Completed Project Kirby's 1991 Ranger Build Up

[Kirby N.]

I looked for a couple years for a straight rust free low mile one and I had a really hard time finding what I wanted nation wide. I actually took a plane to 2 of them and ended up coming home empty handed. The hardest part was finding a 4.0 with a manual tranny and tcase. They are getting to be few and far between.

I had a white one located 30 minutes from me with 80k and I went right after work to the bank and the guy sold it out from under me 15 minutes before I got there. To a guy who didn’t have cash no less. It ticked me off so bad. Which brings up the other reason it is hard to find one- most people aren’t stand up people when it comes to buying things anymore. They aren’t honest about what they have and don’t care enough to deal with people with integrity. It’s all about trying to get a buck and running everyone over in the process. All 3 of the ones I tried to buy were either not what people represented or the guy sold it to some guy who arrived before me Regardless of our agreement.

Enough venting. But anyway, that’s what led me to just build what I brought. I was going to do a frame swap on something nicer- but I just couldn’t locate it. Now I think I’ll need to redo the engine and tranny at some point, but she will be as good as new and what I wanted.

 

[410Fortune]

yes finding the 4.0 with manual and manual could get tricky
I can take the 2.9 and A4LD out easily though
here are some clean Gen II Rangers (89-91) from up here avail now I found two with this mornings search, more if you consider the 83-88 trucks build worthy

89 Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger

And yes PEOPLE SUCK!! Sorry about your bad experiences but you know it was just this gold truck playing hard to get, this one was meant to be the one you build....works in mysterious ways

 

[Stic-o]

That color should look good on there. No more White Fender Mafia for you. Awesome you found a tailgate. I want to get another first gen ranger someday. I know the chances of finding a nice one are getting harder and harder as time goes by.

You know where one is at, that has your name on it

 

[410Fortune]

Now I'm seeing these trucks on CL like all the time 83-90's I would love to build up twoof them are 89-90 extended cabs too!
What have you done to me! I swear its only when we are broke (broke = time to sell stuff re coupe some of the $$$ we have invested in projects) that I see all these amazing deals on CL. So I just have to not look and go wrench instead...no fun no fun $500 2003 Ranger 4x4, $900 01 Sport trac both need engines I have two late model SOHC engines downstairs!!
My broke ass cant buy either one......missed out on the ranger by a day too (convinced wife to let me go get that one)

 

[Kirby N.]

I am pretty picky when looking for one Jaime- and the ones I am looking for are hard to find. I had to have under 100k with manuals tcasr tranny and interior. Also 4.0 and 4x4.

 

[Kirby N.]

Ah! Photobucket! I have some updated pictures to share with you but photo bucket sucks

 

[BKennedy]

 

[410Fortune]

Oh man come on pics! back from paint???

I will let you know when I find your next ranger project, I am seeing more and more gen I and II rangers hit the craiglist this last year. I want to start saving the 83-92 trucks as much as possible
I am thinking an extended cab with a 4.6 would be cool as crap.

 

[Kirby N.]

Hmm. I don't know much about a 4.6 at all? What is the draw Jaime?

I am a little frustrated. I spent monday (my day off) searching for some plastic for the inner fenders for my ranger. Not the way inner part- but the part that goes between the inners and the outer fender.

Tonight I drove 1.5 hours up to north denver to this place called "colorado plastics"- good recommendation from @410Fortune

Unfortunately, I purchased a 4x8 sheet of 1/8" abs plastic for $59 and after I cut out my template I am discovering that it is just too stiff. Maybe I should use HDPE. IDK what all this stuff means, but the stock stuff is more flexible than abs. Abs is almost like plexiglass but black. I am honestly considering cutting up a black trash can.

Can anyone give me some ideas who knows a little more about the plastic stuff? I dont want to drive 1.5 hours again and spend another $50 to try 1/16" abs.

 

[Kirby N.]

I think one of these would work well:
Uline Trash Can - 55 Gallon, Black H-3689BL - Uline

 

[BKennedy]

A friend of mine made fenders for his buggy out of blue 55 gallon drums he got for free. I haven't had inner fenders in a long time.

