Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Anthony84
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2022
- Messages
- 12
- City
- Vancouver, WA
- Vehicle Year
- 1985
- Engine
- 2.8 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
Hi all!
As stated - just snagged my first Ranger a couple weeks ago for a project/around the house pickup…but I love it!
It’s an all original “base” 85 - but with the 2.8 V6, 5-speed manual, 2WD, long bed, AC, and dual tanks - and I know it’s a 5 digit odo but the history makes it line up at 104k miles…think it’d be in a lot worse shape if it were 204k.
So far no real big issues - my two biggest concerns are the fact only one wiper works; driver side luckily - I can see the passenger side linkage moves but is somehow disconnected from the arm - so I need to get in there and figure out how to reconnect it. Other issue is it seems to die if I switch to the rear tank…but as soon as I switch it back to front it regains life. I filled the front when I got it and put in about 4 gallons in the rear to test.
Aside from those two issues - everything else works - just needs to be “refreshed”. Like replacing the dry rotted 14 inch tires, I’m going to repaint the wheels, and I already have a nice set of center caps, “restoring” the interior - like pulling the cluster apart to polish the lens and repaint the needles, stereo upgrade, and a new vinyl floor. Paint is “dead” but not peeling - planning on a “patina clearcoat” to just save what’s left.
It’s spent it’s life under a carport of sorts from the older gentleman I got it from - and sadly because my two car garage houses the wife’s car and my beloved Marauder - the Ranger will reside outside but I still want to protect it and reflect the pride of ownership.
Novel over - here are some pics from the day I got it - already looking better. (Not sure why my phone made one picture a much more intense blue than it really is…better pics as it comes along)
As stated - just snagged my first Ranger a couple weeks ago for a project/around the house pickup…but I love it!
It’s an all original “base” 85 - but with the 2.8 V6, 5-speed manual, 2WD, long bed, AC, and dual tanks - and I know it’s a 5 digit odo but the history makes it line up at 104k miles…think it’d be in a lot worse shape if it were 204k.
So far no real big issues - my two biggest concerns are the fact only one wiper works; driver side luckily - I can see the passenger side linkage moves but is somehow disconnected from the arm - so I need to get in there and figure out how to reconnect it. Other issue is it seems to die if I switch to the rear tank…but as soon as I switch it back to front it regains life. I filled the front when I got it and put in about 4 gallons in the rear to test.
Aside from those two issues - everything else works - just needs to be “refreshed”. Like replacing the dry rotted 14 inch tires, I’m going to repaint the wheels, and I already have a nice set of center caps, “restoring” the interior - like pulling the cluster apart to polish the lens and repaint the needles, stereo upgrade, and a new vinyl floor. Paint is “dead” but not peeling - planning on a “patina clearcoat” to just save what’s left.
It’s spent it’s life under a carport of sorts from the older gentleman I got it from - and sadly because my two car garage houses the wife’s car and my beloved Marauder - the Ranger will reside outside but I still want to protect it and reflect the pride of ownership.
Novel over - here are some pics from the day I got it - already looking better. (Not sure why my phone made one picture a much more intense blue than it really is…better pics as it comes along)
Attachments
Last edited:
