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Got it, but don’t know if I want it       #: 2212
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 Posted: Sat Jul 18th, 2020 04:21 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 As the title says, I got the truck. 1984 Ford Ranger, single cab long bed. It has an inline 4 that doesn't run, and a manual trans. I got the cheaper one. My buddy and I drove 2 hours to get it, he helped me get it loaded up, drove it home for me, dropped it off. Everything went perfectly smooth, so smooth that I was too excited to notice anything other than the F O R D on the tailgate while following him back. Well, as we were washing the truck off, i noticed the tailgate was rusted at the bottom. No biggie, new tailgate. Then I noticed the bed was also rusted through. Oh well, I'll make a wood bed for it, it's an antique, right? Wood beds look cool on old trucks. Then, we start vacuuming the rat poo out of it (found an actual dead rat. Yummy.) and I pulled up the carpet to check out the floors. Guess what? Rusted through. The drip rail has rusted through on top of the door, so now the ceiling has a hole in it too. I'll post pictures later. Scrap, or keep?



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Sat Jul 18th, 2020 05:34 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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I'll have to take more pictures to show all of it

Last edited on Sat Jul 18th, 2020 05:36 pm by VelociRanger



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Sat Jul 18th, 2020 07:10 pm
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Tsquare
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 How is the frame? You may have a prime candidate for a V8 Pre-runner.



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Tony
NE ATL
'04 XLT regular cab 3.slo stepside
Semi retirement
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 Posted: Sat Jul 18th, 2020 09:44 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 Frame looks like it's sat in water it's whole life. Maybe not rusted through everywhere, but definitely rusted bad



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2020 10:00 am
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410customs

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 frames always look rusty....but is it actual rot or just surface rouge?
84 ranger is not an antique! LOL well......maybe it is and Im just getting older.... used to be like a model A is an antique LOL

Floor pans can be fixed, bed is super easy to fix...doors and tailgates can be replaced
The frame is the main concern followed by the body mount channels and the cab itself, cab corners, roof connections.... those are the hard bits to repair. 

Did this 84 have a title?
I hope it was cheap!
Still looks good to me, I always see the potential
Just having a 84 ranger with a title is going to be a rare thing someday soon



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I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2020 10:43 am
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 Yeah, it's not too bad really. I was just bummed out because I was hoping that the truck was pretty close to being ready for the swap and all of the other mods. I found floor pans on rock auto for $30, the bed I can just cut out and re weld or get another bed. It's really not so bad as I make it out to be, just like I said I was bummed out. 

No, it didn't have a title but I have the guys name, number and address. I got a bill of sale that has the vin number, my name, his name, and the date. I got it for $250, which I think is fair considering he held it for me for 2 weeks. Next up on the list of things I need; welder and generator, with some power tools. Any suggestions on a welder generator setup? I was looking at harbor freights titanium mig/flux 140 welder and their predator 9000 generator. I figured for welding the sheet metal on the body it wouldnt have a problem. Also, maybe a roll cage in the future? Lol. We'll see. Basics first.


Today I wanna hook my trucks battery up to it to see if it'll crank or start. That'll be cool

Last edited on Mon Jul 20th, 2020 10:43 am by VelociRanger



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2020 07:33 pm
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Scrambler82
Old Bastard !


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 Sounds to me like you have to decide if you want a full blown restoration... or block up some holes and be done with it !

It WILL take a lot of time and cash to get this together even in a quick fix mode.

I am trying, maybe not for the best, to make you see this is going to be a big project, half way or full on but unless you have done some thin metal welding replacing the floors and any body panels will take work that you may not have thought about doing !

End Result:  To me this truck is going to far more work than you think and take more money than you may want to invest, even for an antique.
I would look for another to replace your project vehicle.


410, Vehicle are antiques after 25 years, 1984... 34 years old makes it an antique, but in this case an antique with a lot of work needed and one that may not have a high resale value after fixing it up !

VolociRanger,   A big project it is and it is going to be a lot of work.   Good Luck on the project !



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Ltr,
2003 EDGE, Std Cab, Steppie, E4 Red, 5sp, 4x
5" SuperLift, 33" x 12.50 x 15"
Hurst Shifter
Mod'd Backrack to fit Steppie
Front and Rear Bumpers by Custom 4x4 Fabrication, OK; now Mike's Welding and Fabrication.
Working on more Mods, just need more time, longer days would work !
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2020 08:22 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 This weekend I'm going to make a list of what I want to do with the truck, not necessarily in order, but just the basics of what I want done to it. Most likely, for now I'm going to patch up the holes and be done with it, then move on to the next project. When the basic list is done, then I'll make another list of more specific things. For now, the interior is coming out, for sure. I want the full view of what I'm dealing with. Any suggestions on welder/generator setups?



