Restoration Build

[iamcams]

1992 Ford Ranger 4x4 Custom
Engine: 2.9 V6
Transmission: FM146
Axles: Dana 28 & 7.5-Inch

I want to do a full restoration on this truck. I am in tech school for automotive service and have some auto body repair experience. I want to basically makes this truck as new as it was in 92. With that in mind, I am not sure what to replace and what to rebuild. I want it mostly as daily but capable of off roading. Read build guide but wasn't very detailed. Any help?

 

[franklin2]

Drive it. When something breaks, fix it. If you tear it into a million pieces for this "restoration", I see it never going back together. Discouragement comes quickly. Been there, done that. Drive it and enjoy it as your daily driver. Keep projects to just minor stuff were it will not be down more than a week or two.

 

[Brain75]

Long time owner of a 1948 and the guys over on FTE (Ford Truck Enthusiasts - ford-trucks.com) in the classic/vintage forum will agree totally - a whole lot more of them have a 20 year project than those who have a driving truck. I took that advice to heart myself and still count myself among the very few who drive theirs. There are a TON of TON of 80 year old widows selling their dead husband's "project". I've made several changes to my '48 (none restoring stock, all adding functionality).. new synchronized 5 speed OD (T5) transmission - one weekend, new rear axle - one weekend plus 2 weeks waiting on the drive shaft shop, etc etc. My '90 has now been down for longer in one straight stretch than my '48 ever was (even the 6 volt to 12 volt conversion took less time).... I am deep in metal work, bondo work, paint.

Buy or borrow from the library a Chilton or Haynes repair manual and go through the whole thing to see how stuff goes together. If you start finding stuff that isn't original that it just drives you to change, find a donor at the junkyard to replace those parts. But again do it piecemeal. How do you eat an elephant?..... One bite at a time. Keep your plate down to reasonable portions instead of slaughtering the elephant right away.