'85 Ranger Restomod

[Curious Hound]

Fred didn’t have that transfer case to bang his legs on while “driving”

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Fred didn’t have that transfer case to bang his legs on while “driving”

Front driveshaft could be worse.

 

[DannyG]

I like the direction you are taking in weight reduction and cabin ventilation!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

About done with demo:





Bucket of shame:



This was pretty easy, I have a inkling fitting the new piece will be a PITA though.

 

[shane96ranger]

I need to keep an eye on this. I need to cut cancer out of the F150 pretty soon.

What is that tool you are using for cutting?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I need to keep an eye on this. I need to cut cancer out of the F150 pretty soon.

What is that tool you are using for cutting?

The nibbler thing worked good for getting it opened up. Feed the steel in even, if you come out at an angle so one side is empty you can snap the blade (ask me how I know) Jaw does open far enough to take in double thick steel so when you come up to a support it just stops which is nice.

Tried a sawzall, it worked but is bulky/clumsy and likes to hit stuff on the other side.

Occelating cutter is working good. Handy size/shape and once into it cuts pretty nice if you don't push it too hard. No good for plunge cutting, takes forever cut that way. Mine (Craftsman) has a headlight which is nice so you can see where you are going. The "metal" blades may or may not be intended for steel, they work quite awhile. The original one that came with mine broke, I have knocked a couple teeth out of a replacement Dremel blade but I have covered a lot of ground with it. And it is neat in that there is no sparks. Also very noticeable when you come up against a hidden support.

And of course tinsnips.

 

[bobbywalter]

plasma nibbler shears grinder/cutoff wheel scroll saw sawzall body saw



theres a place for all of them on this project.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

plasma nibbler shears grinder/cutoff wheel scroll saw sawzall body saw



theres a place for all of them on this project.

Initial plan was to drive it to work and use the plasma and cutoff wheel over the winter. Then I would have had a sandblaster to clean the floor support too.

But painting in the winter sucks and I don't have air (for tools) or plasma at home.

But it seems I am getting the worst of both worlds. No air, no plasma and still too cold to paint.

Kinda thinking I should have done the floor when I had the trans out. Then I could be putting the trans in whenever rather than waiting for warm snaps to paint/coat. Never figured it would drag on this long, canceled insurance on it yesterday since the odds of it getting on the street before snow flies are slim.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Broke out the grinder to clean up the spotwelds:



Went too far up the floor cutting...



Panel doesn't fit too bad though



Popped out the steering shaft:



And hit a snag, steering wheel shaft on a Ranger is way bigger than that of an Aerostar.

 

[shane96ranger]

The nibbler thing worked good for getting it opened up. Feed the steel in even, if you come out at an angle so one side is empty you can snap the blade (ask me how I know) Jaw does open far enough to take in double thick steel so when you come up to a support it just stops which is nice.

Tried a sawzall, it worked but is bulky/clumsy and likes to hit stuff on the other side.

Occelating cutter is working good. Handy size/shape and once into it cuts pretty nice if you don't push it too hard. No good for plunge cutting, takes forever cut that way. Mine (Craftsman) has a headlight which is nice so you can see where you are going. The "metal" blades may or may not be intended for steel, they work quite awhile. The original one that came with mine broke, I have knocked a couple teeth out of a replacement Dremel blade but I have covered a lot of ground with it. And it is neat in that there is no sparks. Also very noticeable when you come up against a hidden support.

And of course tinsnips.

Thank you for the info. I'm not very experienced at body work, so I'm all eyes on this project. Mine is all exterior though, but I'm going to learn off this for sure.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thank you for the info. I'm not very experienced at body work, so I'm all eyes on this project. Mine is all exterior though, but I'm going to learn off this for sure.

Don't take it as gospel, I am learning as I go...

 

[bobbywalter]

you have the wrong aerostar shaft....need the earlier one.


i got about 20 hrs into the b2...and have not been home long enough to work on it since

worse.. i started to work on the ranger at my ohio rental and got shipped to pa.....

so now i have shit scattered in 3 states

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

you have the wrong aerostar shaft....need the earlier one.

Do you know what year range?

i got about 20 hrs into the b2...and have not been home long enough to work on it since

worse.. i started to work on the ranger at my ohio rental and got shipped to pa.....

so now i have shit scattered in 3 states

Fun ain't it?

I don't have crap scattered all over but I have like four projects going on my truck at the same time and little time to pick at it.

 

[bobbywalter]

well....80's i assume for the shaft. i dont remember when they changed...maybe 89-91 is the square style like you have. i probably have a few somewhere with various other steering stuff.


you can hack up jeep stuff too.


did you look at my floor setup in the front?....its actually due again...but theres nothing left in the back...not wanting my grandkids in there till i build new shit. but i incorporated strap and built a custom torque box on the drivers side and just hacked it together because i could not let it sit. i made the tunnel a bit bigger....but i was also just using rotten ol scrap.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

well....80's i assume for the shaft. i dont remember when they changed...maybe 89-91 is the square style like you have. i probably have a few somewhere with various other steering stuff.

This one is from like a '93 or '94. I checked before I pulled it and was surprised there is no write up on it.

did you look at my floor setup in the front?....its actually due again...but theres nothing left in the back...not wanting my grandkids in there till i build new shit. but i incorporated strap and built a custom torque box on the drivers side and just hacked it together because i could not let it sit. i made the tunnel a bit bigger....but i was also just using rotten ol scrap.

No I didn't, I looked underneath at your rear floor but I don't remember much about your interior other than how you started the engine.

I think mine is pretty straightforward. I need to get the base of the A pillar patched and then do the floor. Just use scraps to fill in where I got carried away at the top of the floorpan.