sell the 5.4.
Almost caught up now, so my family finally got our shop built and I pulled the truck in and within a week I had it pulled apart. I didn't want to remove the cab but due to some funkiness from the previous owner I couldn't get the transmission unbolted without it off.

yes that is a old f250 frame, I originally wanted to frame swap but that frame was twisted.

Now finally to modern day, so I sold a set of beadlocks I had and am picking up a zf5. The drivetrain plan is 302, zf5, np203, np205. I know, overkill for never having been able to actually take it to any major trails other than the field near my house. I also have a set of Chevy 64s for the rear I got for 60 bucks. I also got a shortie water pump and pulleys from CVF so I'm interested in how that will go.

I am going to work on updating this when I can amongst college classes and work, but I am hoping to have most of the swap done by Christmas.
Also apologies for the length and amount of photos.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Don't apologize! As far as it goes with these guys, you just barely met the requirements for content and picture count!

This looks like a labor of love. Many people would've given up by now, but you've kept at it through major issues. Kudos!