New kid, 84 prerunner ranger

[Aaron84]

Hi, I have been reading these forums and tech guides for about a year now had a few posts on a previous account but I can't remember the name or password.
Further more a little back ground info before we get to the good stuff. I am attending a vocational high school for automotive technology here in Las vegas. My dad "guzzirider" and I do all of our own work in the toy box we call a garage he has a 1994 4x4 ranger with a skyjacker leveling kit running "cant remember the tire but 33 10.5's". But enough of that. I recently picked up a mildly built 1984 prerunner ranger needs some TLC but it has quite a bit of Potential. Well here is the info.

-2.3L 4banger
-manual trans
-4.10 gears
-full caged in cab bed cage and has a bar from shock hoop to shock hoop.
-beard racing seats. well once apon upon a time you could say that. more
like a padded dust sponge now.
-RCI 4 point racing harnesses
-oh shit bar for the passenger. "my dad"
-4 over bent I beams "not sure on the travel yet i think about 15 or 16"
going to take it into the shop at school and measure the full cycle on the
lift soon
- front shocks and coils unknown " gona be fox coil overs looking into exactly
what i am going to need" plus I am still in high school takes time to save
for these things
- 15in American Racing rims, wrapped in 35 10.5 MT baja claws. "have two
more but I need to pick up some rims before I use them

Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head. Any advise and info on this truck would be very much appreciated. If you want to know anything or if there is any thing you think I should look into let me know. This is my daily driver so cant do anything real crazy atleast till summer when im not going back and forth to school.


Sorry about the pictures it was dark when I took them and I havent had time to upload any of the new ones.

See what I mean by dust sponges?

 

[Aaron84]

More pictures soon to be added of the the task of carpeting this dirty beast.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Looks like a fun truck. Why are you putting carpet in it?

I bet re gearing the rear end would help alot, 4.10's aren't exactly Ideal for 35's no matter what motor you have. Other then that it looks like a sweet truck, and I would clean up the bed and cage by maybe going with a bed liner. and stuff. And a different paint color? lol

 

[SnC RangeR]

sweet ride!

 

[atlanta-bmx]

Show some pics in the day light! But from what i can see, it looks good!

 

[RangerRocker]

Looks like a fun truck. Why are you putting carpet in it?

I bet re gearing the rear end would help alot, 4.10's aren't exactly Ideal for 35's no matter what motor you have. Other then that it looks like a sweet truck, and I would clean up the bed and cage by maybe going with a bed liner. and stuff. And a different paint color? lol

I agree. I would go with either 5.13, or deeper gears since you are running a 4cyl. It does look like a cool truck though. New seats are cheap, haha.

 

[jhammel85]

Very cool man! I love seeing 1st gen prerunners

 

[Aaron84]

The cage has rino liner all over it. I want to sand it all off and go with some flat black paint. What do you guys think? I am eventually going to be running a v6 still going back and forth between a newer 4.0 and a 3.8. But as far as the gears was thinking about going with 4.88. I put outdoor carpet in it to keep some of the sound down all it was rino liner inside cost all of like 40$

 

[Original_Ranger84]

The cage has rino liner all over it. I want to sand it all off and go with some flat black paint. What do you guys think? I am eventually going to be running a v6 still going back and forth between a newer 4.0 and a 3.8. But as far as the gears was thinking about going with 4.88. I put outdoor carpet in it to keep some of the sound down all it was rino liner inside cost all of like 40$

A turbo 2.3L would probably work just fine too. But i owuld go with a 4.0L if you really want the v6. I would say a 3.0L just cause it likes to be revved but I don't know how it would do...

 

[canyoncritter]

few pics with one of the old forsale ads, this truck has some history, its been around.neat little truck for sure.
"baja scott" was the org owner bulider if i rember right.

http://www.desertrides.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10542



http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=96588&page=2



http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=93270

 

[84stealthranger]

some times i wished i lived in ca or az lol nice truck

 

[RangerRocker]

If you get a v6, get the 4.0...sohc if you can swing it. Lots of power and torque for a v6. Stay away from the 3.0, I have one and i wish i had gotten a 4.0 sohc. 2.3 trubo would be fun as long as you keep the turbo clean and happy which would be a major pain in the desert. The little 4 bangers can put down some good numbers when set up right so its all preference.

http://dezertrangers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108301

Then again...a 302 with some mild parts(which are super cheap) will get you more power than you need in a single cab ranger. The v8 part will let you keep the 4.10 gear ratio too.

Whatever you do, good luck. Im sure it will turn out cool.

 

[Aaron84]

Tryen to keep this to where I can smog it. Ive already fixed all the broken stuff accept the window havent been able to get to a salvage yard or make a new one yet.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

well if you want to keep it smog able Any newer engine will improve your emissions. but if they require a stock or standard equipment engine you might be screwed... I have no clue how emissions work... never had to deal with them.

 

[Aaron84]

Well here in vegas smog laws are pretty lax but still dont want to push my luck