Cab swap ahead

smokey · May 7, 2010

Well went to replace the brake line on the 85 ranger and saw the floor board looked kinda rusty.

I got the screw driver and started poking around found that both floor boards up to the firewall is like Swiss cheese :headbang:

. Pulled the carpet up to take a better look. I was amazed at the amount of rust. Both floorboards were so bad( none existent) I decided not to try and patch it up.
I have a rust free cab that has the clutch pedals hung already so I am going to swap cab, transmission to a 5 speed from the crappy A4LD that is in it now.
Might even pull the bed and sandblast the frame and paint it.
Might even swap in a 4.0 to replace the 2.8 that is in it now.

john112deere · May 7, 2010

Pulling the bed is so easy, it seems like you might as well do the whole frame in one go.

Good call on swapping a five-speed in place of the A4LD, too...that isn't exactly a great trans, to put it mildly.

*Just 'cause I'm curious- how's the radiator support? On my '97, it was the first place to start rusting (and is absolutely toast now)...and other Rangers I've been around (I'm thinking of an '00, in particular) seem to start rusting there first, too.

smokey · May 7, 2010

The radiator mounts on the cab i am swapping are like new their is not one speck of rust at all in that cab.
The cab with the bad floor boards I am not sure about the shape they are in never looked yet.
I started dismantling have the hood off fenders are off except the rear bolts by the door hinges. Didn't have a lot of time today to spend on it.
I will get a few pics of everything.Hopefully Sunday or Monday I can get it ready to lift off.

smokey · May 14, 2010

pic of what was the floor board

Here are a few other pics

cab that is going on

I broke the frame into on this truck.

smokey · May 27, 2010

Had a little free time today to actually get s bit further along.
Have everything unbolted and unhooked except the radiator mount bolts and it will be ready to lift off.
Trying to upload a few pics to photobucket but it is being difficult

Austin · May 27, 2010

smokey said:
Had a little free time today to actually get s bit further along.
Have everything unbolted and unhooked except the radiator mount bolts and it will be ready to lift off.
Trying to upload a few pics to photobucket but it is being difficult

I gave up on photobucket. Try: tinypic.com

smokey · May 28, 2010

A few better pics of the rust damage.
The is no floorboards they were rusted out completely. I trimmed the tranny tunnel a little to get to the linkage. The other side is just as bad.

Here the fenders and doors are removed.

Have everything unhooked except the steering and a few wires in the harness. Hopefully I can get it lifted off in the next few day.

smokey · Jun 4, 2010

y
Got the cab of. Now to pull transmission and transfter case. replace all the seals and gaske

smokey · Jun 21, 2010

Got the transmission and transfer case out.
The frame is cleaned and painted flat black.
Tomorrow afternoon if I have time once the paint is dry I will start putting in the transmission.
Painted the front bumper while I was painting it has a black bumper on it for now at least.
While I was painting everything I was thinking of Grabbing a quart of Grabber Green for the suspension parts.

smokey · Sep 22, 2010

The truck is ready to set the cab onto finally.
Started tearing the cab off the donor truck and bees were attacking me. Darn hornets decided to build a huge nest under the passenger fender. I have been on a bee killing spree this morning. I think I have most of them killed off only 9 or 10 are attacking me when I get near now.

dragogt · Sep 22, 2010

smokey said:
Well went to replace the brake line on the 85 ranger and saw the floor board looked kinda rusty.
I got the screw driver and started poking around found that both floor boards up to the firewall is like Swiss cheese . Pulled the carpet up to take a better look. I was amazed at the amount of rust. Both floorboards were so bad( none existent) I decided not to try and patch it up.
I have a rust free cab that has the clutch pedals hung already so I am going to swap cab, transmission to a 5 speed from the crappy A4LD that is in it now.
Might even pull the bed and sandblast the frame and paint it.
Might even swap in a 5.0 to replace the 2.8 that is in it now.

ThereIfixedit.. :wasntme:

smokey · Sep 22, 2010

If I had a good carbed 302 and all the running gears I would have did that swap.
There is always next year. I need this running for winter for my daughter to drive back and forth to college when the roars Re bad.
Will put the lockers back in front and rear in the spring from the other truck. Locked front and rear it will go about any where bit has poor manners on snowy roads wanting to break loose on turns.

dragogt · Sep 22, 2010

Right on I understand..

DNFXDLI · Sep 22, 2010

I missed this Randy...looking good!

smokey · Sep 22, 2010

I got the bees all killed except maybe 3 of them. Was about 100 bees in the nest and they were not happy I was serving a eviction notice on them. Every time I went near they did their best to sting. They bounced off me a few times but my tough hide didn't allow the stinger to get me.

Ridgerunner · Jun 30, 2011

More pictures and updates?

smokey · Jun 30, 2011

A update been swamped with work and other things. Everything is ready to bolt back on. Hopefully will have the doors, fenders,hood, on and will fire it up and pull it out of the garage.

Ridgerunner · Jun 30, 2011

smokey said:
A update been swamped with work and other things. Everything is ready to bolt back on. Hopefully will have the doors, fenders,hood, on and will fire it up and pull it out of the garage.

Great was it easy to find the parts?

smokey · Jun 30, 2011

I have several rangers I use as part trucks and have a friend that has around 10 of the 1st gen rangers I can get parts off of.

Ridgerunner · Jun 30, 2011

That is great parts cars or tucks does make it easier.

Join Our Ford Truck Forum Today

Cab swap ahead

Hitech hillbilly

caffeine junkie

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

FTF's #1 Knob Polisher

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

Hitech hillbilly

The Token Canadian

Hitech hillbilly

Missouri Chapter member

Hitech hillbilly

Missouri Chapter member

Hitech hillbilly

Missouri Chapter member