What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Rick W]

Oh (first gen) wise ones….

The ‘87 Missing Linc has driver and passenger windows that are full glass, no vent windows. I’ve seen several first gen rangers that have the rectangular side windows, and also have the vent windows. I always assumed that they were earlier models. Then I saw an ‘87 today, like mine, that had the vent windows, looked online, and I found both on the ‘87s.

Did the early ones come with the vent windows, and then they changed to a full-size window mid year and ‘87? Was either an option to the other?

I real question is, if I find first generation doors that have the vent windows, can I just take out the mechanism and move it over and then have vent windows on mine? Do all the first gen doors interchange? Can I just swap the doors?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oh (first gen) wise ones….

The ‘87 Missing Linc has driver and passenger windows that are full glass, no vent windows. I’ve seen several first gen rangers that have the rectangular side windows, and also have the vent windows. I always assumed that they were earlier models. Then I saw an ‘87 today, like mine, that had the vent windows, looked online, and I found both on the ‘87s.

Did the early ones come with the vent windows, and then they changed to a full-size window mid year and ‘87? Was either an option to the other?

I real question is, if I find first generation doors that have the vent windows, can I just take out the mechanism and move it over and then have vent windows on mine? Do all the first gen doors interchange? Can I just swap the doors?

My 88 Bronco II, my two parts Bronco IIs, and the 89 Eddie Bauer Bronco II all have/had the vent windows. My 89 Ranger parts truck might, I don’t remember offhand. My 89 Bronco II Choptop and my 92 Ranger both have full windows which I’ve always hated. The vent windows are nice.

I’m not certain if you could swap the glass and related bits, probably could, but the doors, to my understanding, were the same for Ranger and Bronco II from 83-92 and the vent windows were available all through that range. I don’t remember seeing a 1st gen without the vent windows though. Always seemed to me to be more of a 2nd gen thing

 

[Rick W]

My 88 Bronco II, my two parts Bronco IIs, and the 89 Eddie Bauer Bronco II all have/had the vent windows. My 89 Ranger parts truck might, I don’t remember offhand. My 89 Bronco II Choptop and my 92 Ranger both have full windows which I’ve always hated. The vent windows are nice.

I’m not certain if you could swap the glass and related bits, probably could, but the doors, to my understanding, were the same for Ranger and Bronco II from 83-92 and the vent windows were available all through that range. I don’t remember seeing a 1st gen without the vent windows though. Always seemed to me to be more of a 2nd gen thing

So the doors from the first gen before the nose mod will definitely fit, and maybe the ones after they modified the nose? Does anybody know about the revised nose doors?

I’d love to find a couple doors with power windows and power locks, I don’t think they cost anymore from the scrapyard

 

[scotts90ranger]

The doors interchange from '83-92 like said, the door panels changed in '89. I've heard of people swapping in the vent windows, I've never thought too hard about it on my '90

 

[JoshT]

Did the early ones come with the vent windows, and then they changed to a full-size window mid year and ‘87? Was either an option to the other?

It was an option, not a year dependent thing. My 84 came with solid glass. I the 85 out back has vent windows, and the 86 has solid. I couldn't tell you which was standard and which was the option. I personally prefer solid on the Rangers, so the 85 will be getting converted if it gets built.

I real question is, if I find first generation doors that have the vent windows, can I just take out the mechanism and move it over and then have vent windows on mine? Do all the first gen doors interchange? Can I just swap the doors?

Yes, you can install the vent windows in you solid window doors.

Do all the first gen doors interchange? Can I just swap the doors?

Yes, all first gen door can physically interchange. Some had power windows, some had vent windows, some had different mirrors, but all of the doors will bolt in place of the other and the guts can be swapped between them. Even the 89-92 2nd gen (/face lift/nose mod/modified nose/revised nose/etc) doors will bolt on, but IIRC the inside face may be a bit different due to the different door panels. Possibly different mounting provisions for the updated panels.

You can just swap the doors, but I wouldn't recommend it. Just swap the vent window guts over to your doors.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So the doors from the first gen before the nose mod will definitely fit, and maybe the ones after they modified the nose? Does anybody know about the revised nose doors?

I’d love to find a couple doors with power windows and power locks, I don’t think they cost anymore from the scrapyard

I’m not sure what exactly you mean about “revised nose” unless you’re talking about 2nd gen. This whole “facelift” and “revised nose” and stuff is ridiculous, IMHO. 83-88 has been 1st gen and 89-92 has been 2nd gen for longer than I’ve been involved in Rangers. Front clip, dash, interior door panels, and electrical all changed between those two.

If you don’t have power windows, swapping in power may require doing some electrical. You may or may not have the wiring in place or part of the wiring. My 89 Bronco II Eddie Bauer I had in college did not have the “premium sound” package but had wiring behind the radio for both regular and premium.

I do not know how much that part of the electrical changed, but if you’re after power, you may want to look for power 1st gen doors. Maybe someone else knows specifically. I do know that all of the vent window doors I have are all power. I haven’t figured out exactly how I’m going to handle that yet because I’d really like a set of vent window doors on my second gen’s. Been too much other stuff to deal with to worry about that yet though.