'86 Supercab Longbed

[Robert_1967]

did they lengthen the drive shaft?? you might want to have it checked.



Robert



posted with a straw and rubber band.

 

[KnockKnock]

I love this truck! Too bad it still has issues. I would also be looking into the drive shaft first to see if there's a balance issue there. Good luck with it!

 

[Jim Oaks]

I really hope you push forward and get it worked out. I honestly thought about doing something like this as an expedition vehicle. I need the long bed to have enough room to sleep in. And I like the extra leg room and storage area of an extended cab.

Check your pinion and driveshaft. Have the driveshaft checked to make sure it's balanced.

 

[TexasRebel]

Hope you get it figured out. I actually want to do this same thing with my truck, but I will be doing it all myself minus the drive shaft lengthening. I will have a shop do that as I do not trust myself enough to cut and reweld a drive shaft.

 

[Lee in Texas]

Update:
I'm not going to troubleshoot the vibration. It could be the driveshaft or pinion angle (or both) but the plan has always been to get rid of the V-6 for a 5.0. I don't want to put time and effort into a fix that is temporary.

Anyway- rather than piecing the swap together, I'm getting it all in one place. I found a donor Mercury Mountaineer. Full drivetrain swap, including rear end, and I can pick through the interior. It's wrecked, and the price is darn sure right.

Groovy

 

[TexasRebel]

Update:
I'm not going to troubleshoot the vibration. It could be the driveshaft or pinion angle (or both) but the plan has always been to get rid of the V-6 for a 5.0. I don't want to put time and effort into a fix that is temporary.

Anyway- rather than piecing the swap together, I'm getting it all in one place. I found a donor Mercury Mountaineer. Full drivetrain swap, including rear end, and I can pick through the interior. It's wrecked, and the price is darn sure right.

Groovy

Sounds like a pretty good plan of action. Keep us updated.

 

[Robert_1967]

And post lots of pictures, lots and lots and lots and lots.


oh, did I mention lots of pictures??




Robert




posted using a Bloody finger and a squirrels tooth.

 

[TexasRebel]

And post lots of pictures, lots and lots and lots and lots.


oh, did I mention lots of pictures??




Robert




posted using a Bloody finger and a squirrels tooth.

^agreed^

 

[Lee in Texas]

I got the donor. I had looked for someone parting an Explorer. I found one that had rolled over. We agreed on a price, and to have it delivered, but the deal fell through when they wouldn't crank it up for me. So...I looked at Explorers and Mountaineers that run. The prices were reasonable for models with pushrod 5.0 and solid rear axle. I picked up a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer tonight. It was $1500. I don't normally like talking money, but we're here to share information. It can help someone decide if my path is right for them.

Anyway- the Mountaineer is actually a pretty nice vehicle. It has 3 messed up door handles and a cracked windshield, but a small part of me feels like fixing those things and just keeping it...nah. The show must go on. Besides- I could get another one later on if I want.

Why a running vehicle for a donor? Because I know it runs, DUH.
All the drivetrain parts needed for the swap in one trip; it will not need to be pieced together, with valuable time spent searching and driving.

Interior stuff! I really like the power driver's seat. Passenger too? I don't know. I didn't check. They may get swapped into the Ranger.
It has a decent stereo receiver.
Small overhead console with temp and travel direction, plus a switch to control a moonroof (what could that control in the Ranger? A locomotive horn???)
I may find other parts to use. I just met the guy, took it for a spin, handed over the cash, then drove home. I was really pressed for time. I didn't want to leave work early and lose pay. I get paid hourly and I'll be getting 10 or so hours of overtime this week. Need it for the truck.
A donor vehicle also lets me part it out for a few $$$ more, and/or sell the rest to a junkyard.

 

[Robert_1967]

I would use EVERYTHING, and I mean every thing, dash, wiring harness, seats, if it has electric windows, use the motors, or get a set from a donor ranger and wire them into the wiring harness, electric mirrors, I mean use everything, even the moon roof.



Robert




posted using a green led and a stuffed shark.

 

[TexasRebel]

I would use EVERYTHING, and I mean every thing, dash, wiring harness, seats, if it has electric windows, use the motors, or get a set from a donor ranger and wire them into the wiring harness, electric mirrors, I mean use everything, even the moon roof.



Robert




posted using a green led and a stuffed shark.

I have a moon roof in my Ranger and I hate it. I can't even open it anymore because I had to seal it shut with silicone because it leaked incredibly bad. But I do agree with everything else. If you can find a use for those parts on your ranger, go at it and just swap as much as mechanically possible.

 

[Lee in Texas]

Robert- I'm not cutting the roof of my Ranger, but if you want the moon roof, we can talk.

 

[TexasRebel]

You got any pics of it with the long bed on it?

 

[Lee in Texas]

First page, but the camera angle makes the bed look longer than it is. The average Joe will never know the bed is longer than stock. The average Ranger owner will not notice.

 

[TexasRebel]

First page, but the camera angle makes the bed look longer than it is. The average Joe will never know the bed is longer than stock. The average Ranger owner will not notice.

I don't see one with the bed on