• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

'85 Ranger Restomod


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Picked it up from the dealer, it drives so nice now.

Drove it home, was greeted by an angry horde and remembered I forgot to pick up cat food so we rumbles back into town for that:





Fixed the lock for my topper:



Test fit gear, room for cooler in back left corner. Tent and ather associated stuff goes in the front with the tires:

 


PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Probably could look for this, but how did you get your wheels backspaced out so well?
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Probably could look for this, but how did you get your wheels backspaced out so well?
Swap meet wheels + jy axles... aka dumb luck. No spacers or trickery.

95 ranger front axle, 96 Explorer rear and wheels of unknown offset.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Swap meet wheels + jy axles... aka dumb luck. No spacers or trickery.
I almost picked up a set of spacers the other day.

Then I realized I like being alive.

Nope.
 

Bird76Mojo

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
2,636
Reaction score
1,265
Points
113
Location
IL
Engine Type
V8
How did you end up fixing the inside of the topper latch? I never saw a post on it.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
How did you end up fixing the inside of the topper latch? I never saw a post on it.
New lock bar assembly, ordered on Friday and delivered yesterday.
 

racsan

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Messages
4,968
Reaction score
4,441
Points
113
Location
central ohio
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
ford/escape
Engine Type
2.5 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.5/151 I-4
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
235/70/16
My credo
the grey-t escape
it has such a different look now vs with the roll bar, not bad- just different.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
it has such a different look now vs with the roll bar, not bad- just different.
It's a true grandpa truck now. Carbureted, and a Pappy cap
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
it has such a different look now vs with the roll bar, not bad- just different.
Agreed. From the front with the tires and stance it looks kinda like an expedition truck.

From the back it looks like it has a big butt...

It's a true grandpa truck now. Carbureted, and a Pappy cap
Lessen one young padawon: there is no school like old school. :icon_thumby:
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Truck of Month
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,698
Reaction score
4,798
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Dual tank trucks have a bed mount spare tire bracket...FYI. It's a piece that bolts onto the top and bottom of the bed and another L shaped piece that goes in the corner as a stiffener.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Dual tank trucks have a bed mount spare tire bracket...FYI. It's a piece that bolts onto the top and bottom of the bed and another L shaped piece that goes in the corner as a stiffener.
Yeah, the center of my hub is about centered on the bed rail though.

Stock my truck came on like 205's, the center would be much lower and wouldn't be near as tall. My 31's are almost as tall as my cab when sitting upright in the bed.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,823
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Drove it to work most of last week, Boss keeps hoping but no A/C...



Road trip today, testing out GPS location. Worked great, the cord was the perfect length to go around the dash and across. I will hide it behind the trim so it isn't flopping around for the trip. It was a refurb unit off of Amazon, best $50 ever.



Cruising along, oh my we have never been over that before...



Getting close now!



Holy crap! After almost 19 years we finally ventured into another state!



Parked it at the inlaws and drove my wifes car around so some idiot didn't run into my truck after all the work I put into it. She had to drive seperate because there is in no way enough room for the two of us and both dogs in the Ranger... kinda why it always works out the Ranger gets skipped for long distance drives.
Also snagged a nice looking 31x10.5-15 General Grabber at the JY so I have a fullsize spare now. And found a tote big enough for the tent/ground cloth/air matresses which kinda threw a wrench into my lading plan. I think I got it worked out, I need to drag out the cooler and make sure it fits in the back DS corner to keep my drinks cool for the drive. Also picked up a thing of mixed nuts and a pack Gatorade at Sam's for the drive.

 

Bird76Mojo

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
2,636
Reaction score
1,265
Points
113
Location
IL
Engine Type
V8
Have you tried taking some Simple Green to that steering wheel?
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top