My '86 Ranger is finally getting worked on

[LDO]

It has been in a shop for ages, but now it's "under the knife". It's a Supercab, which was only offered with a short bed. I found a donor first generation long bed, and the the frames both got cut and are being grafted together. The first step in a long journey. It won't be anything crazy, just a really nice street machine that has a 7ft bed.

[Joe Handley]

Is it still at the same shop, or did you rescue it and find somebody willing to actually work on it?

[LDO]

Still at the same shop. I know it took forever. What really drove me nuts was the fact that the guy does such good work. I called every street rod shop in central Texas and nobody wanted to touch a 1986 pickup. I guess it just didn't fit their image. (Business must be great if they can turn away money). I had seen a few trucks modified by individuals, but they looked like garbage.

[Maindrian Pace]

Cool idea. You doing a V8 swap of some sort too?

-MJS

[LDO]

Yes. I have an '89 Mustang 5.0 donor car. It's an unfinished project with no title.

I would love to have a 4.6 4-cam engine, but they are just so wide. There are a few 4.6 Rangers out there, but none have retained accesories. I'd like to figure out a way to make that happen. Possibly a Toyota or fabricated front frame clip, with a couple of other space-saving ideas.

[Skydime]

  On 11/17/2013 at 9:25 PM, LDO said:

Yes. I have an '89 Mustang 5.0 donor car. It's an unfinished project with no title.

I would love to have a 4.6 4-cam engine, but they are just so wide. There are a few 4.6 Rangers out there, but none have retained accesories. I'd like to figure out a way to make that happen. Possibly a Toyota or fabricated front frame clip, with a couple of other space-saving ideas.

PM Sent

Edited November 18, 2013 by Skydime

[Ace-Garageguy]

Interesting project, should make a real standout truck. I heavy mods.

[LDO]

Yeah. I was thinking single cab short bed (short wheelbase and lighter weight) with an aluminum block engine, C5 Corvette transaxle, and a chassis built for handling would be a wild ride...but that's not this truck.

[Ace-Garageguy]

  On 11/19/2013 at 1:38 AM, LDO said:

... I was thinking single cab short bed (short wheelbase and lighter weight) with an aluminum block engine, C5 Corvette transaxle, and a chassis built for handling would be a wild ride...

Oh yes indeed...

Many many years ago, I started a chopped '53 Ford pickup build for a client. We had a burned Pantera as the donor for suspension and drivetrain, the engine going in the bed. Client ran out of $$, have no clue where it is now.

[Fabrux]

I have only ever seen one of these conversions done and it looks good! considering the most potent engine available in 1986 was the 2.9L V6 it isn't such a wonder that this configuration wasn't available from the factory!

[LDO]

  On 11/18/2013 at 7:43 PM, Skydime said:

PM Sent

I got your PM, but it says it's deleted, so I can't respond. I'll look into what you mentioned.

[Skydime]

  On 11/21/2013 at 4:07 AM, LDO said:

I got your PM, but it says it's deleted, so I can't respond. I'll look into what you mentioned.

Oops. Musta got flushed with everything else. Sorry man. You can always click the avatar and then hit send message if you need. But I'm tellin' ya, he's the man that can tell you all about it.

[LDO]

Update pic

It looks SO long. I got the idea from a shop in Lagrange that puts long beds on Dodge Megacabs. I wish I could afford that.

Edited January 29, 2014 by LDO

[Joe Handley]

Looks good Lee!

[LDO]

I found a different source for the drivetrain swap: a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. One-stop shopping. It has everything needed; pushrod 5.0, trans, and 8.8" rear axle. As a bonus, I get to pick through the rest of it. I do like that power driver's seat. It has an aftermarket stereo that will go into the Ranger, too.

[Quick GMC]

  On 11/17/2013 at 9:25 PM, LDO said:

Yes. I have an '89 Mustang 5.0 donor car. It's an unfinished project with no title.

I would love to have a 4.6 4-cam engine, but they are just so wide. There are a few 4.6 Rangers out there, but none have retained accesories. I'd like to figure out a way to make that happen. Possibly a Toyota or fabricated front frame clip, with a couple of other space-saving ideas.

a lot of people do v8 swaps into Rangers out here. They move the firewall back. The extended cab essentially turns into a single cap, but with the same wheelbase.

[Aaronw]

Funny it does look long, although that is exactly the same set up as my stock '96 Toyota (extracab and 7 foot bed). I wonder if the Ranger is a tad bit narrower making it look longer.

[LDO]

Another small step. I pulled the engine and trans today. My giant hoist is awesome. It let me remove them as a unit and cleared the fenders. no way a standard hoist could do that.

Not awesome: the guy who was going to buy the engine and trans flaked out on me. He canceled when he was already an hour late. If the parts don't sell within two weeks, they will go to the scrap yard when I turn in my brass and copper plumbing scrap.

[Tom Geiger]

  On 7/21/2014 at 3:37 AM, LDO said:

Not awesome: the guy who was going to buy the engine and trans flaked out on me. He canceled when he was already an hour late. If the parts don't sell within two weeks, they will go to the scrap yard when I turn in my brass and copper plumbing scrap.

Put it on Craigs List or eBay. Last engine/tranny I had I was all set to scrap and I figured what the heck, I'd try a free "Buy It Now" ad on eBay. I took a few photos, and posted it for $499. Just make sure you post that you won't ship, local pickup only. The next day I got an email entitled "You Made A Sale." Easiest $500 I ever made.

[LDO]

The buyer was from a Ranger website. After he didn't show up, I looked on CL and found a wanted ad. That guy bought the parts last night