Build thread - Member's Projects Showcase - Tech Section

1^st Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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This is the build thread for the truck. I haven't come up with the name for the truck yet, anyone with good suggestions have at it.

I have come prepared

Got the seats out, that was fun. No broken bolts, didn't even strip any. Lucky me lol

It's a good thing when you find old parts under the seat, right? Maybe a collectible item, antique Motorcraft!!

I like the previous owner. DUCT TAPE! Possibly antique as well. Any offers? First $250 takes it! It probably still sticks!!!

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1983 Ranger, reluctantly taking apart. Donor/project vehicle.

1997 Ranger Ex Cab Manual 4.0 2wd, dead on arrival. Hopefully reviving for a daily driver.

1984 Ranger, currently in â‰ˆ861 pieces. Sheâ€™s donating whatâ€™s salvageable.

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Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2020 05:57 pm

2^nd Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Got everything cleaned out as much as I could. Until I get power out here in the form of a generator then all I can do is clean and disassemble. I do plan on getting one of those cordless handheld vacuums to vacuum everything up better.

The drivers side isn't all that bad. I've seen worse. Mostly right where the feet go and a little bit into the bottom of the firewall. I NEED POWER OUT HERE! I wanna get a wire cup wheel and go to town on the floors to see how bad it actually is. I did the poke test though. I only poked through twice over here.

The passenger side is actually pretty bad. I'll probably need to to redo that entire side from the middle forward.

Oh, and if you can't find your 1/4 drive ratchet because it decided to grow legs and walk away, then just use a flat head screw driver that's not too big that it won't fit, and not too small where it will go all the way to the bottom (top?) of the socket.

Last edited on Sat Jul 25th, 2020 11:47 pm by VelociRanger

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Posted: Sun Jul 26th, 2020 09:38 am

3^rd Post

Idahome

Joined: Wed May 2nd, 2018

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HELL YEAH!

CALL IT 84 Ranger project "rust is the new black"

I love it dude, you repair this rust you mine as well plan to keep this thing forever and give it to your kids because you are gonna fall in love with it! Restoring a 84 Ranger gets you very very high marks in my book. This truck will be worth a fortune someday........especially to you!!!!!!!

Way to innovate. Have you tried Craigslist for a good used small genset? Honda EQ2000 is about the best small generator you can get....but harbor freight, champion power, subaru, generac, there are other good ones too.........

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Posted: Sun Jul 26th, 2020 11:04 am

4^th Post

Idahome

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I have some advice for you
WELDABLE PRIMER
This is like a spray coating for the metal bits. New rust usually begins at the welds. Why? Because welds are done to bare metal and bare metal exposed to atmosphere begins to rust. So spray both sides of all metal bits with weld through primer before welding = less chance of rust.
Coat all floorboards and such with chassis saver or similar product (like POR15) this will keep moisture out and your new panels protected.
This is NOT a job you want to do twice......

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Posted: Sun Jul 26th, 2020 11:16 am

5^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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410customs wrote:
HELL YEAH!

CALL IT 84 Ranger project "rust is the new black"

I love it dude, you repair this rust you mine as well plan to keep this thing forever and give it to your kids because you are gonna fall in love with it! Restoring a 84 Ranger gets you very very high marks in my book. This truck will be worth a fortune someday........especially to you!!!!!!!

Way to innovate. Have you tried Craigslist for a good used small genset? Honda EQ2000 is about the best small generator you can get....but harbor freight, champion power, subaru, generac, there are other good ones too.........
I've checked Craigslist, but honestly I don't trust people. I don't want to buy a generator used and then it fail in a couple weeks and I'm stuck. I'd prefer to buy one and if I have any problems then I'll have a warranty of some sort, hopefully. I've been checking this one out; 12,000 starting Watts with 9,000 running watts, with 120/240 input and circuit breakers. It's just from a brand I've never heard of, but all the reviews are good and it's nearly the same price as the predator 9000- and it has more wattage!!

https://www.lowes.com/pd/A-iPower-12000-Watt-Gasoline-Portable-Generator-with-Oem-Engine/1000816408?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-pla-_-240-_-sosgenerators-_-1000816408-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqfLCp5jr6gIVe_rjBx2U1wJMEAQYASABEgJK7PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

