Extended Cab Weight and Removal?

[locovaca]

I just picked up a used 93 Extended Cab with 128k on it. For living in Iowa its entire life the thing is in relatively immaculate condition. That said, I want it to last for a while, so I want to clean up the frame surface rust and put some rust bullet on it.

I've never done anything like this before; it's all new to me, but I'd like for this truck to last a long time. From what I've read the simplest thing will be to pull the bed and cab so I can blast the frame and then apply the sealer. I pulled the bed fairly easily on my other Ranger, but I'm guessing the cab is a bit more difficult.

Has anyone removed the cab? Or can I get away with not removing it and instead jacking it up 6 inches or so and having it rest on some 4x4s? I also have to change the slave, and with a Y-Pipe to deal with I was kind of hoping to get the cab off to make pulling the tranny a cinch.

I unfortunately do not have any access to a lift, hoist, or anything that would make sense for this, so it would end up being 3 or 4 guys trying to He-man it over the engine and onto some sort of platform. Sound doable?

 

[02RangerXLT]

I would say... that if you can get your hand on some hydraulic (bottle) jacks, and some sturdy blocks to put them on, you could lift the cab up yourself a little bit at a time.

Granted, I have never done this, but, you never know, haha.

 

[JoshT]

I'm curious about this as well. I'd like to pull the cab and bed off of the 86 Regular cab I just picked up. thankfully I don't have to deal with an engine since it was already removed. but still have a transmission I will have to clear.

 

[chazzone]

Depending on how far you want to go with it, it's no more difficult than a body lift.

Get some good beams to slide under the body, and a good safe base to rest them on, and just take your time lifting it up.

I did my body lift myself, so I don't see why someone with some brains and who's willing to pay attention to what's going on can't pull it off.

You should probably plan on new body bushings while your at it. Most likely enough deterioration and rust on the current mounts that it'll make sense to replace them, and cutting them off is a lot easier than fighting rusted bolts.

 

[JoshT]

I can't speak for locovaca but I was planning to replace the body mounts. I will be replacing them as well as (I hope) painting the frame. I know that the bed will be coming off to do some things on the tail end of the truck, figured I may as well pull the cab and clean all of it.

Get some good beams to slide under the body, and a good safe base to rest them on, and just take your time lifting it up.

That part's the only thing I'm worried about. I know 4x4s would be strong enough to support the cab, but I'm not sure what's stable enough to put them on. While I have the body off the frame I would also like to clean the bottom side and put a good undercoating on it. Want it on something sturdy if I'm going to be getting under there.

 

[locovaca]

Yes, new cab bushings is really what got me started on this. The two for the radiator support are disintegrated beyond belief. So my brain started ticking, if I was already going through all that work, why not just go the extra yard and get everything shiny, coated, and new?

I've been doing some reading over at RPS and it sounds like getting every last bit out of the cab you can (doors, dash, steering column, etc.) and you can get it manageable for two average people, so that's my plan.

 

[chazzone]

That part's the only thing I'm worried about. I know 4x4s would be strong enough to support the cab, but I'm not sure what's stable enough to put them on. While I have the body off the frame I would also like to clean the bottom side and put a good undercoating on it. Want it on something sturdy if I'm going to be getting under there.

The cab isn't all that heavy. 4 strong guys could easily lift the whole doghouse, and its a lot less than a BII body.

I used heavy concrete blocks (not cinder blocks), and just cross stacked them (holes up so that they are on edge), then put a piece of 2x10 "flat" on top.

 

[JoshT]

Yep as I figured I'm gonna have trouble. I'm gonna be doing it by my self. No one in the neighborhood that I can get assistance from, all of my friends are off at college or waiting on a position to move back local. My dad doesn't even want me to remove the cab, says it's a waste of time and energy. To quote him, "it's an (86) Ranger, when you get done it'll still just be an (86) Ranger." Personally I think he's just worried that I'll come hollering for help on something, and I want to do this entire thing without his help. The only thing on this build I want help from him on is the actual engine swap, and that's because I need to borrow his hoist to remove and install it. Not meaning to sound ungrateful towards him, I'm extremely grateful for the help he's given me in the past. I just need to do this one my self.

BTW when I say cinder blocks I am referring to concrete blocks. Don't know why but I refer to both as cinder blocks.

 

[chazzone]

If you're going to do an engine swap, it'd be a lot easier to do without the cab on the frame, but I understand what your dad means.
Like I said though, I did mine by myself. It just takes time and attention.