Trying to get to know my Ranger Custom

[JukkaK]

Hi,

I have a 1989 Ford Ranger Custom. My main question is what does "Custom" mean? Is there some differences that I should know?

Recently I bought front satabilizer bar bushings telling the parts guy that it's -89 Ford Ranger 4x4. I got wrong parts and noticed that there are no links in the stabilizer bar ends, it is bolted straight in to the control arms. There are similiar bushings used in the ends and in the middle of the bar.

Does, for example, this have something to do with it being "Custom"?

 

[adsm08]

The "Custom" was a more basic package than the XL or XLT.

There were two styles of sway bars used on the front of the early Rangers. There was one in front of the axle bolted to the frame, and the one you seem to have that runs inside the radius arms. All my Rangers only had that one, one guy I knew only had the forward one, my B2 has both.

 

[91stranger]

Yep. Custom is the most basic form of ranger surprisingly. For any other vehicle "custom" means it has more custom options than a standard vehicle. In the ranger world "custom" means you can "customize" how you want it based off the most plain jane base ranger lol.

 

[adsm08]

Yep. Custom is the most basic form of ranger surprisingly. For any other vehicle "custom" means it has more custom options than a standard vehicle. In the ranger world "custom" means you can "customize" how you want it based off the most plain jane base ranger lol.

Yeah, I am pretty sure that the Custom was an S or SL (depends on the cab) which were the most stripped version of the Ranger, with options hand picked by the original owner.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2 of the three Custom trucks I have found were custom ordered fleet trucks.

For example mine is a special order "Fleet Green" color. One I found last weekend (a 1990) was a mint color. The other one I found (another first gen) looked like it had been painted silver with a broom, I don't know what the original color was.

Generally basic trucks. Rubber floor, vinyl seat, manual everything (maybe automatic trans). Mine did have A/C though.

Someday I want to get a Marti report and see if it says who ordered it.

FWIW Custom trucks are not very common.

Most older trucks had the sway bar mount inside the radius arm crossmember and bolt to the radius arm. Possibly changed when the D35 came out, my '86 XL parts truck was just like my '85 Custom.

 

[BlackBII]

My custom was as simple as it could be. No cruise, no AC, bench seat, rubber floor, no head liner or interior panels/carpet. It did have a Tachometer and was a metallic grey/charcoal color, and was a 4x4 4 cylinder. Interesting combo.

 

[JukkaK]

Sounds about right. I thought that Custom was something special but at the same time wondered why the hell it doesn't have an A/C or any fancy interior or exterior trim. Mine is equipped with 2.9L and automatic transmission, the colour is grey/green(ish) and it has a long cab.