'85 Ranger Restomod

[Lefty]

I'm willing to bet I do better as the weather warms, that this Ranger does better what Ford originally advertised. Still I will be making more changes.

 

[Lefty]

17 with your setup seems very good, thats about what my ‘93 ranger got with a 4.0/manual/3.73/235-15’s.
the 94 2wd I have now gets 21 at best, 2.3 lima/manual/4.10’s/235-15’s.

Sounds par for the course.

 

[racsan]

I absolutely hate winter milage, between winter blend fuel and everything else I lose a average of 5mpg no matter which vehicle is driven. So unless the roads are almost impassable I take my “beater with a heater “ hhr. Keeps the ranger out of the salt bath too. The escape is on the road daily, occasionally gets a sunday to rest. Its showing its salt exposure, and it came from new york originally so it’s been through quite the salt bath already.

 

[Lefty]

I just checked mileage reports for mine. Even in the dead of winter, I'm well above the average MPG for my year and model. I'm no genius and I do not drive conservatively. It's just that I've followed forum advice. Here's the url if you wish to check yours. https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

On today's episode of "This old truck" we drill a bunch of holes in a board!



Just keep plugging away pulling valves...



All done, I have two good heads (what original came with my engine of course)



The heads off the "reman" engine, I just don't know. I checked the valves with a deadblow and they are all lose... but this was on the bench when I moved them.



So they will probably go back in the barn and filed under "probably good spares that will need a tour thru a shop"

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Another package is lovingly delivered via Fed-Ex...



Gonna take more than being used as a wheel chock at every stop to hurt springs!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Cleaned up the exhaust valves, they all look kinda tough.



Say hello to my little friend...



Took just a tickle and they are coming out great.



So onto the the heads.

#5 did have a fair bit of carbon buildup.



But they call came around.



The seats got kind of gunky as i was cleaning out the bowls but they looked good before I started. Dad is going to finish the valves this week and then I can wash the heads and check out the seats for good next weekend before we lap the valves in. If nothing else I did find the stones to touch up the seats if need be,

 

[Curious Hound]

Very nice.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Been awhile since I've ground valves and it's hard to tell from the pictures... But it doesn't look like there is any margin left on those valves.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Been awhile since I've ground valves and it's hard to tell from the pictures... But it doesn't look like there is any margin left on those valves.

1/32" is minimum.

I have close to 1/16", camera angle was intended to show off the surfacing change, not so much the margin.

 

[Uncle Gump]

All good... the picture is deceiving.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

New developments on the winch mount/grille guard front.

I haven't been on evilbay forever. Just on a whim I popped on the other night and did a looksie for "NOS Ranger"... and this popped up.



Price wasn't horrible considering so I jumped on it. And two days later I have it.







Looks friggin brand new...





It is the headlight "brush guards" for the factory grille guard, curious the one in the picture has two bolts spaced farther apart and these have three.

 

[RobbieD]

SCORE! Congratulations!

Looks like a date on the shipping label, of Jan 29, 1993. Amazing that old stuff like this turns up every now and then.

I'm very jealous happy for of you.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A couple mild irritations.

I knew this going in but when I made my current grille guard 20+ years ago I made it wide enough for the mounting brackets to be to the inside, I did (and still do) think it looks cleaner than having the brackets to the outside.



So as far as just sticking these on my current grille guard... they stick out a little too far. With the modern trend of massive grille guards it would probably be ok but it would bug me.

So they are waiting in the box until I get mine done.

And I notice they will cover the top mounting bolt for the cross tube. I was thinking about making it bolt together like the factory one upon closer examination the side plates of the OEM one I found on ebay a couple months ago the cross tube mounting holes are countersunk... which is kinda hard to DIY.

NOS grille guard

Now taking donations...

www.therangerstation.com

I also notice that one with a "E" prefix has the three holes for the brush guards like mine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Fixed the parking brake. Bendix cable has a slightly heavier made end than whatever cable I had before and the cable is plastic coated.



Started cleaning up the truck for a car show this weekend while the shop lions lurked around.



Started dusting the interior which it desperately needed.



Which escalated into the ol' "first gen steering column snug"



I need to wash the floor mats and the interior is done. Need to do the engine tomorrow night, it is just a show and shine so I doubt I will wax it.