possible new project

[racsan]

I drive by this house every day, 2 vehicles & a camper sit outside, never move. Yard does get mowed but it’s obviously a empty home. Thinking of leaving a note with my # & a $500 offer for the gen 1 ranger. Know nothing about it. But it may have potential.
the other vehicle is a S-blazer, unsure of its year but a early one, mid to late ‘80’s Id guess.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's a long box too...

 

[racsan]

Its only about a mile from me, the next house beside it is empty too & falling in on itself, theres a yellow 70’s pontiac ventura parked beside it. Im sure its not saveable. Id love to be nosy but there are “no trespassing “ signs posted. Even though Im not meaning any harm and certainly not up to anything bad, you never know where there might be cameras. I feel pretty safe just driving in, taping a note to the door & leaving. The camper there is a small 16’-ish single axle, not really interested in it, a S-blazer V6 could possibly pull it but I doubt that ranger pulled it.

 

[97RangerXLT]

yes! save that Ranger from spending an eternity rusting away next to a Chevy!

AJ

 

[racsan]

Well hopefully they accept the offer & its worth dragging home. Considering the rebuild I did on that rough 94 I had, Im sure I can get this driveable again. As long as the cab isnt rotten where the cab mounts fasten to I should be ok. When theres not a away to support the cab on the frame, then you need a new cab.

 

[racsan]

Stopped by today, someone was mowing. I was given a attorneys # to call. I took a quick glance and heres what I know: last license sticker was in 2000, has a silver “electronic fuel injection “ emblem on tailgate, so -1986? gearshift is a A4LD. Certainly not the transmission I wanted but that “could” be changed. left rear corner has some heat damage along with the front of that S-blazer, like someone was burning something way too close, left rear taillight on ranger is gone so it got that hot. Tailgate is rusted out, and gen 1 tailgates usually dont rot out, especially compared to gen 3 & up. I still want to save it but not as excited as I first was about it .

 

[racsan]

Well the attorney called, said he didn’t have access to the ranger or camper title, rattled off a few other vehicles he did have titles for regarding this estate/situation, one was that s-blazer, there was also a cavelier mentioned, a monte carlo & a mustang.
Well you know my curiosity had me wondering…. I stopped on the way home “just” to get a picture of the ranger door tag, check out the interior. I did that then took a peek in the barn. Partially under a tarp is a red ‘65-ish mustang convertible. 5-lug wheels, that tells me its a V8, most likely a 289, in the back was a 70-71-ish monte carlo. There was also a fordson super dextra tractor and a couple of old riding mowers. Going to check out the vin of the ranger & see if its a 2.9 by chance. I only wonder about a 2.9 cause Ive never drove/had one. I doubt it, the distance between the fuel door & front of bed says its a shortbox so it’s probably a 2.3 Build date of 8/85 so its probably a ‘86 model year. drivers side floor rotted out, animals have been in there. Brake pedal pad missing, logic says that it was parked at 14 years old so easily over 100K. If I cant get a title it’s definitely over, but I cant help wondering about that mustang, not sure how long its sat but at least it was under a roof.

 

[pentode]

So barn finds do actually exist eh?

I'd love to know when that Mustang was last on the road... looks like it's been sitting there for decades.

 

[RobbieD]

Partially under a tarp is a red ‘65-ish mustang convertible. 5-lug wheels, that tells me its a V8

Based on the the fins in the side scoop and no hood turn indicators it's a '67. But you do get bonus points for knowing the deal with the lugs.

 

[racsan]

I know, I didnt linger long, didnt think to look at a license plate, I did pull the tarp back far enough to see what transmission. Auto. oh well- still want it!
Ranger decodes as a ‘86 2.3/A4LD/3.73’s
Saveable? maybe.
But Id rather save the mustang.
The S-blazer & monte carlo I could care less about, Ive always been a mustang fan. Even before the ranger compact truck existed.

 

[racsan]

Based on the the fins in the side scoop and no hood turn indicators it's a '67. But you do get bonus points for knowing the deal with the lugs.

Ok, wasnt sure on year. thought the side scoop looked different. Didnt want to nose too much, got a quick look & got out of there. Will definitely ask the attorney when he gets back with me about the ranger.

 

[RobbieD]

Wouldn't hurt to ask about the Mustang.

 

[JoshT]

Going to check out the vin of the ranger & see if its a 2.9 by chance. I only wonder about a 2.9 cause Ive never drove/had one. I doubt it, the distance between the fuel door & front of bed says its a shortbox so it’s probably a 2.3 Build date of 8/85 so its probably a ‘86 model year. drivers side floor rotted out, animals have been in there. Brake pedal pad missing, logic says that it was parked at 14 years old so easily over 100K. If I cant get a title it’s definitely over, but I cant help wondering about that mustang, not sure how long its sat but at least it was under a roof.

Does lack of a title matter. Here in GA an 86 would transfer on a bill of sale, no questions asked. As for being a short bed, my 86 was a short bed with 2.9L. I know you already have your answer, but don't rule out a V6 just because it's a short bed or SWB.

I'm not super crazy about the verts, but I love those years of Mustangs. The 65-68 have my favorite styling with the 67/68 being my prefered. I'd probably do what ever I could to bring that thing home.

 

[racsan]

True on V6 possibility, I just know that most reg cab 2wd’s Ive seen have been a 2.3 and its more likely to find a 6 in a longbed or supercab. Im not sure on ohio title/licence laws. When I bought the polar express (‘92 longbed 2.3 2wd M5OD) it was a estate vehicle & there was some red tape involved getting the title in my name, the title office acted like it was a ‘69 boss 429 (value wise) and thought I had stolen it or something. Im like look lady, its a reg cab 4cyl 2wd non-a/c manual transmission ranger, that was 24 years old at that time. Its worth $1,000 tops - if it has new tires & a full tank of gas.
Granted this ‘86 is older. I’ll have to research ohio laws. I did peek under the back at the leaf spring hangers & they are good. Never had a reg cab shortbed before.

 

[JoshT]

True on V6 possibility, I just know that most reg cab 2wd’s Ive seen have been a 2.3 and its more likely to find a 6 in a longbed or supercab. Im not sure on ohio title/licence laws. When I bought the polar express (‘92 longbed 2.3 2wd M5OD) it was a estate vehicle & there was some red tape involved getting the title in my name, the title office acted like it was a ‘69 boss 429 (value wise) and thought I had stolen it or something. Im like look lady, its a reg cab 4cyl 2wd non-a/c manual transmission ranger, that was 24 years old at that time. Its worth $1,000 tops - if it has new tires & a full tank of gas.
Granted this ‘86 is older. I’ll have to research ohio laws. I did peek under the back at the leaf spring hangers & they are good. Never had a reg cab shortbed before.

Here it's '85 or older on bill of sale for sure. I've been told that anything more than 25 years old can be transferred that way as well. I've never tried it myself, as the few I've gotten came with titles.

I've owned a regular cab short bed, an '86 RC/SB 2wd V6, but I've never driven one. I guess that I technically still own it if I put the pieces back together. My 84 was RC/LB 2wd V6, and my 85 is a RC/LB 2wd dual tank I4. Maybe I'll used parts from the wrecked 84 to throw the 86 back together someday and do something with it, but I've got enough projects going on for now.