Changing front clip and bed

[reubenjames]

I just bought a 1990 long box, ranger for good money but the front fenders are rusty, as well as the bed. I have a friend who has a 1984-1985 long box ranger. If I replace the whole front, including fenders and grille, and the bed, will the 84-85 parts work?

 

[Dusty_Ranger]

they should i think u might have to change the rad support too but i could be wrong

 

[Jspafford]

The core support will need to be cut out and have a new one (1989-up) welded in.

Have fun with the 100 or so spot welds.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The core support will need to be cut out and have a new one (1989-up) welded in.

Have fun with the 100 or so spot welds.

If he wants to put in the first gen front end he would need to put a 83-88 front clip on. He would have to remove the '90 front clip to do it.

 

[Jspafford]

If he wants to put in the first gen front end he would need to put a 83-88 front clip on. He would have to remove the '90 front clip to do it.

Your 100% correct, thanks...

I guess I shouldn't post so late!

 

[reubenjames]

If he wants to put in the first gen front end he would need to put a 83-88 front clip on. He would have to remove the '90 front clip to do it.

So, I will have to cut out some of the frontend, after I remove the clip, and have some spot welding done. Is that correct? I'm not that mechanically literate, sorry.

 

[rickcdewitt]

you don't need to remove the whole radiator support but you will need to cut out a piece around each old school headlight big enough to rivet or weld over the larger opening of the bulb in back style headlight.so you have something on your truck that will hold the headlight
its easier to convert to the later style from the early since you just cut big holes in the early radiator support to clear the headlight bucket and drill a few holes for the front facia attachments,but its still pretty easy.
the frame horns are different too so mounting the gen 1 bumper would need creative application of stock brackets or some fabbing.
the hardest part will be measuring where the gen 1 lights are on the rad. support and putting them in the same location on the gen2 support but still less work than drilling a bunch of spot welds.
get ther ends of the wiring to the lights too and make sure if you cut it to solder it together.
the bed is almost exactly the same also it should work fine