Restoring the Ranger.

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

Well, today was the Rangers first day out on the road. Everything is running good. I went and got new tires, new lugnuts. Ordered some new center caps that are on the way so I will post pics when I get them on. Went to pep boys and bought a diamond metal black tool box for the bed that I will be installing in the next few days along with a black tailgate net. Got some dupi-color spray on bed liner... basically looks like spray paint. Did that today as well.

Here are some pics of what is going on so far.

This is the way it looked when I first got it.

So I took out this crap rubber drop in bed liner out of the bed as it was just collecting water. Cleaned it up a bit and figured out what I was going to need.

Here is a picture of my stock tires and wheels.

Now here is a picture of it today after I got my new tires installed.

Ok then I took a close up of the tires. I got new lugnuts with the tires and I have new chrome center caps on the way off ebay. Will post new pic when I get them.

Ok next thing is the bed liner. This is what i started with.

Removed the tailgate and going to sell it on ebay. Bought a black net to put in its place that I plan on installing in the morning.

Next is the bedliner. I washed the bed down with Acetone and scuffed up the bed with a scuffing pad. Did a final wipe down to make sure it was clean. Taped up the edges with some painters tape and started it up.

After 4 cans of the stuff at 8 bucks a pop.. I was done. Now I Just wait till morning and see how good it dried on there.

removed the tape and bam the final product.

There is much more work to be done.. the net.. the tool box.. center caps.. and refreshing the paint.. but its a good start for one day.

Click to read more...

 

[jeeper07 5,000+ posts]

looks good so far.

 

[sixfootman2005 10+ year member]

looking good...i used to have an 88 extended cab....wish i still had it

 

[dirtye30 10+ year member]

how much overspray did you get on everything?

 

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

very little. Kept the Acetone close by so if i made any overspray a quick wipe with that stuff and its fixed. Just got to watch out for any build up from when the can spits from either not pressing it down enough or if you get your finger in the way by mistake. Other than that.. it was easy.. quick.. and cost effective. From start to finish it took maybe.. 2 hours. I am going to check in the morning for any inperfections as I have 2 more cans for any touch up.

 

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

this is the stuff i used. got it 7.99 per can at auto zone. I just used the rattlecans.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/truckbed.html

 

[Wowimzz 10+ year member]

nice truck, i had an 86 with a v6 in it. miss it.. mine was a supercab like yours too.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

looks good...I have a 88 but the engine went //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif I have a engine ready to replace it...I hope to get it back running soon //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I wish mine was the extended cab version...

 

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

well i got my paint quote today. 256 bucks is all it will cost me. I am also going to be using that black bedliner on the fender trim to get rid of that chrome while its in the shop. Should have new pictures at the end of the week when i get it back from the shop.

 

[jimmclrk1 10+ year member]

Hell yeah, buddy. Holler at a player if you ever want to lift it. Nothin' better than a young man with a Ranger kickin' it in the Peach State.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Makes me want to get out there and do something to make my Ranger sexy. Then again, I'm lazy and have no money right now, so **** it.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

How do you like that bedliner? did it work well?

 

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

Ok update on the Ranger.

Just got her back from the painters and this is how she looks. Had them do the stock color with a black pinstripe. Turned out real nice.

Next I got the tool box in. Pretty easy job other than the fact that all the sizes of bits and tools they say to use are wrong. Fits in real secure though.

Then I did the net in the back. That one was tough. Drilling through the sides of the bed took a lot of force. Sucks is I broke my bit on the last bracket so I just secured it to the old tailgate ball on the bottom left. Good news is I just bought those bits so i can go take it back and exchange it.

Oh yeah, and this is me going WTF after I adjust the driver mirror and it snaps off... yeah im holding it in my hand going WTF. So it looks like its time to install new mirrors lol.

I still need to install my new center caps. Then I am going to paint those metal fender trims with my bed liner prolly on Tuesday along with the front grill if I have enough time.

Also on the list is going to be a new rear section of exhaust and that should be it.

On a side note yeah the bed liner is doing pretty good so far going to see how long it holds up over time.

 

[jeeper07 5,000+ posts]

how about some tint on the widows????? looks real nice!!! let me know how that bed spray is.

 

[DaveDSMer 10+ year member]

yeah tint is on the list too.. just so many things i loose track sometimes.