Well I know you guys love a project so here's it is. I gave it the nickname "blue"
The truck: 1998 xl
2.5
4r44e
reg cab shortbed
168,000 miles
one owner
Pics as bought




The truck was cheap! The owner was....dishonest! The truck was discribed as having a "blownup tranny" When I went and looked at it I was told he parked because the tranny was bad and he bought another ranger. There was no battery and she had a flat. Seemed like a reasonable explaination so I took him at his word. I made a low ball offer and went home...got a call the next day and he accepted my offer. I rented a dolly and went to get it. I bought a new battery on the way with hopes it would move enough to get on the dolly...it turned over and wouldn't start. As we were pushing it on the dolly gas started leaking. The guy cut the gas line to get gas out of it...he didn't bother mentioning that when we were trying to start it. I almost walked away but decided it was so cheap I'd take it anyway. After I got it home and repaired the gas line I started to put gas in and heard it running on the ground i discovered the guy also drilled a hole in the tank...what a ****!!! Ok I put a screw in the tank(temporary fix) so I could start it. Guess what.... the motor knocks(should have expected that) So I try shifting thru the gears and nothing. Check the fluid...nothing on the stick. Add 2 quarts of mercon v and she goes right in gear. I'm brave so I go for a ride and the trans works great...shifts good thru all the gears. a little long winded but thats where it is now...The motors on its way out. BTW the front trans seal is leaking. Gave it a quick wash, swaped the wheels and pulled it in the garage. Progress pics to follow

 

dang it needs some work!

I can't wait to see it when you get done with it.

 

looks like fun what are your plans for it

 

It's going to get the motor fixed or swapped depending on cost...probably a crank kit and rings, bearings, and gaskets...idles nice and smooth so the heads ok...maybe valve seals. New trans seal, filter and fluid change. It only has one rust spot so its going to get fixed and maybe a 2 tone blue paint job. Needs a windshield and maybe seats(not ripped but real dirty...I have a spare set)

 

your my boy blue! What color is this one gonna end up as?

 

Its kinda early in the planning but it will probably be 2 shades of blue with a touch of black or white to separate the colors...of course this is subject to change...lol

 

Dwb Ftw!!!!!

 

nice, man, any mods going into it suspension wise?

 

Is that the dark blue?

 

If anything it could get lowered but its going to be for sale when done so I try to limit my investment to a minimum without taking shortcuts.

 

nice, what r u gonna do to it?

 

yep sure is its kinda metallic and it looks almost purple in certain light heres some pics

 

Nice man. If your going to keep that current blue as part I would suggest either sonic blue or DWB. Then go with a black in between.

 

I think I like the sonic blue a little better than the DWB but I haven't had time to think it thru yet. I have some competition blue that needs used from my muscle car days thats going to be used.

 

That competition blue is an awesome color

 

Yeah I had my cougar that color for about 10 years. nice

 

comp blue/sonicblue would be an awesome combo with a black pinstripe

 

can't wait to see more progress

 

i wish i had the time/money to do a project like this... but then again i think i would rather SAS my current ranger and do a frame off restore on the benz

 

Well I do this on the side to make extra cash, and I like building trucks anyway so its a win win!!!

Day 2 update: Driveshaft is out, trans is drained, trans mount, motor mounts, wiring, fuel line, ...everything is unhooked and ready to pull motor & trans as a unit except...^@#%$##&^%#$^ the freakin exhaust(no big suprise) I am going to have to get my brothers torches to get the bolts out or cut them son of a....lol Anyway the progress continues.
John

 

Today started out bad. I went out to go to work and my wifes car had a flat, changed that. Then on the way to work my belt tensioner decided to freeze up and melt the pully off. I had to wait for my wife to get home from taking the kids to school to come and get me so I could get some tools and a left over 4.0 tensioner...Decided to just take a pto day. After getting my black truck fixed I went and borrowed my brothers torches and pulled the exhaust off of blue. Then I pulled the motor/trans out and put the truck outside out of the way. I did an extra step and loaded the motor and trans up and took them to the car wash and pressure washed them. I beleve the trans is from a junk yard due to the paint stick writting on it. Here's some pics.

 

making good progress!

 

What a pita...look here... https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...589#post976589

 

there is a truck just like this same color i think sitting at a local auto shop im going to call him tomarrow and see if its for sale and what wrong with it for you.
maybe it has a bad tranny and good engine. who knows i'll let you know

 

I like that blue! throw some black paint on it too