Gen I Project

[doorgunner]

Looooooking gooooood!

 

[rangerplus]

Did you not have to swap out the seat tracks so they will bolt down, or is fixing that going to be part of your minor adjustments? Usually track swapping is required to install almost any seat in a first gen.

Stock 08 seat tracks follow the floor pretty close, floorpan didn't change much on the Ranger, ever. Since truck came with bench seat I will need to drill holes and use nuts and bolts rather than factory threading bolts into the floor. Also, a couple stacked washers will be required to accomadate for the very slight change in floorpan.

 

[JoshT]

Good deal, I always heard that 89+ buckets would take alot more work to bolt into a first gen than that. Glad to have that info, it gives me another source for seat tracks. They have been my biggest issue in swapping to buckets, therer's nearly no first gens in the yards around here. The few that are around were stripped if most interior parts long ago.

 

[rangerplus]

Couple new updates... Brought this home from storage...

And got the dash ripped out of the 88...

And found the partner in crime... eek, I guess barns in PA are a favorite hang out for these little guys...

 

[Psychopete]

This picture may have sparked an idea that I might be able to move the blower motor from the outside to inside the cab hmmmmmmm if they can do it in a damn Tempo with A/C, there's gotta be a way to set it up on a Ranger with no A/C lol

 

[jhammel85]

That pic also reminded me of my impending doom - Fixing the rusted cowl!

Looks like a solid project to me!

 

[deathbypsi]

nice start on a cool project. Love me some 1st Gens!

 

[kamshaft]

cant wait to see that 88 body on there

 

[Kingoverace]

Just curious, why did you ditch the original chasis?

Is the front suspension on the new frame part of your master plan?

Either way, I can tell its defineatley going to be fun!!

 

[rangerplus]

Progress on this stopped for a while, started wrenching on it again this week. The plan is to mount the 88 body to the 02 chassis and use the duratec motor. Here's the 02 I started with...

 

[rangerplus]

Engine bay before we ripped into it...

Stripping it down...

And interior torn apart...

 

[rangerplus]

Just curious, why did you ditch the original chasis?

Is the front suspension on the new frame part of your master plan?

Either way, I can tell its defineatley going to be fun!!

I've had a couple of the newer rangers in the configuration of the 02, with the duratec 4 cylinder, 5 speed transmission. I like the way they ride and the easy alterations to the A-arm suspension over the i-beams. I also love the duratec motor that can take a serious beating and still get 28 MPG all day long while being reliable. My concept with this truck is to restore the underside to like new, update the interior to modern dash, seats, etc. so interior and underside will be like new. The body I plan to leave as you see it here, not doing paint at this point. When I do paint I always end up being too anal about parking or even driving them. I'm building this to be a daily driver all summer long and enjoy it.

 

[rangerplus]

Progress pics from the weekend...
She came to help too

 

[rangerplus]

Got a couple more hours in on disassembly of both cabs, amazing how similar the firewalls and cowls are.

Bare firewall of 02...

Removed motor, tranny, and rear end from chassis to clean everything up, make frame alterations, and paint before reassembling...

Bare firewall of 88...

Found a small soft spot in driver floor near body mount, so looks like we'll be patching that up when we do firewall.