Where's a good place to look?

[Iron Ranger]

I been pondering the idea for a 4x4 ranger with a good running drivetrain, decent cab, and a completly shot box(so I can rip it off and build a custom flatbed) for no more than $800.

It seems to me that the only way to aquire this is in a insurance write-off. Something where the frame and drivetrain isn't compromised, but the box is.

Where's a good place to look for one of these? Salvage yard?

I know this is a very broad question, but I want to see what my options are.

I live on the iron range and there are rangers around, but the cabs look like they are held on by duct tape and prayer, rust holes all over, and the floor's barely hanging on.

Just wanna build a flatbed sometime in the future when I stop pumping money into my 302 ranger.

Thanks!!

 

[97RangerXLT]

I don't think getting a ranger with a shot box is going to take the price down much...maybe a couple of hundred dollars.

If you want to build a nice ranger on the cheap, look for two rangers, one that has been rolled but has a good drive train and and one w/ a junk motor or transmission. swap what parts you need to the good ranger and sell the rest.

you will probably spend more than 800 initially this way, but you might be able to recoup enough of it by parting out whats left over.

AJ

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i agree with 97rangerxlt, having a smashed box isnt going to lower the price much, but getting 2 trucks is going to turn into a bigger project and probably more money spending than you are wanting to do. i plan on doing the same thing kinda, ive got my 90' ranger std cab long bed and ive got my 94 ranger std cab short bed. the 94 has a great cab and front clip but the bed is shot and it has a seized 3.0l and no trans, and the 90 has a great chassis and drive train but the cab and box are shot. so im thinking flat bed the long bed 90 and swap the 94 cab onto the 90 frame. i already own both trucks, but after making a list of things i know i will need to buy or replace i came up with a price list of almost $2000.00 (included was a quick rebuild of my 2.3l, new suspension components, and other odds and ends). another place i just thought of was the auto trader becuase they always have their collision section with cars and trucks that have been crashed.