Well I think I have decided on next week to start tearing appart my '84. My plan to tackle this is to first remove the engine and transmission, then body. With this in mind what do I need to disconnect to remove the cab and bed from the frame? The engine is durasparked so there's not much running to the engine itself.

What I figure to do is remove the the engine and transmission, then bisassemble the front end just enough to remove the cab and set it off on the ground using an old Military A-frame hoist, then do the same with the bed. before I remove the cab I will remove everything that isn't bolted down in the cab, I will probably also replace the floorpans before I remove it. Easier to access than when it's sitting on the ground. After I get the stuff with the floorpans done, I will shoot primer over that and temp install interrior for storage. Then when the cab is sitting on the ground somehow roll it up on side so that I can clean and undercoat it, and do the same with the bed (just a little extra protection and sound deadening). While the body is off I will clean (wire wheel if necessary) the chassis and suspension, replace bushings with poly, and probably paint with eastwood chassis black and rust encapsulator. I will powdercoat the front coil springs if possible (if my oven is big enough and gets power in time). Clean out the gas tank, and clean up the sender unit (hopefully). Possibly paint tank with same stuff as chassis.

Either while it's on the ground or after I remount it on the frame I will clean, pain, and organize the engine bay. While everything is going back together, I will clean up the wiring and replace any that looks suspect. While slowly working on the above I will be cleaning, painting, and rebuilding engine, installing a new carb, cam, clean & paint the headders. Will also clean the transmission and paint it if necessary.

The reason I am telling you all of this is so that you can, give me any suggestions before I get started. All tips and suggestions are welcome, but that dosen't mean that they won't get questioned by me. I'm in a learing stage here, first time I've ever tackled a project like this. I think that I am qualified and fairly well prepared, but like I say I am learing so if I ask why please explain.

Oh yeah,I forgot to mention that I will be taking plenty of pictures, mostly for reference when putting it all back together.

-Josh

 

Well change of plans! After having a small arguement with my dad about this project we've come to an agreement. I'm just going to do the engine work, and install the poly for now, then when I get back to work, take to my buddy about the body work. I may still do some wiring a little along but it will just be what needs doing. I have also decided to forget about painting the rame, I'm not going to use this truck as a show truck. I live on a dirt driveway, and travel on a number of dirt roads so what is the point of cleaning it just to get right back messed up.

Instead of putting all of my time and effort into something that isn't needed. I'm finally going to do my own thing and get one of these.



My mother would probably kill me if she knew I am seriously considering buying a motorcycle, but that's my decision not hers. I've got to do something that I want for a change I'm tired of doing what everyone else wants me to do, that is going to be it. I have alredy picked out the one that I want, one in the picture above, it's a Honda Shadow Saber, it has a 1100cc V-Twin, and I think it looks just right in straight black with factory chrome.

 

well thats a great choice for a bike

 

put $ into your 99... thats wat i would do

 

No money going into the 99 until after it's paid off, probably none then except for what is required for maintinance. I origonally got the 99 for annother way to go after . while I was working on the 84, well I was actually going for older (first second or third gen ranger), and my folks convinced me to go newer. I almost had an 89 that ran good fr $500 but I wanted 4wd. So the 99 is going to become primarily my long trip and hunting truck, I want to keep it as stock as possible that way when and if I ever decide to trade it in it will still have max value.

Yeah that's what I've heard about the bike, my cousin has an older Shadow that has the same size engine in red, he says it is a pretty nice one. Since I've started looking it's what I've liked best, and I've liked the looks of them for years before I knew anyone that had one. I just got to get back to work so I can afford to get one.

 

sell the 84 and get the bike and work on the 99 more

 

No more like sell the 99 get the bike and work on the 84 more. The 84 is here to stay folks it ain't going anywhere, I know it's hard for yall to understand but it holds alot of sentamental value for me. I don't plan for the 99 to go anywhere soon either, it's just not going to have the work put into it like the 84 is. I may also trade the 99 in on a 2008 Ranger when they come out, since they will be the last ones built, just depends on how the look and and what the future plans are for Ford's small truck market are and what they do with the Ranger name. If I do trade it in I don't want to have spent alot of money on it, that's better spent on getting a loaded top of the line new one. Chances are that the 99 will stay with me, but either way it definantley won't be getting the money spent on it until well after I build my own house and garage. and until after I have my future 67 Mustang fastback up and running.

