1992 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 4x2 “Sam”

[slycer2002]

This is my 92 Ranger XLT 3.0 “Sam” that I’ve owned just north of 30 years.

Back in 2021 money was tight and I had to park Sam when her brakes seized in the front and I couldn’t afford new ones at the time. Add that to the list of other issues (failing fuel pump, inop wiper motor, etc) it was just easier to park her. And she sat for 4.5 years. My son recently decided he is going to resurrect Sam so he can have something to drive, so this is that build. During one of the times I started Sam and drove her around the block just to keep the juices flowing, the power steering pressure line blew. So that got added to the list.

So far we’ve replaced the battery, changed the oil, drained the old gas out of the fuel tank and changed the fuel filter. Tomorrow the parts start to arrive. We have front brake/wheel hub parts, wiper motor, tune-up, and power steering lines on the way. Then we can really dig into bring this old girl back to life. Wish us luck!

Oh, and we also have a hole in the driver’s floorboard now because Sam was parked on grass. Oh, joy…

 

[Sacredauto6]

Great starting place for a project!

 

[slycer2002]

So 95% of the parts arrived today. Still waiting on the brake lines. But I have to do something I’ve never done before: return parts to Rock Auto. The power steering lines were shipped in the same box as the brake rotors, and it looks like a rotor shifted during shipping and crimped the metal portion of the return line. Anybody have experience with their return process?

 

[slycer2002]

Well, good news and bad news. Good news is we received the replacement power steering return line from RockAuto already, so I’m greatly impressed. The bad news is that, while in the process of removing the bed bolts to pull the bed and replace the fuel pump, I’m pretty sure I snapped one of them. Specifically, the one on the driver’s side right next to the front of the bed. So the other end of it is under the fuel tank. I think the fuel pump just got put on hold. And why the hell are replacement bed bolts so freakin’ expensive?!? $70 for the entire bed mounting kit? For six bolts and six u-nuts… Damn, I think I’m in the wrong line of work!

 

[sgtsandman]

Well, good news and bad news. Good news is we received the replacement power steering return line from RockAuto already, so I’m greatly impressed. The bad news is that, while in the process of removing the bed bolts to pull the bed and replace the fuel pump, I’m pretty sure I snapped one of them. Specifically, the one on the driver’s side right next to the front of the bed. So the other end of it is under the fuel tank. I think the fuel pump just got put on hold. And why the hell are replacement bed bolts so freakin’ expensive?!? $70 for the entire bed mounting kit? For six bolts and six u-nuts… Damn, I think I’m in the wrong line of work!

Specialty hardware sure does get expensive fast, doesn't it?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would just skip that bolt for a while, it'll stay in place with 5... If I was any good at organizing I think I have some spare somewhere, but where that is I really couldn't tell you...

 

[slycer2002]

I would just skip that bolt for a while, it'll stay in place with 5... If I was any good at organizing I think I have some spare somewhere, but where that is I really couldn't tell you...

Unfortunately, I had already pulled three before that happened. But since the truck needs a fuel pump and has a blown power steering line, it’s not going anywhere fast.

 

[SenorNoob]

As long as you have 2 good u-nuts for the front of the bed, Everything else can be replaced with hardware store parts. There is room underneath to put a wrench and nut on the back 4. Of course you really need a helper...

 

[slycer2002]

As long as you have 2 good u-nuts for the front of the bed, Everything else can be replaced with hardware store parts. There is room underneath to put a wrench and nut on the back 4. Of course you really need a helper...

So of course it would be one of the back ones that I’m having issues with.

 

[SenorNoob]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. Did the bolt break or does it just turn in the frame? If the bolt broke go ahead and remove the bed. If it's turning but won't come out, grinder time.