Need some experienced guidance 1987 ranger rebuild

[Cbonebornstad]

So I got this truck about a year ago it had sat for 8 years at my grandparents house before I offered to take it off their hands it’s pretty clean outside they had the outside redone not too long ago but i was driving it overheated and I’m pretty sure it blew a head gasket (there was oil mixed with coolant) but I decided to just buy a remanufactured motor and drop that in but I’m not the most experienced mechanic so now I have a new motor sitting in a crate and a truck that’s torn apart. I called a resto place because I figured they could help and clean it up as they were replacing the motor and other parts that were rusted through but they said 3500$ a week and it would take at least 3 weeks

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

For $10,000.00 you could buy an already restored ranger.
Installing a motor isn't that hard, and the members here are very helpful if you ask.

 

[Josh B]

What all needs restored? First you need to pull the motor out, and if anything up front needs work that would be a good time to do it. After that just drop the new engine in. Of course you'll find there's a lot more to it, but you'll figure it out as you go along. Whenever you're faced with a puzzle I've found it works well to start with the pieces you do know and progress on to the ones you earlier weren't so sure of, but as the picture comes together it gets easier to sort things out

As far as shops go, I've had mine in a shop no more than the number of times I can count on one hand, in my entire life, and regretted it every last time. I would rather to do it myself twice, and know what I've got, than to let them do it once, and not have a clue

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Righty tighty lefty loosey.

Pretty much all you need to know to wrench on a vehicle.

It may seem daunting at first, but once you get into it you'll realize, its not that hard. Espicially when your dealing with a 1st gen ranger.

 

[Rimjam]

So I got this truck about a year ago it had sat for 8 years at my grandparents house before I offered to take it off their hands it’s pretty clean outside they had the outside redone not too long ago but i was driving it overheated and I’m pretty sure it blew a head gasket (there was oil mixed with coolant) but I decided to just buy a remanufactured motor and drop that in but I’m not the most experienced mechanic so now I have a new motor sitting in a crate and a truck that’s torn apart. I called a resto place because I figured they could help and clean it up as they were replacing the motor and other parts that were rusted through but they said 3500$ a week and it would take at least 3 weeks

So the truck's already torn apart? Hope you took photos, labeled every wire/hose. If you don't already have a repair manual - buy one (Haynes is pretty good, there are others). If you're mechanically inclined it won't be too bad, if you don't know a torque wrench from a spud wrench find a buddy who does, stock up on beer but limit intake to 5 or 6 per night.