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TheStig88
Well-Known Member
hey all
thought i would FINALLY post the build thread for my 85 4x4 over here on TRS...
i don't post much here but i figured i would change that (i'm mostly found lurking over on FRF)
after i wrecked my 87 a few years back, i wanted another 1st gen REALLY bad so i started hunting around craigslist and local ads for the perfect project truck.
after about 6 months i found one that fit all my criteria....but she was rough...
my plan was to build a bare essentials 4x4 rig that would drive through hell and back
i wanted EVERYTHING to be manual
no electronics
nothing automatic
i brought her home on september 18th.....she was ready to roll Decmber 6th
and i'm still doing little odd mods here and there
but here is my (long) story....
some old farmer had her tucked away in a barn after sitting outside for the better part of a decade....he decided to try and fix her up but it was too much work for him...
he had it listed with a bunch of scrap metal and the guys who came to look at it before me were gonna take it and have her crushed
after talking to the guy and telling him i was an avid Ranger enthusiast he let me have it for $600 instead of the $800 he was asking...
after getting her home i went to work immediately....
the interior had to go
after all that was cleaned out, i decided to get the ol' girl running again....
and with a 2.8.....of course you have to do a duraspark conversion
to give you an idea....this is the motor BEFORE
mmmm....varnished plugs
putting the new tank in...
heres all the computer stuff i yanked out...
heres the motor somewhat back together....
with the bed still off....i replaced ALL the u-joints and power washed the frame and undercoated it...
meanwhile.....the bed got a facelift.....
and with everything else being updated and renewed....i took the front axle apart as well
with everything renewed and cleaned.....i started piecing her back together and gave her a fresh coat of paint....
the engine is all complete...
the bumpers got bedcoated...
heres a nice before paint shot....
Paint is done...
and polished up all the chrome and added some new chrome badging...
now...about that interior....
found this stuck to the visor....
custom made new door panels....
made a switch panel....
oh...and custom LED cluster...
re-painted the needles...
got all the lights wired up and relays working...
after MANY hours of labor just over 2 months.....i had her running and looking like new and ready to rock
thought i would FINALLY post the build thread for my 85 4x4 over here on TRS...
i don't post much here but i figured i would change that (i'm mostly found lurking over on FRF)
after i wrecked my 87 a few years back, i wanted another 1st gen REALLY bad so i started hunting around craigslist and local ads for the perfect project truck.
after about 6 months i found one that fit all my criteria....but she was rough...
my plan was to build a bare essentials 4x4 rig that would drive through hell and back
i wanted EVERYTHING to be manual
no electronics
nothing automatic
i brought her home on september 18th.....she was ready to roll Decmber 6th
and i'm still doing little odd mods here and there
but here is my (long) story....
some old farmer had her tucked away in a barn after sitting outside for the better part of a decade....he decided to try and fix her up but it was too much work for him...
he had it listed with a bunch of scrap metal and the guys who came to look at it before me were gonna take it and have her crushed
after talking to the guy and telling him i was an avid Ranger enthusiast he let me have it for $600 instead of the $800 he was asking...
after getting her home i went to work immediately....
the interior had to go
after all that was cleaned out, i decided to get the ol' girl running again....
and with a 2.8.....of course you have to do a duraspark conversion
to give you an idea....this is the motor BEFORE
mmmm....varnished plugs
putting the new tank in...
heres all the computer stuff i yanked out...
heres the motor somewhat back together....
with the bed still off....i replaced ALL the u-joints and power washed the frame and undercoated it...
meanwhile.....the bed got a facelift.....
and with everything else being updated and renewed....i took the front axle apart as well
with everything renewed and cleaned.....i started piecing her back together and gave her a fresh coat of paint....
the engine is all complete...
the bumpers got bedcoated...
heres a nice before paint shot....
Paint is done...
and polished up all the chrome and added some new chrome badging...
now...about that interior....
found this stuck to the visor....
custom made new door panels....
made a switch panel....
oh...and custom LED cluster...
re-painted the needles...
got all the lights wired up and relays working...
after MANY hours of labor just over 2 months.....i had her running and looking like new and ready to rock
