Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and muerte69
Active Member
Hello All,
I am the current owner of a 1988 Ford Ranger 4x4 2.9L V6. It was my everyday driver for a while then after playing in the woods putting up a deer stand it got a hole in the radiator and has sat for a year or so. Drove it to my new house and the front left brake has seized up so it now needs a new radiator, caliper, pads and I will probably change out the bearings when I have it apart. It also needs the rear left tail lights fixed as nothing back there seems to be working at this time.
So a little background on the truck. I bought it from an old roommate after he had found it a month after it was stolen from in front of our apartment. He had ripped the dash portion in front of the gauges off of it before it was stolen since the back light wasn’t working and the head lights were acting flaky. The bench seat is messed up and has a cover on it but needs to be replaced. The person who stole the truck ripped out the radio and the speakers and ran out the gas leaving it in a neighborhood on the side of the road. After I bought it off him I put in a single switch for the lights removing the dimmer since even a replacement module didn’t work. The horn didn’t work so I put in a button for that as well. Then after about 3-4 months the reverse lights stopped working and I just put in a spot light and a switch for that purpose at the time. Then right before I parked it I replaced the water pump since it was leaking like crazy from the weep hole. Before I parked it everything mechanically functioned including the 4wd other than the rear passenger lights.
Now to the present I am planning to fix the truck. I would like to get it running and in a state that will pass North Carolina inspection criteria then start working on the various odds and ends I want more than need. Here is what I plan:
1. Replace the radiator (Prob do hoses and therm at the same time) (Need)
2. Replace brake caliper, pads and bearings (Need)
3. Fix tail lights (Backup lights as well if possible) (Need)
4. Get new tires that will pass inspection (Need)
5. Replace seat with another bench or bucket whatever is more comfortable (Want)
6. Install new or custom dash/gauge cluster and cover (I really like the diamond plated dash I saw on here somewhere (Want)
7. 3 inch body lift (May do before tires so I can get bigger tires) (Want)
8. Washer & spring lift (Also possibly before tires) (Want)
9. Rhino line bed, light bar and lower body (Want)
10. Paint exterior camo (Want)
So I have a few things on my plate as you can see. Along with the things I need and want to do come the hundreds of questions I have about how to do it and what not. The wiring and dash stuff I am going to have a lot of questions about. The seats, radiator and brakes I am good with.
So now I come to the place of knowledge and make an offering of gas, grease and oil.
Let me know what you think of the plans and if you can point me in the right direction that would be great.
Matt
I am the current owner of a 1988 Ford Ranger 4x4 2.9L V6. It was my everyday driver for a while then after playing in the woods putting up a deer stand it got a hole in the radiator and has sat for a year or so. Drove it to my new house and the front left brake has seized up so it now needs a new radiator, caliper, pads and I will probably change out the bearings when I have it apart. It also needs the rear left tail lights fixed as nothing back there seems to be working at this time.
So a little background on the truck. I bought it from an old roommate after he had found it a month after it was stolen from in front of our apartment. He had ripped the dash portion in front of the gauges off of it before it was stolen since the back light wasn’t working and the head lights were acting flaky. The bench seat is messed up and has a cover on it but needs to be replaced. The person who stole the truck ripped out the radio and the speakers and ran out the gas leaving it in a neighborhood on the side of the road. After I bought it off him I put in a single switch for the lights removing the dimmer since even a replacement module didn’t work. The horn didn’t work so I put in a button for that as well. Then after about 3-4 months the reverse lights stopped working and I just put in a spot light and a switch for that purpose at the time. Then right before I parked it I replaced the water pump since it was leaking like crazy from the weep hole. Before I parked it everything mechanically functioned including the 4wd other than the rear passenger lights.
Now to the present I am planning to fix the truck. I would like to get it running and in a state that will pass North Carolina inspection criteria then start working on the various odds and ends I want more than need. Here is what I plan:
1. Replace the radiator (Prob do hoses and therm at the same time) (Need)
2. Replace brake caliper, pads and bearings (Need)
3. Fix tail lights (Backup lights as well if possible) (Need)
4. Get new tires that will pass inspection (Need)
5. Replace seat with another bench or bucket whatever is more comfortable (Want)
6. Install new or custom dash/gauge cluster and cover (I really like the diamond plated dash I saw on here somewhere (Want)
7. 3 inch body lift (May do before tires so I can get bigger tires) (Want)
8. Washer & spring lift (Also possibly before tires) (Want)
9. Rhino line bed, light bar and lower body (Want)
10. Paint exterior camo (Want)
So I have a few things on my plate as you can see. Along with the things I need and want to do come the hundreds of questions I have about how to do it and what not. The wiring and dash stuff I am going to have a lot of questions about. The seats, radiator and brakes I am good with.
So now I come to the place of knowledge and make an offering of gas, grease and oil.
Let me know what you think of the plans and if you can point me in the right direction that would be great.
Matt
