83 ranger box substitute

[Dennis Hudson]

Hi, I have a 83 ranger 2.3 rebuilt motor. The box is pretty beat and I am restoring the truck. Are there any substitute boxes that would work for the 7 ft box

 

[Blmpkn]

I believe any 83-92 7ft bed will interchange.

How bad Is the current bed? And what level of restoration are you aiming for?

Finding a decent bed of that vintage in my area is a useless endeavor (rust belt).. folks up here would either have to travel 12+ hours south or pay/do metalwork to end up with something nice.

 

[JoshT]

83-92 7 foot beds will bolt right on and look right. Some had a second fuel door, but that won't affect using it as a bed.

If you don't care how it looks, 7 foot beds up till 2011 should bolt on. The bolt pattern for bed to frame remained essentially the same, two extra bolt were added at some point, but it won't hut to not have them. The appeareance won;t match though.

You could always build something custom out of metal or wood.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Hi, I have a 83 ranger 2.3 rebuilt motor. The box is pretty beat and I am restoring the truck. Are there any substitute boxes that would work for the 7 ft box

I have a decent one I could sell ya needs a little work inside the bed at the wheel wells but otherwise it's quite solid, other options would be any donor till 92 with a 7 ft bed or a flat bed can look good.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you might want a bigger rear tire down the road 89-92 does have slightly larger wheel wells.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

www.car-part.com

 

[JoshT]

If you might want a bigger rear tire down the road 89-92 does have slightly larger wheel wells.

Really?!? That's the first time I've ever heard that.

Not calling you a liar, there's plenty I don't know, but got proof?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Really?!? That's the first time I've ever heard that.

Not calling you a liar, there's plenty I don't know, but got proof?

Lmc has different patch panels for the two gens...

Steel Bed Panels

Shop from thousands of parts and accessories to help you restore, maintain, and customize your Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge or Ford truck or SUV. Keep 'em on the road with the right part, right price, right now.

www.lmctruck.com

 

[JoshT]

No offense, but I wouldn't use LMC as a reference for that and it doesn't say what the difference is. One of the beds I have out back is from a 90 model IIRC, I'll have to see how it compares to my first gen beds. If they match it's still no guarantee they aren't different thought, because it may not actually be a 90, or the original bed for the truck it came from.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

No offense, but I wouldn't use LMC as a reference for that and it doesn't say what the difference is. One of the beds I have out back is from a 90 model IIRC, I'll have to see how it compares to my first gen beds. If they match it's still no guarantee they aren't different thought, because it may not actually be a 90, or the original bed for the truck it came from.

Might be something to it.

When i went to car-part.com...i looked up 92 ranger beds and got 89-92. Looked up an 87 got 83-88 beds.

I know the F series beds changed (very slightly) after 86. Theyll interchange 80-96/7 but the wheel arch in different from 80-86 then 87-96/7.

So its not out of the realm of possibility