 

[410Fortune]

ah crap yeah you do not want the plexiglass like stuff, the black plastic stuff I have downstairs is rather flexible
Shoot I always called it ABS plastic,I guess my terminology is off
Ill get a picture
You can cut this stuff with heavy duty scissors and its flexible enough to make your mud guards out of

Funny this comes up now I am in the process of making inner fenders for my BII with the fiberglass, I have to keep the mud and snow out of all the new holes and gaps I have created.
I have not had front inner fenders for many many years, in CO I found I never really needed them and I like to look at my V8 and headers LOL
Now that the climate is not so dry and we live on a muddy road (understatement) I am adding inner fenders back in.
I am using a combo of the plastic and conveyor belt material my neighbor gave me
It is a good idea to keep water from splashing all over our engines too..
I hope I didn't cause a $60 blunder!

 

[Kirby N.]

Nah dude, not your fault and totally worth $60 to try it. This stuff is just a little too stiff. I did also take a sample to the store and he recommended the abs. I am going to call them today and see if he can help. If you can tell me what you got that would help too.

I too haven't been running inners in a while either (I am talking outer inners- the inner inners I left and trimmed. So from the part that connects the core support to the firewall to the frame i have inners. I then trimmed them off where the used to go beyond and bolt to the fender). But it hasn't been great and it is mostly a problem in the snow. Its get packed in between the door and body.

But it has also been a problem in the mud. Particularly when hunting I get into some mod on the road and it gets flipped and packed in.

So now with the new paint I really want to get it sorted out.

 

[Kirby N.]

A friend of mine made fenders for his buggy out of blue 55 gallon drums he got for free. I haven't had inner fenders in a long time.

maybe thats not such a bad idea

 

[Kirby N.]

ah crap yeah you do not want the plexiglass like stuff, the black plastic stuff I have downstairs is rather flexible
Shoot I always called it ABS plastic,I guess my terminology is off
Ill get a picture
You can cut this stuff with heavy duty scissors and its flexible enough to make your mud guards out of

Funny this comes up now I am in the process of making inner fenders for my BII with the fiberglass, I have to keep the mud and snow out of all the new holes and gaps I have created.
I have not had front inner fenders for many many years, in CO I found I never really needed them and I like to look at my V8 and headers LOL
Now that the climate is not so dry and we live on a muddy road (understatement) I am adding inner fenders back in.
I am using a combo of the plastic and conveyor belt material my neighbor gave me
It is a good idea to keep water from splashing all over our engines too..
I hope I didn't cause a $60 blunder!

definitely wouldn't cut the stuff I got with scissors. only a grinder or a vibrating tool. And it is kinda sharp when I cut it.

 

[BKennedy]

But it has also been a problem in the mud. Particularly when hunting I get into some mod on the road and it gets flipped and packed in.

So now with the new paint I really want to get it sorted out.

I Haven't had any inner fenders at all since the SAS. By the time I cut inner fenders around the coil overs and mounts, there wouldn't be enough left to do anything. Really doesn't matter out here, but I get small rocks and gravel stuck in between the fender and the firewall from time to time. It gets packed on the rare occasion I can't go around the mud (I don't like mud). I can also see through to the door from the rear bottom of the fenders, which makes it easy to hose out. It would be nice to put something along the firewall from the frame to the inside edge of the fenders. It could be riveted directly to the firewall and sealed into the inside edge of the fender. Would also help protect the fuel pump wiring that runs down the firewall on the driver side.

 

[Kirby N.]

I think I have the inner fenders dialed. I needed a heat gun. I think they are going to work great.

Made a visit to rhino linings with the cab too. The bed should be done with paint next week then it will need to go to rhino.

 

[410Fortune]

Dang I took pics and never posted them up
I have been working on my BII bedside install and I ended up using some conveyor belt material to make the inner guards, came out slick!
Anywho here are the pics of the black plastic I used to buy in Denver, I remember the fist time I went into their warehouse I told the dude I needed the black plastic like the stuff they use for bezels around stereo installs and I thought he said its ABS plastic in sheets.....dang that's gotta be 15 years ago now! obviously it is not ABS from what you have discovered.

see how flexible

Smooth on the back side


I cant wait to see this truck with the paint!!!

 

[Kirby N.]

That looks like the stuff I got. Is it 1/8” thick? It might be the same stuff and you are just better at working with it then I- wouldn’t be the first time I came to that realization!! i couldn’t see you using a pair of scissors or sheets to cut it though.

I ordered some 1/16” material too- so I am getting that today, but the 1/8” of perfect when I put the heat gun to work. It molds nice then cools and retains the shape.

I am sure glad I got it figured out. Thank you for the help Jaime. I am stoked the body will stay nice now at least from road grime.

 

[Kirby N.]

I am sick of waiting for stupid photo bucket. They seem more clear though. I did buy the elite thing again. Its been a long time since I was an elite guy. I feel special. I have to figure out how to upload pics.