(Sorta) Abandoned 1: My 1984 Ranger regular cab, short bed, 2.8L manual. I was my first vehicle and has been abandoned since 2009, but for a good reason.
The reason it's
sorta abandoned is because it wasn't exactly by choice. The reason I call it abandoned instead of scrap is because I had plans to salvage the few good parts (fresh engine and good suspension parts) to install on a future Ranger project. It's been 16 years and that hasn't happened, so I think that counts as abandoned. That said I still want to use the parts in something eventually.
Abandoned 2: Next up is an 86 Ranger regular cab short bed. Purchased in 2010 (IIRC) with a "bad" 2.9L and was initially intended to be the recepient of parts from the 84. Sometime around 2011 I'd gotten my hands on a rolled V8 Explorer and plans had changed. Attempted to do too much. was going to swap entire chassis harness from the Explorer, but keeping the Ranger dash and controls. I bit off more than I could chew, got discouraged, and it never progressed. Picked it back up a few times, had it stripped to the mare frame, and even had the engine sitting on the frame at one point. Never got past that point. Currently a bare frame and parts scattered around the yard. Officially abandoned and unlikely to be revived as of 2022.
Future project: 1985 Ranger regular cab, long bed, 2.3L Auto. Bought it as a fresh start in 2022, back to the intent to use the parts from the 84 Ranger. These photos were saved from the listing as I haven't taken any good ones myself.
Intent was to drop in my 2.8L and use it until other projects are done. I've since decided to change routes with the build. Going to try to revive the 2.3L that is in it and I think that I want to end up with a 2.3T instead of the 2.8L. It might get the 2.8L "temporarily" if I can't revive the 4 cylinder though. It was originally a bucket seat and console truck, and I intend to restore it to that. I've got all suspension pieces I need to lower and make it handle nice, to include a 13" Cobra brake swap and Explorer disc axle.
Plans got put on hold when I discovered that the driver side floor pan is much further rusted out than I thought. I think was mostly carpet and wishes holding the seat in on that side. Project paused until I get things situated to where I can tackle a floor pan.
'99 is soon to hit a temporary holding point where I need to wait for parts or change direction with the build, but it'll sit at that holding point for a while. Some heavy maintenance is almost done on the F-250. After that I'll be seeing about some rust repairs on the F-100, I've got the parts, just need to get them preped and installed. Then I think I'll be able to settle into tackling the 85.