410customs wrote:
I have some advice for you
WELDABLE PRIMER
This is like a spray coating for the metal bits. New rust usually begins at the welds. Why? Because welds are done to bare metal and bare metal exposed to atmosphere begins to rust. So spray both sides of all metal bits with weld through primer before welding = less chance of rust.
Coat all floorboards and such with chassis saver or similar product (like POR15) this will keep moisture out and your new panels protected.
This is NOT a job you want to do twice......
I had thought about weldable primer, I figured I may not need it because I plan on doing all cutting/welding in one weekend and then painting it up, but you're probably right. Better safe than sorry! Any good weld through primer you suggest? POR15 is definitely on my list. In order to do the underside of the floor, I'm thinking I'm going to sand and patch the floor pans and once the top side is done, yank the body off and sand and sand and paint the underside. Or, should I yank the body off before I patch the inside to see how bad the rust is underneath? Like I said, I did the poke test with one of those electrical picks, I figured a pointy end would be easier to poke through bad spots than a blunt screw driver, and there's some pretty good spots

Last edited on Sun Jul 26th, 2020 11:19 am by VelociRanger

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Posted: Sun Jul 26th, 2020 08:45 pm

6^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Looked at the inspection sticker on the truck today, i can't remember when it was last registered but I believe it was 5/09 so 11 years ago. I was looking at it to make sure it was last in Texas, and sure enough it was. You can barely make out the T and the X. So that's good, it will make the getting the title that much easier.

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Posted: Mon Jul 27th, 2020 09:35 am

7^th Post

Idahome

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yes use weld through primer on all metal surfaces....having bare metal exposed to the atmosphere for just a few minutes is how rust starts....and once its in and under your weld your project is doomed! That's why the primer!! Go get that title!

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Eddie Money

Posted: Mon Jul 27th, 2020 01:09 pm

8^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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I get paid this Friday, if I have enough I'm going to harbor freight to get a cordless angle grinder, battery, charger, and a wire cup brush and I'll pick up some weld through primer as well. I wanna go ahead and see how bad it is and if the new floor pans will cover all of it. Rock auto has both sides and LMC Truck has the passenger side only in stock, and it's a little bit bigger. I'll go ahead and sand everything down, cut out the bad spots, and measure. Do you think I should try to do underneath the truck too, or just wait until I pull the body off?

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Posted: Mon Jul 27th, 2020 10:35 pm

9^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Budget Buster. I think I'll name the truck that for the moment. Project Budget Buster.

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410customs , Eddie Money

Posted: Wed Jul 29th, 2020 08:45 pm

10^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Didn't do anything to the truck today, but I did make a little platform out of some scrap wood. It's not very sturdy, but it's still someplace I can sit and walk around.

Before (I used wood exclusively from the pile next to it. I'm cheap lol)

After (kinda looks like hardwood flooring with nothing lining up. If you squint one eye and close the other then it looks good lol. No saw to cut anything with or else I could've made it look better. But, it's better than what I had)

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Eddie Money

Posted: Wed Jul 29th, 2020 10:29 pm

11^th Post

Eddie Money
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If you're anything like me you have a chair nearby to sit and imagine.... I look and look then go inside, a few minutes later I'm back out walking around it and then back to the seat looking and imagining again.

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2007 Sport 4door 4x4 4.0L SOHC V6 Ranger

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410customs

Posted: Wed Jul 29th, 2020 10:36 pm

12^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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It's funny you say that...I actually found a chair in this pile of stuff!! It's a metal folding chair so I sprayed the hinges with wd40 and washed it off, and that's exactly what I did. I sat there for a while staring at the truck. I've yet to make a list, I'm trying to prioritize what I want on it before I make the list.

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Eddie Money

Posted: Thu Jul 30th, 2020 10:15 pm

13^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Got the dash out. I'm so glad I only gotta do it once.

Hello beautiful

And so the work begins

Got the bezel out, that was easy

Got the dash taken apart. I meant to take more pictures, but once I got started I didn't wanna stop. Let's just say I think there's more screws in this dash than there are holding your house together. I'm proud of myself, I didn't cut a single wire except for 1 ground wire, but all of the clip connection dealies are broken because 1) the truck is old as hell and 2) it was easier that way

Goodbye old parts

These are all from the dash. I even dropped quite a bit on in the dirt.

I love this multi gauge thing. It's actually super sweet. I love how everything is all right there. Might have to try to find a way to use this in the engine swap.

