Soild body, rusty frame why? 1986 ranger..

[JamesD]

New ranger owner, I can't wait to start working on this truck! The body surprisingly is solid and straight. But the frame is rusty? The truck is very original and the bed is solid. What is good about it is not a Frankenstein truck just a plain 2WD 2.0 five speed. Nothing really looks altered at all. According to the car report it spent most of it life in Smithfield VA. Anyhow is this normal for an old ranger to have frame rust? Was rangers rust treated at the plant? Also what is the best way to attack the rust?

James

 

[Mark_88]

Best way to attack the rust is to remove the bed and the cab...many have done it on here and it is not as hard as it may appear. Probably 12 bolts and a few hours disconnecting things.

Replacing the bolts that break off or need replacing may be a bit expensive, but it will be worth it. If you find the rust on the frame is too serious to simply clean up (meaning there are gaping holes in the frame after poking it with a screwdriver) then you can actually swap this cab and box onto a newer frame...like a 3rd gen (93-97) with a better engine or even a 4x4...

But that is getting a bit ahead of things...

I had my frame sand blasted about 10 years ago then epoxy sealed. I thought that would keep it good for at least 20 years but I started seeing rust after only 10 years...so I simply swapped frames again with a 96 Ranger (only restriction is single to single and extended to extended for the easiest swaps) and a newer engine...

 

[bobbywalter]

if you drive in the snow and slush your screwed no matter what.

every 3-5 years i clean and paint the frame. you have to take it to bare rails.


but you have to completely disassemble the frame and all of the bridging that is riveted or your just wasting your time. i always left the k member in and buckets for a long time along with one main bridge. with a gen one you can get away with leaving the k member. but removing the buckets and each brace one at a time to prep and treat each section, then reinstall it, is the only way to keep the frame from rotting..

the gen one frame are real simple and easy to keep alive...easy to weld on etc.