2000 Stock HU into a 88 Ranger.

[Keeper0311]

My buddy owns an 88 Ranger, and his truck is sorta falling apart around him. Recently his radio took a dump. I've got my stock HU laying around and would like to surprise him by temporarily stealing his truck without his knowledge and replacing the stock Ranger radio with my stock Ex radio.

Now my question being, would the Ex radio fit in the Ranger's dash? Or would I need an adapter to fit it all in, and what sort of wiring harness would I need?

 

[BradR]

Sounds like a full on custom job to me.

I can't provide you with a whole lot of information, I know nothing about the old Rangers.

But, do you have the pigtails for the radio? You'll probably need them, well definitely...

 

[Keeper0311]

Here's the radio I'm hoping to install.

 

[BradR]

Does the Ranger have an amp located somewhere in the truck?

That hu you have there is amp-less, the ones that are full square/rectangle have on board amps, that one does not.

I suppose the install is still possible, but it looks like it will be really hard.

Why not get a aftermarket head unit and install that for your friend?

 

[Keeper0311]

I'm tight on fund at the moment, and I figure going from nothing to a working radio is better then nothing.

Could someone throw up a picture of the space the 88 ranger has it's radio?

 

[BigRondo]

Keeper, I know back in the mid '90's I grabbed the stock radio from my buddy's 94 Ranger (he had the CD & I only had cassette) and installed it in my 89 Mustang GT and, as I recall, it took us a long time into the wee hours with wiring diagrams, trial & error, and a whole lot of splicing. We got it done. It worked awesome and, sadly, the very next day the 'stang got totaled.

 

[Keeper0311]

Keeper, I know back in the mid '90's I grabbed the stock radio from my buddy's 94 Ranger (he had the CD & I only had cassette) and installed it in my 89 Mustang and, as I recall, it took us a long time into the wee hours with wiring diagrams, trial & error, and a whole lot of splicing. We got it done. It worked awesome and the very next day the 'stang got totaled.

Funny how Murphy works sometimes. If the wiring harness is anything like the Explorers it shouldn't be anything more then wiring harnesses.

 

[BigRondo]

Funny how Murphy works sometimes. If the wiring harness is anything like the Explorers it shouldn't be anything more then wiring harnesses.

Murphy follows me around! My theory is if it fits you can most likely get it to work. I'll do my best to keep Murph occupied. :

 

[willindsay]

Don't have a pic but I have a buddy who had a 88 Ranger and a double din won't fit in it. IIRC they were all single DIN till 93.

Edit: And with out an amp that radio will never work. Wish I could be of more help.
Maybe try craigslisting that one and see if someone has one with an onboard amp they'd trade.

 

[BigRondo]

Don't have a pic but I have a buddy who had a 88 Ranger and a double din won't fit in it. IIRC they were all single DIN till 93.

Then my buddy's Ranger must have been a '92. Both units were single din. Sorry about the incorrect info. Hey it was a long time ago.

 

[larivera1989]

heres a pic of an 88 ranger dash. 95+ rangers are double din

 

[Keeper0311]

Thanks. Looks like I'm in the market for an aftermarket HU.

Thank you for all the help gentlemen.