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2020 09:52 am
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410customs

Idahome


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 I love my harbor freight multiprocess welder....for the reals it is a wicked machine
I have the titanium 200 unlimited, it will MIG, TIG and ARC weld has no trouble with sheet metal or roll cages, will weld just about anything.
https://www.harborfreight.com/unlimited-200-professional-multiprocess-welder-with-120240-volt-input-64806.html

I had a Hobart handler 220V mig welder before this, was a very good unit (same as millermatic) but I can tell you this new Harbor freight welder is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for the price it is a no brainer
HF welders get very very good reviews, not just from me.......

Honda 2000 generator is the best you can get for the size and price, I also use Generac units. Just make sure if you buy a 220V welder you get a 220V generator.
Generators can be had used, many people buy them and lightly use them...then for sale.
Does your shop not have 220V or are you trying to do welding remotely?
I weld from a generator because my house is off grid and powered by batteries, although I have 220/240V in the shop we do not hook welders up to it as the feedback can be bad for batteries and off grid systems. So I have a Generac 18000W genset I use to run welders, plasma cutter and the lift :)

That 1984 Ranger project is a doozey. I like your idea of making a list of pros and cons, that's exactly what I do when I have big decisions to make. For $250 dang I wish it had a title, if you can get a title youcan just sit no this truck for 10 years and likely make a large profit.....old rangers are going UP in value

In Colorado after 30 years I believe the vehicle becomes a "classic" not an antique LOL...it used to be 25 years I think you could get classic plates and right when my BII was about to be 25 years old they changed it to 30 years or some crap....regardless Im in Idaho now, where I am allowed to drive an 88 without jumping through hoops



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I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks
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 Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2020 01:18 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 The shop (barn) has no power to it so I would be welding remotely. And yeah, it is a doozy. I don't think it's impossible, and once I start making progress on it I feel like I'll feel better about it. There's just A LOT of progress to be made lol. But, I like challenges. We will just have to see, I may get rid of it in a year lol

I know it's a lot of work, but do y'all think it's worth it?

Last edited on Tue Jul 21st, 2020 08:59 pm by VelociRanger



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2020 10:15 pm
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Eddie Money
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 In my area I've seen 4-6 for sale on Craig's list since you posted, 83-88 and all had titles and were runners selling for $600-$1600. But I've also seen them for sale for stupid money $20k....



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I know my crazy! Do you?
2007 Sport 4door 4x4 4.0L SOHC V6 Ranger
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 Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2020 11:16 pm
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Tsquare
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 The Atlanta market is overpriced for Rangers and any other truck that is running and not a rust bucket. The same goes for 5.0 Explorers and Mountaineers.  I looked at a 169K mile Mountaineer yesterday that would not back up, it would just shake. There was no rust but the puff of blue smoke when it was cranked up was my first strike. The shaking reverse was number two and the very worn condition was number 3. They were asking $4k. I offered to haul it away.

I am headed to NC for a get-a-way this weekend. I have a 2009 4x4 extended cab Ranger and a 2000 5.0 Explorer I will be looking at when I am up there.  Both have over 150K .



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Tony
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'04 XLT regular cab 3.slo stepside
Semi retirement
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 Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2020 11:18 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 Everything here is way overpriced as well. The only way I was able to get the truck is because it was 250, if I had 600 then the other one was in better shape but also had no title, nor did it have keys. Every day up until the day I bought the truck I was on Craigslist looking for one and none showed up except the two I was looking at. Even up until today none have showed up.



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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 Posted: Thu Jul 23rd, 2020 10:28 am
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410customs

Idahome


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 well this one found its way to your barn, lets see what you can do with it!!



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 Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2020 11:28 am
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 Too bad you are so far away, the guy I bought the recent 4.0 engine from has a gen1 project he's trying to sell to me. Wait you wanted long bed never mind.

I have inspected this one the frame is wonderful, and the bed is off so you can see most of it.

I do not plan to buy it though it would be a good deal.



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00 XLT 4WD RCSB 3.GO! Jalapeño
01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
The future belongs to those who show up.
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 Posted: Sat Jul 25th, 2020 01:19 pm
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VelociRanger
I’ll probably do it tomorrow


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 Here in a little while I'm going out and taking the seat and carpet out to see how extensive the rust is. I found some floor pans on rock auto, but they're kinda small. I may have to get some sheet metal to patch some more. For The bed I plan on doing steel diamond plate, I can get a 4x8 sheet that will cover the whole bed and it will add some weight to the rear, so that'll help traction as well. After I get the seats and carpet I'm making a list.



____________________
knowing when to quit is wisdom, being able to quit is courage.

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 ≈861 pieces. She’s donating what’s salvageable.
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