Slow on / off road 1993 build

[scott9]

Hi everyone, I just joined here and am finding some great information on my ranger. I am new to rangers but not to Ford trucks, I've had my 1996 f150 since I was 16 and it has treated me well. So I've always wanted a cheap 4x4 to drive around but could never find exactly the right one... Until last week when I saw this 1993 ranger on Craig's list. It's an extended cab 4x4 4.0l and a five speed. I bought the truck for $500 thinking I got a really good deal. I knew the truck needed some work on the frame but the body looked decent and it ran and 4x4 worked but it had no brakes. Upon further inspection the frame is worse than I thought, so I have some major patching to do.

I originally intended for this to be a fun weekend truck to beat on and take off road; but I will have to see if money allows me to make it safe enough for me to feel good about driving it on the road.
I'm a full time college student with a part time job so I can't afford anything major right now. My future plans are to fix the frame and breaks then level it with some good tires and enjoy it for a while. It appears it has Sat outside and not been driven for a few years so the breaks are junk and so are the lines. I may go to a pick and pull to find some better pads/ rotors and calipers for the front for the time being.
So anyway here are some pictures I don't have many right now because I'm at work but I will this weekend.

The day I bought it

All the loose rust I knocked off the frame with a hammer.

 

[lucasd12]

thats a truck with great potential! that'll make a great project truck. Cant wait to see the progress

 

[sbsrlewis]

Nice buy! If you decide it's too much work depending on where ur at I might be interested in giving you the $500 you have in it. I could use the engine and transmission for the spare BII frame I have to get started building for my son.


Steve

 

[scott9]

Thanks guys that makes me feel a little better.

 

[scott9]

So the first thing that needs done is brakes and a front radius arm, (the passenger side is rusted out ) do the newer rangers and explorers use the same pads rotors and calipers? I am going to the pick and pull to try and find some decent ones for the time being. And while I am chhanging the radius arm I was thinking of leveling it out. Will stock jeep wrangler tj front spring level a ranger ?