My 87 Ranger I will be restoring soon I want to keep track of my progress and add information as I find it.

[jballard81]

View attachment 128808I
I was at the boneyard and scored a few things and got them installed. My old glove box lid was scratched. Got it installed. Need to figure out on later how to switch locks. I don’t ever lock it. Got to see how the knob comes off. Also replaced my broken ashtray. I still have a small scratch in the lower dash but not as bad. May try touch up paint on it later. View attachment 128809. .
My visor rods had a lot of sag. I swapped rids from bone yards. View attachment 128810
A lot better. I did bend the rids in the vice a little to just get the visors that much higher. View attachment 128811
Now I’m starting to get some of the Cruise Control installed and AC hooked up to go to shop to get charged.

Your interior is looking great. Nice find on the glove box door!

 

[Terrys87]

@RobbieD Thanks for posting the diagrams. That is going to be a tremendous help. I have been able to find another manual cheaper and will be getting it on order soon. I am so ready to retire. Been working since 14 years old and I really don't know where the time went.

@85_Ranger4x4 will be looking for that orange paint. Cluster will be coming out again in the future. I should of had it on hand when I first had the cluster out. Thats how well my plans work out. lol

@jballard81 Thanks, each little step adds up and it is really not feeling like an old truck to me. Maybe it is in my head but actually feels newer now.

 

[Terrys87]

I got my cluster back in and really happy with the results. It will be coming back out again and will do the needles in orange at that time.

It is going to take 4 grills to get 2 descent ones. The best looking grill was damaged by some hack in the salvage yard and broke a corner and all mounting tabs. It did have a great looking emblem on it so it went in the truck grill.

Needs a good cleaning and bumper bolt but it is a step closer to looking new again. 

Been over a year working on getting ac working. All new components minus the main hoses. I had it professionally checked for leaks and filled properly instead of guessing. I wish I could still get R12 but it did freeze me out on the way to work. I have an older stereo on order to get installed soon, I hope.

 

[Terrys87]

I went to the boneyard and this non cruise truck seems to have the three post wiring already installed.

I did not think my truck had the glove box assembly. It does. Light is burnt out. It just pops thru and plugs into harness at top of someone wanted to add it. I’m replacing my bulb with LED.

I did get a better dash pad than what I have. I got but did disassemble as if was my own truck. Hate when people destroy parts someone might need later. Hopefully if anybody needs anything this will help keep from destroying it. I have done this on other salvage trucks. Hoping to go back Saturday with my sons. I still want some more parts but ran out of energy and forgot some tools I needed.

 

[Terrys87]

I'm going back for this fender. I will need it someday. Hope it is still there.

Another part I would if bought had they not destroyed the panel just for the FORD emblems.

This truck had flat gas door if someone wants it. I know a few like it better than the bump door. I will get Saturday if no rain.

 

[Terrys87]

New dash is better shape than mine and no broken tabs.

Cleaned, Adhesion Promoter and Regatta Blue Paint from LMR.

Painted

Installed with new stereo and better fuse panel cover then my old one.

Speaker Covers installed with new painted dash.

Another view. I cleaned my ventilation system and still had leaves to blow thru system. I do have a Maple tree in my yard. Grrr. AC works great.

 

[Terrys87]

I just want a basic stereo. This has AM, FM, and Bluetooth. All that I need. Just in there. Waiting to get speakers.

I was able to get this mirror mount bracket. It’s for the larger mirror which I plan on going to at a later time.

I did get a better fuse panel cover. One on top is new to me. I find a better one I will replace it. Someone drilled a hole in it for a toggle switch. Still better than mine.

 

[Terrys87]

I took this picture of parking brake cable when in the boneyard. Mine does not look correct. Hope this will get mine correct.

I was able to get passenger door trim and one more piece needed for cruise control. It attaches to pedal to activate the vacuum dump on brake pedal. Also, my wiper delay works but not with the timer set to max. Hoping this fixes my wiper delay. Easy to switch out and see. Looks like rain all weekend. I plan on working on the Bronco2 and get some things done in it.

 

[Terrys87]

I did not know this. Found on a thread here.

 

[Terrys87]

I found a vetm manual still in original plastic wrapping.

I went to the boneyard think Ranger and Bronco bumpers were the same. This come off of a Bronco that was hit in the rear. The pads are different. The left side is wider in a Ranger. The right side is narrower and one of the tabs does not align up. My truck bumper needs replaced and I will get a bumper from the boneyard in a week or so.

Looks a little better. Mist probably won’t notice the difference in the left and right side.

Also found a truck with a hood light. It is installed but needs wired up. I will look and hope factory plug is in engine compartment. At a quick glance I have not found the connector.

 

[Terrys87]

Recently I changed my glove box from a salvage yard. Not having the correct lock in mine was bugging me. There is a slot I thought you just depressed to release the knob. Wrong!!!! You can see the slot in the knob.

Take a pick about 90 degrees either side of the slot and work the pick to the slot. You are lifting up a metal ring to release the knob from lock assembly.

This the ring you are pulling to the knob to release.

 

[Terrys87]

This is the switch I got out if the boneyard. Hoping to fix my wiper delay issue. It is worse than my original. I still have delay, just not at max setting. I read there maybe a wiper control module in the dash. I will start investigating.

Popped thus kart number into Google and several parts sites. Comes up with everything else but Rangers and Broncos.

Wife has a flat on her car the other day. That made me get my stuff together. Only thing I got with this truck was the jack handle. I got this jack from boneyard and had to do a lot of cleaning and lubricantating.

Tire and carrier mounted. What a pain in the rear this setup is. I am going to look into adding a cross member and cable drop. Has to be something better.

 

[SenorNoob]

I just leave the spare in the bed... If I'm feeling serious it's ratchet strapped somewhere. Good for you doing it right!

 

[Awesom-O]

Do you use any compound or glass cleaner with your steel wool Terry? Can you do that on the inside of the back windows as well? Looks great. Thanks.
Also, just had to deal with the spare tire carrier myself, detailed in my thread. It’s even worse when you add a larger spare. Lol

 

[Terrys87]

@SenorNoob Thanks, I am afraid someone would like my spare better than me. Also, I am always hauling something and need the bed freed up for something.

@Awesom-O I use it on the inside and outside with just steel wool. I know it sounds scary, but you can do a little practice spot. Do not do it on a windshield. The windshield actually has a plastic liner on it and would scratch. Steel wool will only remove the minor imperfection, but it will give a real smooth finish, almost like a wax to it. It helps get that dull chalky dust off of it. I do not use any glass cleaner with the steel wool. Probably would not hurt anything though if you did.

I will look into your spare tire carrier. Mine barely fits it there. You can see it is against the frame. I actually need to get a tire tool for mine. If I had a flat now, it really would not do me any good. Slowly getting there.