New 88 project truck.

Primosboy · Jul 6, 2014

Back in the mid 90's when I was bout 4 or 5 years old this was my now good friend's daily driver. It was a clean machine until his buddy rolled it. Cab was totaled so the father of the guy who rolled it bought it. Then sold it to the brother of the guy he brought it from. It has been through 3 different owners since then and I recently found out they were junking it. I asked them about it and they just gave it to me for free. Here's what it looks like now all these years later.

Hooking it up to trailer it home and here's the walk around.

With the little daylight I had left after bring it home I did some quick cleanup.
Removed seats and cleaned out cab. Prep'd and painted floorboard for rhino lining. Replaced busted windshield. Took out old door panels to make new ones like I did with my 87. Put new battery in and it fired right up after sitting for 6 years.

The non-cosmetic problems are as follows:
Rear dif needs rebuilt or replaced
Needs main driveline
Has no brakes front or rear
Fuel filler hose leaks
Won't pass smog

I plan to use lift for my blue 88 daily driver, and keep new truck as a project toy. Gunnu bobtail, build custom suspension, roll cage, register as green tag.
Lemme know what ya'll think! For free?? Not bad!

SenorNoob · Jul 6, 2014

(Almost) Nothing is bad for free, but this is probably in better shape than some of the vehicles I've bought with $1000. At least mechanically.

Just curious, are those seats from another vehicle or aftermarket racing seats? If you know of course.

Primosboy · Jul 7, 2014

Yeah they are aftermarket racing seats. I cleaned them up and they are niiice. Wouldn't be suprised if they were 200 bucks a pop. Imitation l leather and in excellent condition.

jhammel85 · Jul 7, 2014

Cool story! It's great to see it being saved.

I may have missed it but what are the specs on the suspension and tires? In both old and new pics, it has a great stance.

Primosboy · Jul 7, 2014

4" superlift and 35x12.5 mud rovers. Welded and broken Ford 8.8 in rear and stock axles up front.

Primosboy · Jul 7, 2014

Quick update. The game plan is to take the 4" lift of the new truck and put it on my blue truck along with some 33" firestone MTs. Then put a 6" on the grey truck, solid axle swap prob with f150 axles (that or 78 broncos), Bobtail the bed, and down the road 5.0 swap and rollcage.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Jul 7, 2014

You did good man! Saved it from scrap and got a sweet rig! I'm from down by Fresno.
That's basically what I've done to my 87.
5.0
5spd
Np205
78 d44 and 9"
Front suspension
Custom long arms
3.5" eb coils
Rear 6" lift Chevy leafs
The ride is very nice. Don't go with f150 coils they're way too stiff.
There are other things but that's the basics. I love the ride and she wheels very well! The 1st gens are my favorite body styles.
If there's anything you need advice on feel free to ask and I'll help if I can!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Primosboy · Jul 8, 2014

Awesome! Sounds nice. You have a build thread so I can see it? 1st gen's are by far the sexiest, beasty looking body style out there in my opinion. Plus they wheel really nice just stock so there's no rush to mod them. I was planning to do custom long arm suspension as well, but I'm new to extreme fabrication and modifying trucks. I worked in a welding fab shop for a year so I know my way around welders and cutters and such, but putting that into a suspension is a different story. I would love to see your build man.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Jul 8, 2014

Yessir they are the sexiest by far! I ended up getting fiberglass per runner fenders to keep the cops off my butt. My thread explains most of my reasons for doing what I've done.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128405

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Primosboy · Jul 24, 2014

Moving this thread to the proper category. This ain't no mini truck. Lol

Primosboy · Jul 29, 2014

Quick update. I know I'm still going through the strip down phase but I'm addicted. So fun. Anyways to start, I found another pic of the truck back in it's prime.

However it's pretty days are over for now. It's time for chopping. I'm shortening the rear 18 inches to improve approach angle. My dad did the same thing to his way back when. Here's his 86.

Back to mine.

I was going to move the axle and deal with the comings after, but now I'm just going to go underneath with shorter springs. For now to get it rolling I'm going to do 45" wrangler springs up front, and prob in back. Buddy is giving me the springs. They sit pretty level from what he says. Also getting ready for the SAS with full size front and rear.

Front driveline was being stubborn so I just cut the head off for now. Need something beefier anyway.

Here's a quick sketch of what I'm goin for right now. Until I can afford coilovers, 4link, and 5.0 swap.

If anyone has any advice speak up! I'm new to all this. Lol

Primosboy · Jul 29, 2014

Also did a little goofing off with flare Ideas.

drsvox · Jul 29, 2014

I would say you've got a long way to go yet, but your imagination and persistence will most certainly get you there.

can't wait to see what becomes of your ranger!

Primosboy · Jul 29, 2014

Very true, if only money grew on trees. Lol.

New 88 project truck.

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