'85 Ranger Restomod

[RayInStl]

It is amazing how nice ranger dashes and steering wheels clean up despite the neglect they get.

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This is so true. My 83 was caked with dirt and gravel but cleaned up and looks better than my 99 Ram.

I like the new wheel center. Now you just need to work your magic on the wheel rim!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is so true. My 83 was caked with dirt and gravel but cleaned up and looks better than my 99 Ram.

I like the new wheel center. Now you just need to work your magic on the wheel rim!

I forgot to for this year's car show. That is only after a year... and I don't drive it much.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I like the new wheel center. Now you just need to work your magic on the wheel rim!

Here you go, I even pulled the steering wheel and did the back side too.

I decided the center would be less likely to get hurt if I just left it on the truck.

I had words with one of the studs for the windshield clips, it is set down in there like 1/8" too far to reach the trim. Probably why the old trim was mashed up and it wasn't latched either.

Otherwise it is on, going to see if I can find a longer clip for the one corner.

I also ordered a module so my factory V6 tach will read correctly with an 8cyl. The 3/4 multiplier TSD with a green LED to be exact.

http://www.bakerelectronix.com/products_tsd/

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I went back and wreaked havoc on that poor BII some more.

Started with this (from when I pulled the cruise)

Looked like this when I was done:

I ended up with this, a complete dash support with a pretty much intact dash harness (for a tach setup) I will probably just repin the one connector for the tach to work per Shran's writeup but when I pull the dash to fix the floor all of this is going in with new paint.

Also kinda miffled on the cruise. My truck only has two wires going to the VSS, the BII had three up near the servo but also only two at the VSS. I tried to backtrack the harness but the factory tape was still good and it was all intertwined with the fuel pump harness. No idea where the third wire enters the picture at...

Stuff is kind getting built up/overwhelming to me:
1. I want to get the D35 in so I can get it aligned - still needs wheel bearings, rotors, brake lines and steering linkage aside from outer TRE's.
2. I want to replace the DS floor board and kick panel before it gets worse. This all included gutting the interior and a as of yet to be determined amount of wiring.
3. I have to fix a fuel tank leak that just popped up this weekend, seems to be behind the plastic shield at the front of the tank. I can't cut/weld floorboards with the front of the tank soaked in gas and I really don't like it leaking gas in my garage. Seems to be more of a ooz than a gusher so I think it is up high on the tank. I have to remove at least the front strap to see anything at all though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Something big coming down the pipe before we begin any one of our several surgeries...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I can't get it to embed and my home network hates TRS so I am tired of fighting with it, I will try it again maybe Monday at break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Ne7joNd-s

So now I can rock and roll on my D35, it has been on hold until this was done.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Congratulations man!

She didn't hesitate to answer you. LOL

 

[Hagan]

Congrats man! I guess we're in the same boat!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Congratulations man!

She didn't hesitate to answer you. LOL

Congrats man! I guess we're in the same boat!

Thanks! Now I have to get the truck ready for pictures.

First things first, the fuel leak...

I can see "stuff" packed between the front deflector shield and the tank itself

The front strap that holds the shield in place came out like a dream... to reveal yuck.

I can't see hole but as soon as I wipe it away it comes back. Later as I was dropping the tank it and it was nose down it did have a stream.

For as pitted as it was I could see it didn't have much of a future left, luckily I kept the tank out of my '86 parts truck from 14 years ago. Which aside from a puddle of varnish in one end and minor exterior surface rust looks perfect inside and out.

So I move onto dropping the tank... which royally sucked thanks to this guy:

I got it backed out 1/4" and it would have no more so I took drastic measures... thank god for bodylifts BTW.

And it is out.

 

[adsm08]

thank god for bodylifts BTW.

Yeah, I am really thinking about it right now.

I have a few clearance issues with the new engine vs the hood that a simple little 1" BL would fix nicely.

Gonna wait for word on cowl hood that is in a yard owned by friends of my BIL.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, I am really thinking about it right now.

I have a few clearance issues with the new engine vs the hood that a simple little 1" BL would fix nicely.

Gonna wait for word on cowl hood that is in a yard owned by friends of my BIL.

Cowl would be nice too.

I have yet to regret my 3", it really opens things up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

New fuel tank straps, one came out very polite, the other is trying to twist apart.

I received a pair of low mile 2010 Ranger springs from a Scab, the guy thought they were too soft. I think the Ex springs are too hard so it seemed like a plausible swap. Also wanted to trim the u-bolts that I have wanted to do for 5 years but never gotten around to it.

Looks so unnatural.

Might have helped the rake some, hard to tell inside. I don't know if it is going to be a huge difference.

I also had the brainy idea to replace the rear brake line while the tank was out. It looks pretty nasty.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

And the Ranger continues to get showered with presents.

Tach signal adaptor so my factory V6 tach will read correctly with a V8. It will be a few weeks before I get to it, we have engagement photos in two weeks and I don't want to open that can of worms yet, I have enough worms flying all over the place with what I have going on already.

New front brake lines for the D35 were on closeout at Rockauto when I ordered the fuel tank straps. $5.32 a line was hard to pass up on, and they finally trickled in over the weekend.

I made F-150 spring plates fit 5/8" bolts back when I put the axle in, finally going to just put plates in that are made for the bigger bolts. (from RuffStuff)

The front half of the brake line is bent and I think ready to install, the nickle copper line is nice for bending but on the flipside it doesn't want to hold its shape well.

Need to finish getting varnish out of the tank and it should be running to flip the truck around in the garage to swap the other spring/spring plate.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This pretty much sums up Monday night. The brake line needed an adaptor to fit into the front splitter block. Then I slipped off the spring plate to put on my new one and the center hole was too small for the bolt that holds the spring together. I did get the fuel tank washed out though.

I did get the brake line put in yesterday, it went pretty good. Copper line is freaking awesome for bending stuff along the frame on the fly.

I drilled out the holes today and got the one put on tonight:

I also got the top 3/4 of fuel tank bedlined.

Fiance also helped me get the brakes bled tonight too. Kinda of annoying, in the 5 years since I have put the 8.8 in the truck has seen no salt yet one of the bleeders was rusted round. Luckily I had the calipers for my D-35 to rob a bleeder out of.

 

[dangerranger83]

Wish i had the time, money and motivation to work on mine like you do.

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