I am restoring an 87 Ranger for my daily driver and something that I enjoy working on and improving. I want to keep track of my progress and location of information that I find along the way. Been several years since I have restored an old truck and now getting back into it. I also have an 88 Bronco2 that is going to get restored. I bought an 88 Bronco2 new in 88. It was a 2 wheel drive with a dummy transfer case. Black with red interior. I always regretted selling that truck I now have an 88 Bronco2 with a dummy transfer case. It is gold with tan interior. I have done frame off restores in past and these will not be frame off but close to it on both trucks. I really want them nice when done.

 

 

Getting debris cleaned from cowl

Some of debris removed from cowl.

Rust on roof.

Starting to remove rust on roof.


Cleaning and painting frame.

Got locked up motor out. Had to pull motor with Torque Converter.

If motor won’t turn Converter comes out with motor. A real pain in the rear to do it that way.

Rust converter that I used. Roof converted.


Hood converted.

Cleaning fuel tank. It was nasty

 

Lifters so rusty is reason motor not turning over.

Engine bay after motor is out. Rats nest in passenger side.

Had to cut timing chain to turn motor to remove pistons.


New Fuel Pump Assembly installed with tank

Used motor I’m going to use. Two dings on hood. Starting some body work.


One ding on driver fender.

 

Cleaned and painted front axle.

Bought another tail gate. Previous owner tried to remove dent the old way

What my old Fuel Pump Assembly looked like

What truck looks like now


What I found in pan of my used motor. Will use Bronco motor

Lapping the valves

Bought Valve Spring Compressor and cleaning and painting parts.

 

Interior is faded but great shape.

Other rides. My 09 Electraglude. Wife’s 13 Spyder.

 

The original tailgaters is too damaged to use but can be used for patch panels

Harbor Freight stud welder works great for minor dings

Made some relief cuts and dent is coming out. Some stitch welding and body filler and will look great.

 

Mud fibber plugged brake hose

Wasp nest everywhere on this truck. Even between fender and cowl

 

Dent in passenger fender.

Getting engine bay cleaned and painted.

Dent in driver fender


Working on dent in bed

Cleaning parts in diesel.

More frame cleaning and painting.

 

Harbor Freight sells magnetic bars. Great for sockets. I make a shelf and back board out of two bars. Being an old fart. I write sizes to see better. Shop will eventually get a complete make over.

Picture of my Bronco. I have owned autos from 49 all thru to modern cars and trucks. My 88 Bronco 2 was my all time favorite. It is giving up its motor for the Ranger but this Bronco will be my favorite and no expenses spared. What I learn on the Ranger will just improve the Bronco.

 

You Electrolis Cleaning. Plastic container, small power supply, scrap metal and Arm and Hammer is great for removing rust.

As I understand you want heads with bigger support. Getting hard to find.

Parts have been cleaned, tested, painted and ready for use. Even junk motors have good parts. Some more parts cleaned and tested. This motor had Oil Seal Ring and chunk of metal in pan. Will use its heads on Bronco motor.

 

The picture above has more cleaned tested parts. It will be providing its heads for Bronco motor. I got Head gaskets and Head Bolts in mail today. I shop eBay, Rock Auto, parts stores and elsewhere to keep cost down. Learned a long time ago to use best parts available. Shopping around can save money.

 

Caught up on pictures and progress. Today is a start of 5 days off from work and plan to spend most of it in shop getting as fats as I can to get on the truck. Got some warm wether coming so need to fit in a bike ride. When I run out of parts and funds. I will work on body or more parts cleaning.

 

Got motor out at 8:30 this morning. Started at 4am.

Engine bay of Bronco. Will start cleaning it soon.

Reference pic for me. Ground wire.

Reference pic for me. Ground wire

At car was this morning. 40 degrees. Cold glad I had my rain jacket on.

Trans tube mount.

 

This motor has been neglected Rust is bad on the water jacket. Once I get it running I will flush cooling system hood.

I should of gotten a picture of all the sludge build up in it. A lot of scrapping and the air gun got it cleaned up really well. When I get it running it will get flushed several times. Hope to swap heads tomorrow.

 

Kind of hit a wall last night. A little frustrated with condition of motor so started cleaning parts and bolts. Got some sleep and start at motor again. I am eventually going to either do a full rebuild or buy a rebuilt motor. Cost from machine work and parts it is just about best to buy a motor.

 

This motor needs flushed.

Cylinder walls look great.

Old head off. Cleaning surfaces and got look at torque specs for head bolts.

 

I blew air into water ports. This motor needs flushed badly.

Head gasket is now on.

Don’t remember reason for this pic I will update it when at computer

 

Head on at 22 then 53 inch pounds

Timing Chain Cover, Water pump and crankshaft pulley are now on.

The 90 degree took the big breaker bar to get last step on head bolts.

 

Got the oil pan on. Around the rear main seal did not want to lay flat like it should. I spent allot of time getting the gasket sealed. I do not like leaks.

Head on, and Intake on.

While waiting on paint to dry, I worked on all ground points.

 

Taking a break for a few hours. Still need to set valves and distributor. Once I get over that hump I feel comfortable with getting motor back together. Will be studying and watching videos and reading my Haynes Manual.

 

As far as I can go until I get more parts.

Got truck thawing out for body work.

 

Wow, great work Terry! This is going to be one heck of a build-up thread...thanks for taking us along for the ride with you!

 

Hello 86 I have done several restored in the past that were much worse then this. I think you will like it when done. I’m mostly just a stock kind of guy but like to make them new again.

 

Here I am removing trim. Here is all the gunk behind trim. Motor is on hold until funds say I can spend on parts

Cowl access drivers side. It was full of debris. Cowls on Rangers are spot welded so you have access panels. Later on I will pull blower assembly to get debris out of there.

This is just what I could get to with my hand. I took high pressure air and got a LOT more out. I am working on driver front fender and cab roof. Will post pictures of that in a while v

This is just what was under windshield trim