cbeau's 1990 Ranger Build

[cbeau]

Hey guys. I ve been lurking around this site for a a few weeks and have decided to start my own build/restoration.

I bought the truck here in New York around mid-November. Quite a bit of rust in the bed wheel wells and a little on the cab but real clean other than that. The previous owner had brought it up from Pennsylavania about 2 months ago. From what the PO tells me, the odometer rolled over twice so it has about 210k miles. New jasper 4.0 engine and tranny around 60k ago. He wanted $1800 but after looking it over there was no way it was an $1800 truck. it needed a few things here and there and I had no idea when the suspension parts were going to start breaking so he gave in and I brought it home for $1000.

After we got it home she got the a thorough look over and fluid change. Thought the brakes were junk but after looking closer we found a broken brake line. Fixed it and bled the brakes with new fluid and they were good as new. Relaced oil, tranny fluid, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter, tranny filter and added power steering fluid and brake fluid. She ran like new after being freshened up.

I plan on replacing the bed and painting the frame with KBS Coatings frame paint. I want to do a frame off restoration but it is my daily driver at the moment so I will only be able to do a little at a time. The chevy leaf spring and belltech shackle swap is in the future too. Dont want to much lift but enough to clear 31's. Im gathering parts as we speak so once the winter breaks here I can tear down. Fresh paint will happen when I have the money and area to do it too. Let me know what you guys think!! Any input and comments are appreciated as Im kind of new to this.

 

[straycat]

Whew...dude...you went to the scrapyard and bought home the owners wife by mistake....The Junkyard Dog....lol

Needs a lot of work. Hmmm..that's a life long project...not a summer project.

LOL

 

[1990ranger4x4]

Looks like a decent start for a project. You don't need the Chevy leafs to clear 31s. I have a 2" suspension lift and a 3" body rise and I have 31's. I could probably fit 33's though.

 

[cbeau]

Whew...dude...you went to the scrapyard and bought home the owners wife by mistake....The Junkyard Dog....lol

Needs a lot of work. Hmmm..that's a life long project...not a summer project.

LOL

I dont see it as much work as you make it out to be. A little rocker panel to fix and then from there paint, bearings, seals, bushings, suspension parts, etc. I already have a rust free passenger side door and am lining up a rust free bed from the same truck I got the door off of. I think it could easily be a summer project. But Im not doing it as a summer project as it is my daily driver so I cant have it off the road for long.

 

[cbeau]

Looks like a decent start for a project. You don't need the Chevy leafs to clear 31s. I have a 2" suspension lift and a 3" body rise and I have 31's. I could probably fit 33's though.

I know. I forgot to put in that I want to get rid of the factory lift block and keep the better ride and flex from the chevy springs and shackles. Sorry

I am hopin for around 3 inches of lift when Im done. If I cant clear 31's well enough with with the 3 inches then I may add a shorter lift block. Im just stuck on what to do for the front suspension. With 3 inches of lift is it a good idea to use drop brackets? Or is 3 inches not enough to worry about it? Im trying to figure out what coil springs will give me 3 inches. Either that or 2 inch lift coil springs and spacers. If any of you guys could point me in the best direction that would be great!! Thanks for the input 1990ranger 4x4. Im gonna learn a lot while doing this project and all the input is welcomed!!

 

[cbeau]

Found a leak and some algae type green stuff in my headliner. I pulled off the visor, cleaned up the screws that hold it on, and re-siliconed them. I put silicone in the holes, on the screw threads, under the head of the screw, and then in the screw head cap to make sure they didnt leak again. I dont think they have leaked yet. After I took out the junk headliner I found a bunch of condensation on the ceiling of the cab. I think it was just water that was already in the headliner that didnt have anywhere else to go. After the heater ran a while it dried up and I haven't seen any traces of water getting in.

 

[Matt77]

Use some CLR to clean up the algae/mold, if any is left. Works very well.

 

[jhammel85]

Not a bad project to me. Mine has rust in the same areas and just as bad. Nothing a few patches cant fix...