restoration-thread?pricing?

[peterbelt100]

maybe i was lazy but is there a ranger restoration forum?
i wan't to fully ground up front to back restore my ford ranger.
i can't find any estimates or services on the web that have more detailed cost analysis for rangers.

my ranger is.
1994.
4banger.
5speedmanuel.
heavy body rust.
my intentions are to swap most parts engine,trannie,rear diff, drive shaft,exhaust,shocks struts springs, joints, modern headlights. add cruise control. add power windows. sand blast and coat frame will conisider frame swap. re paint the truck. re upholster trying to match original materials.
up grade sound with bose modern speakers. add rear red brake light bar. spray in bedliner.

i am in no way mechanically knowledgable or able to take on this task with manual labor as i have funds but not any time as i work 80 hours a week but dangit i love my ranger.

 

[pjtoledo]

heavy body rust?
sorry, but reality is that rust always wins eventually.
for an idea on a restoration cost, check out some of the TV shows that restore cars. try MAV tv or Velocity channels.

 

[Shran]

Here's an easier and cheaper thought, take a trip to the southwest and bring back your dream truck. Build off that.

In my experience, 93-up Rangers will be the least desirable trucks for restoration purposes simply because they are so prone to rust...especially the frames...if you have one that has a ton of rust on the body, you can bet the frame is worse. I had a 96 that looked like a decent, clean truck but my god, the frame on that thing...wow. MN road salt ate through all of the leaf spring hangers, shackles and gas tank straps. Took a lot of work to get it roadworthy and from what I've seen, it wasn't even that bad, relatively speaking.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you are buying parts AND labor, you will probably spend more than what a new truck costs to have it done top to bottom. For a shop to do it, I figure 25% for material, 25% for labor, 25% for profit, and finally 25% for taxes and incidentals. Shran has a good point too, to start with a rust free truck will save probably [wag] 50% of the cost.

 

[RonD]

Google: ford ranger project restoration

Like building a house, you either start with a good foundation or you are just wasting your time and money

 

[Angie]

I will take a stab at this thread... just because ...

So far on my custom frame off build, and let me add that the wife and I have so far done all the work involved with the majority of the labour being free. Paying for supplies, parts and any shop time for machining on the motor; I will estimate we are into the build for $9,000.00. by the time we have it running, and this is not including the custom exhaust work that will be needed from a shop, or the drive shaft.

Yes it is a 1983 V8 swap and show truck build, however, I wouldn't want to guess how much this would have cost us if a shop or shops were doing all the work.... That would be beyond my budget. Time being my biggest obstacle (lack of).

To restore a 1994 truck would be off the charts for costs I would guess, especially if shops were to do all the work.

I will echo shran and floored.... just find a very nice shape truck and start to chew away at the issues it has...

there is a thread here .... >>> http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162298

with a nice starting point and 1qaz is slowly restoring it as he goes. This might be more what you are wanting to do.

hope this sheds some light on your open ended questions.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Restorations can get scary fast.

A lot hinges on how much rust you have.

My '85 I am restoring needs cab corners and a drivers side floor pan (rear window leaked unannounced) for actual cutting and welding bodywork... not really a whole lot. I got a new fender off Craigslist for $25 and a minty fresh one at a JY for about $50 (IIRC) Nice hood was $65 (needed thanks to hail in 2001) Technically I should fix the fairly minor hail dents on the roof but I am 6'-3" and can not see them unless I am in the bed so I don't really care.

Nice thing about a truck is you can just replace the bed, I have seen them for $200-$1000... your results may vary. Mine has already been patched once, I am not going to mess with reskinning it.

Paint will cost as much as you want it to.

Labor to do all this... no idea. It was roughly $2000 for me to swap in a V8 (freshen up, all the swap bits, exhaust, driveshafts...) and it is probably going to be pushing $1k for me to rebuild my front axle on my own (new crosses, balljoints, tie rods, seals, bearings, brakes, alignment...)

I have done everything but the exhaust on mine, I will farm out the alignment too.