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Chris

Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2020 06:58 pm

14^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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I got the angle grinder yesterday, 2 cut off wheels and a paint removal wheel thingy. I also got rust prevention/primer spray paint. I'm thinking I could go ahead and cut out the floor pans, or should I wait until I get the new ones in so I know where they go? The drivers side floorboard isn't as bad as the passenger, so I won't have to cut much but the passenger side is almost totally gone. I kinda want to wait for the new pans, but I'm also anxious to make some progress.

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Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2020 11:33 pm

15^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Update: Walmart cordless angle grinders absolutely suck. I'm going to get a corded one tomorrow.

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Tsquare

Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 05:45 am

16^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

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Harbor freight corded FTW. I'm getting one for grinding rivets off frames. Since I'm only going to do it 2 or 3 times in my life I don't want to spend big bucks.

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01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
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Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 08:37 am

17^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Did you get the cheapy cheap one or the baur one?

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Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 09:34 am

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Idahome

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keep it up! Some of my best work is done in a chair, next to the truck, thinking about the next move...........

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Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 01:12 pm

19^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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That's what's messing me up right now. I'm sittin and thinkin and then I get side tracked and I'll start on something completely different than what I was working on before. That's why I need this list I've been meaning to put together. I'm doing the list today. For sure.

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Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 07:52 pm

20^th Post

VelociRanger
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Got some random stuff done today. Well, not really random I plan on stripping the engine bay anyways but until I get more tools then I'm doing what I can until patience/daylight runs out.

Before

During

Had a visitor come and offer help. I politely declined lol

Took the hood off to make engine bay more accessible, halfway through my work :fp

Got the first basic list done as well

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Eddie Money

Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 09:00 pm

21^st Post

VelociRanger
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More progress

Engine bay looks a little more neat now that all the wiring is out. Actually, not really :hair

Here's all the parts/things I took off/out

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Posted: Mon Aug 3rd, 2020 09:24 pm

22^nd Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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If anyone who is restoring a first gen Ranger or just needs a part, let me know. Just pay shipping, any part as long as it's not a body part, so suspension, interior (the interior is trashed) a specific bolt if I can find it, engine, need an alternator for a core? I've got one. I believe it also has A/C, at least there's controls for it. Heater box? I've got you. Starter? Anything you need. When I get everything torn down I'm making a trip to the dump, and what hasn't been taken is going to the dump. I can't guarantee it'll work, but if anyone is interested let me know.

Last edited on Tue Aug 4th, 2020 12:03 am by VelociRanger

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Posted: Tue Aug 4th, 2020 09:31 am

23^rd Post

Idahome

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wicked good job! In 25 years of doing this I have never seen a donkey make appearance on Ranger Forum! Nice! All we need now is an elephant to stop by and this will be the perfect election year thread!

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Eddie Money

Posted: Tue Aug 4th, 2020 10:40 pm

24^th Post

VelociRanger
Iâ€™ll probably do it tomorrow

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Thanks man :cheers

No progress today, but I did buy a big drain pain to go under the truck to catch oil and coolant. I need some buckets to put the stuff in too. AutoZone will take used oil but not antifreeze, so I've gotta find something to do with that. Tomorrow Im going to continue clearing out the engine bay, maybe drop the trans as well. Also put some important looking stuff in a box, like the wires

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Posted: Wed Aug 5th, 2020 10:07 am

25^th Post

Idahome

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coolant in one container, everything else (except brake fluid) can go in another

They have been making it harder and harder to properly dispose of coolant yourself
Some counties have recycling facilities that take haz mat stuff like old paint and coolant.......see if you can find someplace in the phone book. In CO I used to have to make an appointment...and still they would give me grief over bringing in like 40-50 gallons of coolant each time............We do our part to collect and keep fluid separate, it sucks that it is harder and harder to dispose of this stuff properly. It works backwards, by limiting how much you can take in and when they are causing alot of A holes to just dump the stuff on the ground = not cool! I do not need that stuff in my water well.

Here in Idaho they accept fluids at the dump the first Sat of each month....now with a 10 gallon limit. Sheesh....the rules have changed 3 times since I moved here, in 3 years......So we have to load up the coolant and oil in 3-4 diff trucks each month so we can properly recycle the stuff. Just one oil change on a 7.3 truck (I have 3 of them) results in 5 gallons of used oil.........

So that 84 Ranger had manual brakes? No booster???!!???!?!?!?! Cool

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