LDO Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Is it still at the same shop, or did you rescue it and find somebody willing to actually work on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maindrian Pace Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Cool idea. You doing a V8 swap of some sort too? -MJS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skydime Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Interesting project, should make a real standout truck. I heavy mods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 ... 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabrux Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 PM Sent I got your PM, but it says it's deleted, so I can't respond. I'll look into what you mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skydime Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Looks good Lee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronw Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDO Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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