'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

Driveshaft is home:



Slightly more substantial than what I had:



Chased the pinion flange holes to clean out 7 years of gravel dust and stuck the shaft in:





Sure fits nice at the t-case, what is that for a deal? Get this tape out of the way...



Apparently my t-case is from a '250. I had just looked up a F-150 which only called for a 1310 cross. F-250 calls for a 1330.

Due to some unforseen circumstances at work I drew up my torque box patch to have it burned out.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Take plenty of pics on that torque box. I'd love to see how you lay the panel in and weld it up. I have to do that with my 87 sooner or later..



GB

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Take plenty of pics on that torque box. I'd love to see how you lay the panel in and weld it up. I have to do that with my 87 sooner or later..



GB

This is the patch I have drawn up:



Its more than I need but it is easier to make it smaller than bigger after it is cut out.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I went ahead and knocked the crosses out of the driveshaft, cleaned up the flange and threw some paint at it.





And it took us 34 years but we finally sprouted a fourth pedal!



I decided with a driveshaft in hand the truck is only the clutch hydraulics and LH exhaust pipe away from being self propelled, might as well go for it.

Also hooked the battery up to test the starter and starter wiring, it all worked/sounded good so that mystery is solved.

 

[adsm08]

Mightn't you want some floor still?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mightn't you want some floor still?

Yeah but it would simplify getting the truck on the trailer to finish the floor if the truck could move itself.

Otherwise I have to have the wife in the truck as I push it onto the trailer with a tractor... I foresee multiple possible endings that are not good.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

GB

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

GB

We were almost there but are slowly working towards recovery.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Air filter housing is welded up:





Torque box is cut (by hand, not CNC)



Needs some trimming, it is a pretty good start though.



And installed gauge pod:





U-joints are changed in rear driveshaft, it is bolted to the pinion and sitting in the t-case yoke. Carquest gave me the wrong u-bolts to finish that. I found some in my JY toolbox but I need to get nuts for them.

 

[bobbywalter]

i think once you drive it around with the 5 speed for a bit, driving to the round up wont seem like a worrisome prospect.

thow a fi-tech in the mix and you will wear it out from driving it all the time.

 

[bobbywalter]

Mightn't you want some floor still?

floors are over rated. until our grand children come into play...


now i need to do something about it...nothing this nice though..

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i think once you drive it around with the 5 speed for a bit, driving to the round up wont seem like a worrisome prospect.

thow a fi-tech in the mix and you will wear it out from driving it all the time.

Its only 14 hours nonstop each way

In a 34 year old standard cab truck with a bench seat

Mostly comprised of as of yet untested junkyard parts

That in the 18 years I have had it has never left the state

With my wife.

Whats the worst that can happen?

It is pretty daunting, there is a lotta stuff that has to work just right for this truck to go.

Really have no complaints with my Edelbrock for my normal flatlander routine. Even with the 3pd my only real limiting factor driving it to work was the weather.

floors are over rated. until our grand children come into play...


now i need to do something about it...nothing this nice though..

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Wife had to work Christmas Eve so I was unattended... I got the cutch hydraulics mostly installed. I need to hook it up to the pedal and the trans yet, had a Christmas party that night and didn't want to mess with it and was running out of time.

Felt kind of silly, went in the house to get my drill, sized a bit to mount the reservoir... the "knock out" dents in the panel are actually holes with the foam insulation behind them so no drilling required.



So nice not having a floor in the way... I would probably still be trying to figure it out, its kinda weird how it straddles the frame.

 

[adsm08]

Wife had to work Christmas Eve so I was unattended... I got the cutch hydraulics mostly installed. I need to hook it up to the pedal and the trans yet, had a Christmas party that night and didn't want to mess with it and was running out of time.

Felt kind of silly, went in the house to get my drill, sized a bit to mount the reservoir... the "knock out" dents in the panel are actually holes with the foam insulation behind them so no drilling required.



So nice not having a floor in the way... I would probably still be trying to figure it out, its kinda weird how it straddles the frame.

Oh the V6 models it's really important how it straddles the frame. Ask me how I know.

 

[adsm08]

floors are over rated. until our grand children come into play...


now i need to do something about it...nothing this nice though..

I better have at least 20 years before grandchildren come into play.