Freshmeat
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2009
- Messages
- 146
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Denham Springs, LA
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.0
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
My grandfather ordered his truck in 1993 as a 1994 year model truck. First year of Ford owning Mazda and he was so excited about all the great new things that would come of it. He was always very simple. It's a STX package with manual windows/locks, manual transmission, etc. I'm pretty sure the only option he ordered was the air conditioning, so my grandmother could ride in comfort.
He ordered the truck exactly as he wanted it and told them he wanted it without the STX stripes. So of course, it showed up with the STX stripes. He's always laid back so he dealt with it and drove it home. At first sight my grandmother told him it was hideous and he had to take it back immediately. Obviously it didn't happen and it simply grew to be Papa J's truck.
He remains the greatest man I've known to this day.
Fast forward a bit... in 2005 my mom came barging into my house without a knock. She was famous for it and I always fussed at her, but with her came a sense of urgency. My grandfather had fallen unconscious and they'd not been able to revive him. I turned a 55 minute drive into a 20 minute drive and arrived at the hospital just as the nurses were informing my grandmother they couldn't do anything else. He was gone.
I needed to get back home for work and had taken my brother's car out there (he rode with my dad) so I needed a ride. My grandmother asked me to take Papa J's truck since she couldn't look at it without crying. I drove it for a few years with very few problems, but it had a constant exhaust tick. I went to replace the exhaust gaskets and snapped a few bolts in the heads. Pulled the motor to do it right and cracked the passenger head while extracting the bolt.
I was very short on cash due to custody battles with my son, so the truck sat for over three years at my parents' house with the engine out, waiting for me to have the time to do it. Since then I've gained custody of my son, married, and bought a house. I also have a solid job with slightly more than comfortable income. I'm not rich, but we don't go hungry.
My dad called the other day asking if I was going to do anything with the truck. His homeowner's insurance is giving him fits about it being on the property and he needed it gone. He'd been wanting to do the restoration himself (Papa J was his father) but he's having serious back issues and is in the middle of restoring a 28' Ranger sailboat. I made a few phone calls and picked it up the next day, just planning to park it in my yard for probably a few more years. Well, that didn't work. As soon as I opened the driver door all the memories and emotions came flooding back.
Thus launched Project Papa J. I'm going to do a mild restoration with either a newer engine or a bottom rebuild and new heads. All new suspension and body bushings (assuming I can find them new), possibly new exhaust. I want it all the way Papa J had it, but I'm adding my own little twist in that I'm trying to find wheels like what are on the truck, but in 15". I'll also be adding level coils up front and the tires will be in the 30-31" range so it will stand more like a truck.
I realize the investment will be more than the truck is worth pretty much as soon as I put a wrench on it, but the cost is not the issue. This truck can not be replaced. It will not be sold. I want to have it as a memory/tribute to my grandfather. Money will not really be a concern in terms of resale value because it will not be sold. That said, I can't afford to waste money, so I won't be buying stupid junk that I don't really need.
First line of business is going to be either finding a good motor or at least a good set of heads. This motor had great compression, no smoking, no knocking... so if I get some good heads I plan to toss them on this short block and run with it. If I get a good price on a complete used low mile motor I'll just go with that.
Here's a picture of my grandfather the Christmas before he passed. It's honestly hard to look at the pictures of him. At the time I wasn't wise enough to appreciate all the things he knew and was willing to share. Now I just do my best in life, hoping that in the end, he'd be able to say he was proud of me.
Here's the truck, at my house. That's Papa J's boat in the background. I just finished some engine work on it and as soon as I finish the wiring it'll be back in the water...
So I'll take a moment to thank you if you made it this far. I apologize for going so deep in the explanation, but for anyone following along, I'd love to share the stories and help you understand my reasoning for putting this much work into an old Ranger.
He ordered the truck exactly as he wanted it and told them he wanted it without the STX stripes. So of course, it showed up with the STX stripes. He's always laid back so he dealt with it and drove it home. At first sight my grandmother told him it was hideous and he had to take it back immediately. Obviously it didn't happen and it simply grew to be Papa J's truck.
He remains the greatest man I've known to this day.
Fast forward a bit... in 2005 my mom came barging into my house without a knock. She was famous for it and I always fussed at her, but with her came a sense of urgency. My grandfather had fallen unconscious and they'd not been able to revive him. I turned a 55 minute drive into a 20 minute drive and arrived at the hospital just as the nurses were informing my grandmother they couldn't do anything else. He was gone.
I needed to get back home for work and had taken my brother's car out there (he rode with my dad) so I needed a ride. My grandmother asked me to take Papa J's truck since she couldn't look at it without crying. I drove it for a few years with very few problems, but it had a constant exhaust tick. I went to replace the exhaust gaskets and snapped a few bolts in the heads. Pulled the motor to do it right and cracked the passenger head while extracting the bolt.
I was very short on cash due to custody battles with my son, so the truck sat for over three years at my parents' house with the engine out, waiting for me to have the time to do it. Since then I've gained custody of my son, married, and bought a house. I also have a solid job with slightly more than comfortable income. I'm not rich, but we don't go hungry.
My dad called the other day asking if I was going to do anything with the truck. His homeowner's insurance is giving him fits about it being on the property and he needed it gone. He'd been wanting to do the restoration himself (Papa J was his father) but he's having serious back issues and is in the middle of restoring a 28' Ranger sailboat. I made a few phone calls and picked it up the next day, just planning to park it in my yard for probably a few more years. Well, that didn't work. As soon as I opened the driver door all the memories and emotions came flooding back.
Thus launched Project Papa J. I'm going to do a mild restoration with either a newer engine or a bottom rebuild and new heads. All new suspension and body bushings (assuming I can find them new), possibly new exhaust. I want it all the way Papa J had it, but I'm adding my own little twist in that I'm trying to find wheels like what are on the truck, but in 15". I'll also be adding level coils up front and the tires will be in the 30-31" range so it will stand more like a truck.
I realize the investment will be more than the truck is worth pretty much as soon as I put a wrench on it, but the cost is not the issue. This truck can not be replaced. It will not be sold. I want to have it as a memory/tribute to my grandfather. Money will not really be a concern in terms of resale value because it will not be sold. That said, I can't afford to waste money, so I won't be buying stupid junk that I don't really need.
First line of business is going to be either finding a good motor or at least a good set of heads. This motor had great compression, no smoking, no knocking... so if I get some good heads I plan to toss them on this short block and run with it. If I get a good price on a complete used low mile motor I'll just go with that.
Here's a picture of my grandfather the Christmas before he passed. It's honestly hard to look at the pictures of him. At the time I wasn't wise enough to appreciate all the things he knew and was willing to share. Now I just do my best in life, hoping that in the end, he'd be able to say he was proud of me.
Here's the truck, at my house. That's Papa J's boat in the background. I just finished some engine work on it and as soon as I finish the wiring it'll be back in the water...
So I'll take a moment to thank you if you made it this far. I apologize for going so deep in the explanation, but for anyone following along, I'd love to share the stories and help you understand my reasoning for putting this much work into an old Ranger.