Completed Project Kirby's 1991 Ranger Build Up

[Kirby N.]

That's a good idea. I'll do that when I get track bar and camber set

 

[Kirby N.]

I thought photo bucket got rediculous, so the internet was broke!
I got some ranger updates
I just finished the main parts of each bumper and I made big purchase

 

[Kirby N.]

I also got a set of BFG All Terrains on it. They were new, but they are about wore out now

 

[Kirby N.]

Start of the front bumper

Hauling a 20'+ piece of DOM tube

Starting on the rear bumper

closer on the rear bumper

I don't want to rip this one off like the last one

And the big purchase

 

[RockRanger]

Very nice.

 

[BKennedy]

That bumper has at least a 10,000 pound tow rating.

 

[Kirby N.]

I got some cool stuff

 

[Kirby N.]

Did some work on the fenders

They don’t fit awesome and the finish isn’t great. One even has a little crack in it. I hope the body shop can fix them. I am hoping to work on the other side tomorrow or Wednesday. I also had to change the starter. I changed it with a motor craft starter and I also found nos mororcraft positive and negative cable on eBay and installed them.

 

[410Fortune]

fiberglass never fits perfectly, what you did on the fender looks pretty good! I use lots of fender shims/washers to adjust the gaps.
Who's glass is that?

Very nice truck! Thanks for sharing

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks amigo. I need to get some washers and bring them up a little. I had to gut the stock fenders for ball of its brackets. It’s McNeil. Ended up being the best value (I got bedsides too) and they actually filled my order. Hannemann took my order but then never filled. I am not complaining because I read some horror stories with Hannemann.

Jaime- I actually wanted to ask you something. I think I read somewhere or you told me that you made some plastic inner fenders. I salvaged some of the stock inners but I would like to make some to cover the gap between what’s left of the stickers and the new fenders. Where did you get the plastic to create them? I am thinking like a roll of flexible black plastic that’s 1/8” thick or something?? Any ideas?

 

[Scott B.]

Hey Kirby,

Did you get the pictures I sent you via text message?

 

[Kirby N.]

I did. I have been meaning to respond but I was on a work trip to Haiti. I’ll shoot you a response.

 

[Scott B.]

No problem. I know all about the travel-work thing...

 

[410Fortune]

Oh yeah inner fender plastic!! I actually buy 4'x8' sheets of plastic and keep them in my shop for projects like this.
Basically my BII ended up a little different, I simply made shields to protect the back of my lights and the door hinges...not a full fender skirt. With the wheels out so far my engine bay rarely gets wet or muddy, although I do hear water hit my headers from time to time and I SHOULD have a plastic shield for that but never got to it.

When I was in Colorado I used to buy my plastic sheets from a place called Regal plastics, they have distributors all over
Regal Plastic: Leader in Plastic Sheet, Rod & Tube Distribution

I use this black ABS plastic for everything from radio bezels to roofs for UTV's, it is so handy to have around.

You can see some of the plastic guards I made for the BII here:

Im really considering Mcneil bedsides for my BII as I am tired of fixing the sheetmetal/rust, been driving this BII for 25 years now and I have fixed the rust like 3 times....I want to cut it all out and I wish they made a fiberglass tub I would buy it.
I am also considering the Autofab drop center hood.....but shhhhh that's a secret

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks Jaime! I think I found a place closer that has the plastic. Yours look great.

I got the other front fender on yesterday.

I started on the rear tonight:

I am going to be running around without a bed for a few days. I am trying to decide how to mount the bedsides. I plan to have the bed rhino lined after paint. Anyone had any thoughts? Maybe big rivets? Maybe grade 8 bolts with washers?

I also want to build some nice hooks and weld them to the stake pockets. I use the bed to haul stuff ALOT. The new besides have no stake pockets. I have to have something to hook up my dirt bike tie downs to, and ratchet straps down when I am hauling stuff. Anyone have any ideas on that?

 

[410Fortune]

Dzus fasteners? or Nutsert rivet inserts?
Dzus Fasteners

Fender mounting:
Fender Mount Kits

or how about these wicked things from Autofab/JDM pushbutton tabs? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I saw these on Autofab site a while ago now I can only find on Ebay?
JDM Style Push Button Billet Hood Pins Lock Clip Kit Car Quick Pins Universal | eBay

I friggin love Autofab, Jon has always been very good to us Ranger folk

That is one clean 91 man I am jealous!!!!!!!!!

 

[gmanpaint]

E-Tracks are your friend. Tons of options for mounts, and accessories available these days.

Tracks to the bed floor would work for ratchet straps, or the removable wheel chocks stands.

For the bedsides, they make a few different types of single mounts that you can add the loop straps or just the rings too. Grade 8 bolts and fender washers should do the trick on the bedsides. They even make these in a swivel mount now.

 

[410Fortune]

and they sell a cheap version of E trac at HF that works well
I love that stuff

Dang that 1991 bed is/was in good shape!! Looking forward to see what you come up with.

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks for the ideas fellas!

For the bedsides, I want to attach them permanently with fasteners. I know sometimes bedsides require a frame under them and are attached to the frame with dzus fasteners or something, but I use my bed a ton and will be attaching back where the spot welds attached the old sides. I realized some of the attachment points are blind in the back- so I am leaning toward large 1/2” head 1/4” shank rivets. I am currently trying to decide between stainless, aluminum or steel rivets.

For the attachment points I was looking at the e track at big r today and found some cast tie down loops that I really like so I bought them. I also found some 1/4” plates as well. I’ll shoot some pics this afternoon and share. I am having a hard time knowledge my whether to weld the plates to the bed sides or sandwich with two plates or bolt them down before the rhino!lining. I don’t want the welds to stress them and cause them to crack out.

And @410Fortune the bed is in really good shape. When I got the truck it had a fiberglass topper on it and it looked like they had never hauled anything in the bed. I meant to get it rhino lined immediately, but with the expense I never got it done. So I have definitely abused it since I got it and the fender wells and others have some dents and dings it didn’t originally have.

 

[410Fortune]

Aluminum so they don't rust, stainless rivets unless they are super high quality will still rust

Monstaliner works good too cheaper then Rhino and you can DIY