[ProjecT] LoW RangE

[83LOWrange]

(sorry it is a ranger so dont flame me) lol but i dont like rangerpowersports they make street trucks not MINIS!!! anyway:

when i worked for UPS i noticed a reg cab ranger sitting under a carport everyday when i delivered packages to that house, no one was EVER home. So one sunday i drove out there and someone was there! so i asked the lady if shed sell it to me? she asked why i wanted it and i said i love it! the body is immaculate and so is the interior! plus she said it ran! only 30,000 miles on it!!! original 1983

so i gave her 1,000 cash and DROVE THE TRUCK HOME! lol

well anyway here she is




and this is the first thing i did, i always wanted an old school mini, so i wanna try to keep it lookin kinda older




i have alot of plans for this, i have my daily fixed up and done, so now i can start the tear down body this truck and finally bag it! but i would like to have everyone elses support and input... i know its a s10 FORUM... but it was a good start an INSANE price (for the condition)... so bear with me

now i need a good welder and sawzall... would a Hobart 140 be ok for the sheetmetal work and the frame? or just get the 187? or not even a hobart?

[rocknthehawk]

try out rangerpowersports.com i'm a member there, and it's probably the best ranger site.

good luck! i had an 88, here's my '90

[83LOWrange]

ive seen that truck before on the site... i am a member there, but i havent found too many people with minis and body dropped... but i also have a 91 ext. cab that will be next, but i know alot of people on this site know what to do, and that they just love the scene... so they will be alot of help

i already have all the fillers and my cali combo... just need a welder

[rocknthehawk]

Quote: Originally Posted by 83LOWrange

ive seen that truck before on the site... i am a member there, but i havent found too many people with minis and body dropped... but i also have a 91 ext. cab that will be next, but i know alot of people on this site know what to do, and that they just love the scene... so they will be alot of help

i already have all the fillers and my cali combo... just need a welder

yeah, that's actually why i joined over here....the s10 guys actually work on their trucks!! It's nice to be able to look at a project thread and see progress pics and everything.

for welders, i've got a millermatic 175, and i absolutely love it. I've used the small hobart 125 welders, and they are good for sheetmetal...can't beat the price either.

[Wicked Mayhem]

woot a ranger in the house! i had a 91...

and rangerpowersports is a pretty good site..

[83LOWrange]

nice truck... i think my 83 is a long bed, idk if i want to make it shorter or not, IDK we will see...

i know RPS is a good site, and i still look over there... but there is about a 10 to one difference of people who keep there threads updated and theres aTON more people on this site with the minis... so id imagine that ill get more advice over here...

i work at a steel fab shop (lol the name of the co. is Steel Fabricators... whatta name, no seriously) so i can get my metal, but i want a welder that i can weld on the frame and do my body work... so what are my options? i wanna spend about say 700-800 on a welder, sawzal, and grinder... we have millers at my shop, but miller is $$$ even the smaller ones, but i wont mind buying it if it will weld everything i need, the biggest ill have to weld is 1/4"

[Wicked Mayhem]

check out the fabricators section and see what people are usin. we got a older century welder. it does great.

and i know whatcha mean about rps. i was on this forum yearsssss before i owned an s10 no one gave me crap for postin a ranger

[flnole78]

I went to Lowe's and got a Lincoln Electric 175. Its flux xore with the option to upgrade to MIG. Mine works fine and will weld 1/4". I have done my full backhalf as well as all my bodywork with it. I plan on upgrading to MIG soon.

[83LOWrange]

Quote: Originally Posted by flnole78

I went to Lowe's and got a Lincoln Electric 175. Its flux xore with the option to upgrade to MIG. Mine works fine and will weld 1/4". I have done my full backhalf as well as all my bodywork with it. I plan on upgrading to MIG soon.

do you remember how much it was? flux core isnt a big deal, thats what i do at my job, flux core only... but id rather mig, but whatever i get ill use...

i was thinking about just doin a trad. BD but now since i looked at yours im jus gonna do a sfbd and in the mornin im goin out to some big yards to find a yota clip... then build my own frame from there.. and also my front end swap

[m0X]

I know your question wasn't directed at me but I was in Lowes the other day and noticed they had a Lincoln 180 for $669. It came with tips, 2lb spool of wire, regulator to hook up gas and a few other things. For the most part it had everything you'd need to get started.

Thats an awesome deal you got on a such a clean truck.
I'll be following this thread, I like seeing older body style rangers laid out.

[rocknthehawk]

i paid like...725 for my millermatic 175with ahelmet, bottle and gas, and a big ass spool of wire with tips.

that's funny you work at steel fabricators...i work at Steel Fab Inc...

[83LOWrange]

Quote: Originally Posted by rocknthehawk

that's funny you work at steel fabricators...i work at Steel Fab Inc...

lol how original are our companies? lol

m0X: thats a really good deal, while im out and on my way to the salvage yard to find a yota clip ill stop by and check it out... i might just have to come home with it! (if i dont find a clip)

but i could post some pics of my daily, i think alot of people would like it, its a 91 yota pickup 4x4 no it doesnt go "muddin" lol its a mall cruiser! lol

[blazerida88]

good luck with it man, its definately a great starting point, leave the interior its sooo pimp. i like the headliner

[DRAG_ACR]

yeah, that headliner is the best!!! keep it lookin exactly like it does now, just laid out hard!