 

how old are you man

 

The 84 is better! IT's better to have a "trailslut" type of vehicle than to bash a nice new vehicle offroad. Plus I wouldnt want to offroad anything but my 99 since it is my first truck.

Aaron

 

Why? I'm 20 turn 21 this July. How old are you?

Red it's not going to be a trailslut by any means, but I will use it some when I'm hunting and camping, but it will mostly be a street vehicle.

 

Any suggestions on how to go about starting to look for above mentioned bike? I am getting real serious about buying one, but can only seem to find them new at the local dealer arround here. I don't want buy a new one, so any help as to how to go about finding a used one? I've looked at the cycle trader with no luck, none listed in my price range, or color choice, in the area. I would like to find straight black or as close to straight black as I close as I can find.

 

craigslist? I guess ya hafta find them. I'd really recommend buying a brand new bike tho personally.

Why do you want a bike like that compared to more of a rice rocket type.

Aaron

 

1) I don't like the rice rocket type bikes. Sure that look fast, but to me that's all they are for, I don't care about going fast, I just want to enjoy my ride.
2) I've always liked the way a cruiser has looked. I want to be comfortable on those long trips I may take. It's the style bike I like, no other reason needed. I guess that would be like me asking you why you would rather have a rice rocket than a bike like that.

 

Why do you recommend buying a new bike though?

Yeah! I hit 200 posts and didn't even realise it!

Ok I've thought about it and I am going to try to get new, if I can get with the right price and financing. Does anyone here work for a Honda motorcycle dealer? If so what do you think the lowest I could talk a dealer down to is, please help out a fellow Ranger owner here.

 

I think I only want a rice rocket because its more befitting of someone my age. Not sayin that bike is bad, it looks really nice, its jus i imagine its made for an older crowd.

And why buy new? Warranties kick ***. If you get a used bike there may be problems. You also don't want a bike set down when someone else was a newbie.

And bikes don't depreciate value too quickly, so sometimes the difference between a new bike and a used bike can be 2-3k, which is worth spending in my opinion.

 

Well I'm more of a throw back anyway. I was born in the wrong decade, people tell me that I'm to old for my age. I like my vehicles old style, and my women young, just the way I am. I don't see a certian style bike, vehicle, etc. as leaning more toward one age group than annother. You like sports bikes, I like crusiers that's just the way it is.

Ok I've thought about it and I am going to try to get new, if I can get with the right price and financing. The warranty does sound nice, and that way I also know what I am starting with. Does anyone here work for a Honda motorcycle dealer? If so what do you think the lowest I could talk a dealer down to is, please help out a fellow Ranger owner here.

 

I have a buddy I could possibly ask. Tell me exact model and i'll ask him.

Aaron

 

2006 Honda Shadow Saber VT1100C2 If you could ask I would definantley appreaciate it. I'm planning for black paint, and Sissybar.

 

i'll try to get to him tomorrow. Lucky you he jus got off work an hour ago so i wouldnt be able to get an answer yet heh

Aaron

 

No biggie, it'll probably be a week or two before I start haggling anyway. I'm going to start looking arround the dealers in the next week, and see what I can find.

 

Those are nice bikes and hondas are realiable and easy to maintain. My first bike was a shadow spirit 750 I rode the living daylights out of that bike 11,000 miles in the year I had it. Then I traded up to a goldwing so there is nothing wrong with him liking a bike like that one heck most people that have bikes like me are old and mainly retired and Im only 20. Different people have different taste thats all.

 

Well the folks just did a 180 on me, so no bike in the near future. No life in the near future as well I'm afraid, damn this sucks. I got to get away and make a life of my own, but I got to good of a thing going right here.

 

Save up your money man. Parents are downers.

Aaron

 

Ah... I'm just going back to my origonal plans for the money, one's just as good to as the other. I don't think they'll be as quick to say no to me working on my truck now either. I figure it'll be 1 or 2 thousand to do what I want on it for now. I'll save the rest and put it towards a bike and a paint job on the truck when I get back to work.