This 1997 XLT was purchased brand new with the only mile on it from the test drive we had taken. My dad mainly used this truck for a work truck and kept it completely stock.
Skip forward four years, I’m now sixteen years old and I have to pick out a vehicle. We get to looking at a few new ones, but I just didn’t care for them because of one reason, I couldn’t customize a new one under warranty. After this I got to looking at several Ranger websites (The Ranger Station being one of them), and I thought to myself why don’t I just take dad’s truck. I talked him into it, and the rest is history.
When I got to looking at what all I could do to a mini truck, I found out that the combinations and variations were endless. I could slam it to the ground and paint all sorts of wild effects on it, I could put some skyjackers and 35″ tires on it and go for an off-road look, etc. The look that I finally look I went for was one all my own that I had never seen anyone else do, up to that point. It was a truck just for me and no one else, if other people liked it, I didn’t really care it was my toy.
I started off my customizing with a set of 15×8 Cragar SS rims from Custom Automotive in Calvert City, KY. Me being a HUGE fan of any kind of muscle car loved these wheels and really didn’t much care for the new craze of Lexani style rims, and hey when they went on, they looked GREAT! My next few mods would focus on the front end of the truck, with clear corners and a billet grille, then I went to the back and put in a set of APC euro tails, yes, I know those are a dime a dozen but hey I like them, so I got them.
I also carpeted the bedliner in a nice shade of blue, carpet and put a neon light in there for those dark nights when I need to see in the bed. After this I got a set of SS Cal-Vu Sport Mirrors and painted them to match this really started to tie my entire truck together, but I wouldn’t stop there. The next mods would focus on the stereo, starting with my Jensen MP3 head unit, then my 45w triaxial 6×9’s and then, finally my tweeters and my two Rockford Fosgate Subwoofers.
After these mods I took a brief break from modding my truck, that was until a hailstorm sprayed my truck with GOLF BALL SIZED HALE. The truck was peppered with hale, and all right before my first show. I was crushed but not broken. I would turn it into insurance and with the price of a regular hood I was able to get my current cowl induction hood for less than $100. Not too long after this I ripped out the interior and repainted it silver to replicate the Explorer Sport Trac interior, then several months after that I installed a set of 2001 Lexus ES300 Power and Leather seats in it, giving the interior a completely different look. Since then, I have painted the 4×4 valance, front impact strip, door handles and tailgate handle.
This has been by far the best cruising vehicle, EVER! Yes, it has been my only vehicle, but I have ridden in several others. And in a day and age when you are paying nearly $2.00 for a gallon of gas it’s nice to know that my four banger gets over 20 mpg at all times, and those Chevy 350’s get 12-18. It’s also been great to me just setting in place, no telling how many Chevy guys have told me, “Man that is the only ford I like,” or how many girls, “Jake, I really like your truck.” It’s just been great to me and one truck that I want to keep as long as I’m kicking.
The mods will continue to grow, because I’m no different than anyone else when you think I’m done I’m really not. my future plans include repainting the interior to a metal flake black, replacing the stock headliner with a black headliner, white face gauges, chromed diamond plate door sills and flareside steps, steel roll pan, custom built console and power locks.
About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of TheRangerStation.com, the longest-running Ford Ranger resource online since 1999. With over 25 years of hands-on experience building and modifying Ford Rangers — including magazine-featured builds like Project Transformer — Jim has become one of the most trusted authorities in the Ford Ranger off-road and enthusiast space. In 2019, he was loaned a Ranger FX4 by Ford Motor Company to test and document across the TransAmerica Trail. Jim continues to inspire and guide Ranger owners around the world.