[TheFue]

I used to hang ou an RPS. Then they started getting all butt-hurt over stupid bullshit stuff and not allowing any fun.

Sweet ass truck too! I used to have 2 Ranger projects but I switched to an S10 cause it was in better shape. Can't wait to see the end result!

[flnole78]

Quote: Originally Posted by 83LOWrange

do you remember how much it was? flux core isnt a big deal, thats what i do at my job, flux core only... but id rather mig, but whatever i get ill use...

i was thinking about just doin a trad. BD but now since i looked at yours im jus gonna do a sfbd and in the mornin im goin out to some big yards to find a yota clip... then build my own frame from there.. and also my front end swap

Here is the equivilent to my welder. It was $450:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...9-1&lpage=none

[lowfkndime91]

I have seen the red and white ranger in person, bad ass truck.

[83LOWrange]

ok well since theres quite a few replies i guess ill tell you my plans...

1) bagged: front and back (no side to side)
2) yota front clip
3) new frame from firewall back 2x3 or 3x3? dont matter to me... whatever should be used ive seen both
4) shaved EVERYTHING! (i have every filler plate from grant and a cali combo with 2 10" leds)
5) 18/20 smoothie combo (planned on 20/22's but depens on how much lift i can get out of the front)
6) old car/truck dash (if anyone has one i might be interested in it)
7) 302
8) and my top secret front end conversion... if anyone has any suggestions on the front end swap please post it, im open to all

hope to start it VERY VERY soon... i should be getting my yota clip this coming weekend

[83LOWrange]

Quote: Originally Posted by flnole78

Here is the equivilent to my welder. It was $450:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...9-1&lpage=none

and this has welded everything on your truck? frame and body panels?

[jman]

nice find! that is my favorite body style ranger. i had a 97 stepside ranger till last thanksgiving of 06. some old lady pulled out in front of me. good luck with the project.

[TheFue]

Quote: Originally Posted by 83LOWrange

8) and my top secret front end conversion... if anyone has any suggestions on the front end swap please post it, im open to all

When I had my first gen Ranger, I was going to do a Mazda Navajo front end swap. I've only ever seen two done before, and the one wasn't all that good.

[iLLblazer]

Man that thing is so minty and old school looking. I think it'd be sick as hell just layin rocker with a badass chassis under it and leave the body and paint bone stock.

[sdime98]

nice deal...good find.

[83LOWrange]

Quote: Originally Posted by iLLblazer

Man that thing is so minty and old school looking. I think it'd be sick as hell just layin rocker with a badass chassis under it and leave the body and paint bone stock.

yea, imma go with the same scheme... just newer paint but shave everything... im doing the yota clip and then a 2x3 chassis from there back... so i will be needing help

[83LOWrange]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFue

When I had my first gen Ranger, I was going to do a Mazda Navajo front end swap. I've only ever seen two done before, and the one wasn't all that good.

thats a good one, never seen that before... i was thinking about putting 91 fenders on my truck then doing a 2003 Land Rover Discovery clip.. that way i would also be able to use a ranger bumper... the grill is the same height, and the fenders match almost perfect

[flnole78]

Quote: Originally Posted by 83LOWrange

and this has welded everything on your truck? frame and body panels?

Yes, I only have access to my 1 welder and I have used it for everything. MIG would definitley be a better option but I just haven't bought the upgrade for it yet.

[rocknthehawk]

Quote: Originally Posted by lowfkndime91

I have seen the red and white ranger in person, bad ass truck.

Thats mine...i bought it just the way you see it. i've got a lot of work planned for this spring.

where are you at?? I'm near fitchburg....about 20 min. from worcester

[83LOWrange]

ok, well the front end swap is out.. i got home from work tonight and uhhh my mini truckin mag was in the mailbox... cool, BLAZERADO ressurected! sweet.. then i open it and i see a 84 red ranger.. OMG that thing is BAD ASS! no swap for me, keeping the front just new chrome.. check that truck out, im also gonna make it into a regular bed, not long... but ill do the land rover on my 91, the lines flow better on it anyway

[KENNYMO]

Quote: Originally Posted by rocknthehawk

try out rangerpowersports.com i'm a member there, and it's probably the best ranger site.

good luck! i had an 88, here's my '90

i love the look of the cowl on your truck. i want one like that on my dime

[rocknthehawk]

Quote: Originally Posted by 83LOWrange

ok, well the front end swap is out.. i got home from work tonight and uhhh my mini truckin mag was in the mailbox... cool, BLAZERADO ressurected! sweet.. then i open it and i see a 84 red ranger.. OMG that thing is BAD ASS! no swap for me, keeping the front just new chrome.. check that truck out, im also gonna make it into a regular bed, not long... but ill do the land rover on my 91, the lines flow better on it anyway

leave the bed alone...please? you don't see enough longbed's laid out.

i tried to get my picture of mine at full lift for you...but photobucket is down. It's going to be wicked tough to un-tuck 20's enough to turn the front...unless of course you clip it.

[rocknthehawk]

not to whore your thread, but here's full ift on beams with a 4" bodydrop



22's...it's a push truck





untucking 20's...that's like 180psi and mad positive camber: