Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Well since I plan on slowly restoring my ranger over the next few years, I might as well make a project log, just keep in mind this will be one slow build.

The box off and the rusted out leaf spring hangers cut off.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112712.jpg

Its really not as rusted as the pictures make it look, but it is rusty.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112714.jpg

I had to cut and torch this bolt out.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112715.jpg
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112725.jpg

My make shift press for the bushings, later I started using a grade 8 bolt and actually bent it, but after a while a big ass hammer finished it.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112727.jpg

The original shackles and probably the shocks to.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112723.jpg

A rusted out portion of the rear cross member, next spring when I repaint the frame i am going to fabricate a new one.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112721.jpg

The original exhaust as well. This well be replaced hopefull soon.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112720.jpg

The fuel lines, hopefully I can just replace a few of the lines.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112719.jpg

Some of the cracks in the fuel filler neck, as soon as I can afford it, this is gonna be replaced.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112718.jpg
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112717.jpg

I have replacement shock mounts but these werent bad at all some im going to save them for next spring.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112716.jpg

The little miss came picked me up from my friends where I have been doing this and she would even get near me I was so filthy, I wish I would have remembered the camera on the first day, it was even worse.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/P9112730.jpg

Well, at least there mounted, I only broke one bed bolt, and next spring when the bed comes off again, the all of the mounting bolts are going to be replaced with some heavy duty U.S. made hardware, Optimus Prime wouldn't be able to break that shit. Hopefully tomorrow the new rear shocks will arrive and I can install them and pull some of the dents in the bed.

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

lots of rust to work with :eek:

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Rust!

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Welcome to the land of snow and ice. ROAD SALT

Im going to cold galvanize it next spring.

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

WI is tough on vehicles in the winter. im not sure about down in madison but up here in point if theres 2 inches of snow the plow trucks just drive around and salt the roads instead of plow. they are idiots! after i rolled my truck in February 4 plow trucks drove by salting the highway. salt=rust

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Oh I know how Stevens Point is, because I was born and raised there, Hahaha, small world. But your completely right, they just toss salt down, let it get sloppy and then it refreezes later. Kills your vehicles, without even giving them a fighting chance.

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Did you ever have one of those days where everything that could go wrong, goes wrong, well I just did. I got my shocks today, they sent me front instead of rears, so i try and make the best of the situation and decide to install them and just pick of new rear ones from autozone on payday. Jacked the vehicle up, put it on the jack stand and got the tire removed. Spent forever looking for the right socket sizes, and what happens when I start to loosen the radius arm bolt, boom it snaps, fuck me. Well then I keep going decided to get it completely out and the up bolt is so rusted and seized that I had to spend an hour cutting that apart.

The silver lining, the first post I find when I searched for broken shock mount-
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=219180

Hopefully all goes well for the passenger side tomorrow, and hopefully even better on friday(payday when I get the parts.)

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Well I spent my lunch hour trying to track down the stud mount replacement, and not that Help! Dorman one, with no luck so I walked down to one of my favorite hardware stores which is two block from where my truck is sitting, and got a 5/8 3-1/2 grade 8 bolt, washers, and nut. Then I spent forever drilling in increments and finally got **** blocked by the fact that didnt I have a 5/8 bit and the hardware store closed. Now I have to wait until Friday to continue. When it comes to the passenger side Im gonna heat the shock bolt with a torch for a bit in hope that I dont snap this one and have to go through that hole process again.

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

I got the broken shock stud fixed and that seems to be a great fix. The passenger side I hit with a torch and worked it back and forth, it took about an hour to remove that shock but everything is saved. Next I drilled 2 holes in one of the back corner of the box to pull a gnarly dent, partially pulled, Ill probably have to cut that chunk out and buy or fabricate a new corner. I put the box back on got everything set back up, turn the truck on to test all the lights, and im leaking gas like a fat mofo at a taco bell eating contest, I had 3 pin hole leaks in one of the fuel filler lines spraying mists of gas everywhere and I dont have $150 for a new fuel filler, so hopefully cleaning and wire brush until I saw clean steal, and then coating both lines in so much JB Weld there was more JB Weld then there was ever fuel line. I just need this to hold up until spring, when I can drop the box, fuel take and then start working the frame.

The bright side is that I found this tiny little New Orleans diner 2 blocks from my house on my walk home.

Re: Another 93, but not as cool as mcramer's.
 

Its been a long 2 weeks, but finally I was able to bring it home, I took replacing the rear leaf spring mounts, front and rear shocks, custom front shock mount, repaired the fuel filler neck with make a gasket compound and a gas safe epoxy over it(will be replace in the spring), repaired the pin hole leaks in the fuel sending unit(will be replaced in the spring although i will now have to replace the fuel lines because I got JB Weld on the disconnect, and in the process of putting the bed back on and checking my lights, I found out when I bought it I never had brake lights, I had to replace the stop light switch, what a pain.

Next I have to get replacement bed bolts and clips and look in the replacing the box floor, but im really looking into make a 80's style F150 stepside bed.

Side note: My truck was running a bit rough while it idled, well I have a small oil leak so when i went to put some oil in I happened to look at my MAF, well my stupid ass forgot to reconnect the MAF sensor power connect, well plug it in and truck idles great, Im really starting to have a reliable truck.