'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well as I grilled steaks for supper I ripped out the DS inner fender and started putting things in my F-150 so I could stash them in the barn.

Still looks like we have a long ways to go...



Slipped the belt off. I have had a hot coolant smell occasionally. Could never find a leak but could see evidence if it running down the lower rad hose so I had suspicions. Sure enough the water pump is a tad loose. It would be stupid not to change it at this point, mainly because I am looking right at it.



One of my new best friends, snagged this for $40 for a zipper aparter. Really liking it and I think it is speeding up the demo.



Speaking of best friends somebody grabbed a ladder to see what I was doing.

Bypass hose didn't make it but I did get the intake off for the night.



Kinda looks like a guy is parting the ol' girl out...



Tentative game plan tomorrow is to rip the DS header, valve cover and head off. Just had the thought I ought to yank the steering shaft too since it is easy to remove.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

DS header access isn't quite as nice as the passenger side...



Removed the A/C/Power steering bracket and let it flop ahead against a chunk of plywood so I could get to the last header bolt



Header off



VC off.



Valvetrain removed and transferred valve to valve to the new head. Pushrods are kept it order too.



Drumroll...



And its off!



#6



#7



#8



Soooo, deep ponders ahead.

First reaction was "you idiot, you didn't get them locked on and you should have just popped a VC off and stuck them on right!"

Then I note they are all exhaust valves. 3/4 on the one head so far. 0/4 intake valves. So circle back around to my original thought, guides?

Dunno, I am going to keep burning on the swap for now. If I get bored later I will pull them apart and see how loose they are. Happy with the progress so far though and glad to find "something". Now I have a ton of cleaning and I can start going back the other way.

 

[sgtsandman]

Working on the DS of the 4.0 SOHC is sucky as well. I’ve yet to figure out how to change the starter with out removing the exhaust manifold. I discovered about that being a problem when I dropped the transmission to change the clutch slave cylinder.

 

[RobbieD]

Speaking of best friends somebody grabbed a ladder to see what I was doing.

85, you've gotten a lot better since you've been under the proper supervision. Looks you have a great boss!


I really like this truck; I like how you built it, and I'm glad that you're taking care of it so well.

Looking forward to seeing how well it runs after you're done.

 

[dvdswan]

You might want to start looking for a truck for you son now, this way he doesn't expect to get this one when he's 16.

Since he's interested in wrenching it might be a good thing to start working on now. Then when he fixes his first item he'll be like this...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

85, you've gotten a lot better since you've been under the proper supervision. Looks you have a great boss!


I really like this truck; I like how you built it, and I'm glad that you're taking care of it so well.

Looking forward to seeing how well it runs after you're done.

LOL, missed it by a year. He staked his claim last summer, actually declared all the rangers at the roundup his too.

I do the best I can with what I have.

Really it is kind of interesting how the drive to roundups has honed this truck. Overdrive, suspension, seat, radios, cruise, a/c, tire carrier, compass mirror, gps... we've covered a lot of ground even since the first one in 2019.

You might want to start looking for a truck for you son now, this way he doesn't expect to get this one when he's 16.

Since he's interested in wrenching it might be a good thing to start working on now. Then when he fixes his first item he'll be like this...

View attachment 91394

He tells everybody he can find he put the winch on the Ranger... to pull the Bronco.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Kind of uneventful tonight, threats of severe weather kept me out of the garage. So after it was all clear I went out and chased threads in the cylinder head. Its basically ready to install.







The gasket surfaces will need a final wipe down before install but they are pretty close.

Also realized my header gaskets are cleverly stored in the back of the truck... so I get to pull the truck out to retrieve them when the time comes.

Tomorrow's goal: get the head installed.

 

[sgtsandman]

Funny how we create more work for ourselves than necessary at times.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Funny how we create more work for ourselves than necessary at times.

If I ever get a different topper it will have opening side windows.

I will never find one for my truck but more than once I wish I had side access.

 

[Blmpkn]

Can't get the kiddo to squeeze back there and grab them? That's just classic dad behavior right there lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Can't get the kiddo to squeeze back there and grab them? That's just classic dad behavior right there lol

Tire carrier has to open significantly before the rear glass will open.

Otherwise I could reach them myself.

Spare tire is almost against the back garage wall so I have room to walk around the front of the truck with the garage door closed.

 

[RobbieD]

Sawzall?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thought I would snag the free freight on the headgaskets from that jungle website... and that was a fail.



And washed the inner fenders at lunch so I may not end up covered in gravel dust after I get them put back in. The front of the drivers one was still greasy from back when my oil filter mount was seeping too.



So yeah, not sure what I am going to do tonight.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Weird time traveler moves a chair/Tommy Boy quality auto parts story...

Came home with the email that my headgaskets were delivered. Was going to get the one head on so I parked in front of the garage with a few things to unload (brake cleaner, emory cloth, shop towels and the other cylinder head) and open the garage door so I can get to work after supper.

Headgaskets were a bust, I was a little deflated/unmotivated and fell asleep after all my late nights. Wife woke me up at two so I could take a shower and change out of my work clothes. I remembered the garage door was open so I go out to shut it. Walk past my truck and check to make sure the keys are out of it. Open door, feel the collumn and shut the door. Walk around the front of the truck and something jumps out of the garage and runs off into the barnlot. Dark, medium cat sized and very quiet. Way too graceful to be a raccoon/possum. I only have the amber parking lamps of my truck for light.

I yell at the thing to make sure it knows where I stand on critters jumping out of my garage at any time of the day/night.

I think that was weird and shut my garage door.

My kid's kitten he got about a month ago usually hangs out around the garage so I think "I wonder where he is at" I turn around with my penlight and there he was laying in front of my truck(s) with his throat tore out.

Pretty sure I actually saw a mink.

Sooo, yeah... thanks Amazon.

Anyway nobody in town had headgaskets for a 302. Once place said they did but didn't actually check and didn't so they didn't get ordered until after 5, may get them tomorrow.

So I went ahead and worked on the other header.





Well that went pretty good, why not go ahead and get the valve cover off too?



Well they are kinda scuzzy looking, might as well clean them while they are out in the open...



Not perfect but they are better.



They used to be kind of the centerpiece of the swap, now with the air intakes and A/C a guy can hardly see them in there.

Tried to check on the valve seals on the other side, with the valvetrain still intact it is hard to see much between the compressed spring coils.

Not overly worried about the headgaskets, I still gotta water pump to pull and another cylinder head worth of holes to clean. plus who knows what else.

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeesh, sorry to hear about the kitty. Better for you to find it than the kiddo I suppose.. still sad.

Sucks about those headgaskets too lol, I've been lucky every time I've ordered gaskets.. they've all arrived in the proper shape. Those pictures are gonna make me paranoid though.. might just start buying them locally