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My 87 project


87-ranger

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Joined
Oct 19, 2013
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Hey all. Ive mostly just been reading, but j wanted to share a few pictures of my project that i recently aquired. Its an 87 ext cab, auto 4x4. I bought it from the original owner, and it sat outside in the side yard for 8 years. The click has 67k on it, and i have service records for it from 1998 with 23k miles on it. Adult driven as well. I mostly just wanted to share and get some input in anything since this is my first ranger and restoration. Thanks.

Broken front spring i found. I orderd two from partsgeek, should be delivered today.

ga5uqu5y.jpg


Recovered the dash myself. I have a feeling i will be recovering in a couple years, not completely satisfied.

anejyjut.jpg


Need a new headliner, but i dont want to spend the money in it right now. Plus i feel like i cannot find a decent deal anywhere.
 
Welcome to TRS~!

Good to get them with low mileage...are you going to replace the motor or work it in gently?

I know engines can sit for a while, but I'd imagine the rings may be a bit stiff...mine sat for a long time but I squirted oil in the pistons at one point to try to keep them from rusting...and I used to crank it over by hand once in a while to keep things moving...even though no oil was being pumped up...

It sat for about two years without any movement at all and when I finally fired it up I was surprised how well it ran...but then the rings were toast in a few years of driving...

Anyway, good project...how is the body and frame?
 
My plan for right now is to work on the motor as it fails. It runs amazing so far. There was a fella that was going to buy jt a few years back, and he gave it a tune uo plus a new radiator. When he wired installed the new wires, he crissed to plugs. I found the two and swapped them due to rough running. It then idled extremely high, and when i plugged the intake with my hand, it would still idle at about 1900 rpm. I found a disconnected vacuum line to a canister in the drivers side wheel well. Since the. It idles at about 1200 and smooth. Fires right up, and doesnt leak a drop of oil. Once i get the new coils in, i will be able to drive it and see if it burns any oil. I am pretty positive no preventive maintenance was done to store the truck, so im sure i will have to rebuild at one point or another. None the less, i am excited.

My plans are to lift it 4 inches, and make it my DD and hunting/camping truck. But i plan on restoring it to mostly original specs. It is black in color, and has absolutely NO dents. Sunbathing for 8 years has reaked havoc on the paint, so a paint job is in store for it.

I am curious however, what kind if options did these trucks come with? It is an XLT model, but has a few things that makes me think it had a few upgrades. The back speakers have "premium sound" stamped on the back, it has power windows and the four wheel drive selector is an electronic module on the ceiling. Anything else i should look for? Also, do these come with dana 35 axles?

I will most likely find some used tires for now, until i get it painted and lifted a little. From what i understand, stock height allows for 235's on stock 15's?

Thanks in advance, look forward to hearing some good advice!
 
You've got a Dana 28. Out side of that, what you found is basically the XLT package. Engine and all as well.

We need more pics! It sounds like it must be super clean. And that dash pad isn't too bad. It's just some of those odd turns where it's hard to get it tight.

Welcome to our boards btw!
 
I just went down to the local fabric store, picked up some good looking vinyl, and wrapped it myself. You're right, there are a couple turns where i just couldnt get it tight. I just got the new coils installed last night in the dark, haha. But got it done!

Went ahead and washed it up today as well. Today is the first time i have seen the paint clean.
u7e7eqep.jpg


There is some surface rust on the wheels, which i will replace in time. Tires are 13 years old and need to be replace immedietly, and will be. I am contemplating just throwing a lift on it before i buy tires, but want to keep some play money available in case the motor starts acting funny. But so far it hasnt even sputtered.
 
Nice find. Are those the pop-put rear windows?
 
One issue i am having is, the fuel gauge does not work. I thought maybe my fuse was blown because the lights on the tach and speedo are not working as well. Engine temp gauge works fine. However, i cannot find a blown fuse under the dash. Any suggestions?
 
Definitely a nice find. looks very solid, no rust. definitely worth fixing up.

your fuel gauge is probably a bad sending unit in the tank, but could also be a wonky connection on the cluster. if the latter, that might fix your lights as well. pull the cluster and replace all of the bulbs, (chances are those two bulbs are burned out, and while you have it apart, you might as well get them all) clean all of the contacts/ pins and slap it back to gether. if your fuel gauge now works, it was the connection, if it still is dead, probably the sending unit.

AJ
 
Hey AJ, the tach and speedo lights cane in tonight. I think the connections are just bad. I will have to pull the dash again, which i was trying to avoid, but its all good.

HOWEVER, two blocks from the house tonight, the "check oil" light came on. The oil level seemed to be fine a couple days ago, but it must be burning. The valve covers were pretty loose when i got the truck, so i tightened them, but not overly tight scared of snapping off a bolt. I did notice earlier today a couple of bubbles coming from the bolt heads, telling me they are not tight enough OR gaskets are in line to be replaced. I will try to get a little more torque out of them tomorrow.
 
Update...

Finally got around to checking the oil this morning. I drained A GALLON AND A HALF. Thank god i had some gallon jugs left over from my last oil change for the powerstroke. Anyways, got it down to "max level", started it and idled it for thirty seconds. Check oil light still illuminated. Dbl checked the dipstick, this is what i found...

deruqa9u.jpg


WTF? The oil is brown, do i possibly have coolant coming in from the heads?
 
Did you also change the filter? If you don't, the old oil in the filter can darken the new oil...but it usually takes a bit longer than 30 seconds.
 
I havent gotten around to change the oil. I have only driven it 7 miles according to the tripometer. This week i will be changing the oil, and possibly doing a seafoam flush
 
Found a water leak somewhere on the passenger side near the firewall. I know its there because i can see the rusty water stains. I cannot seem to locate the origin though. I checked the radiator, and there are two. Small one and a larger one. The smaller one looks new, but the larger one looks "original".

Any thoughts?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - now Free
 
I think ive isolated the leak somewhere around the heater core(?) area against the firewall.
 

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