So last week I got a great deal on a 97, 4.0 4wd single cab. Now the old man had a clutch master cylinder problem and a Crack in the frame by the cab mount. So I figured I could fix the crack no problem. Little did I know I got beat. So I put the truck on the road, waited till 2 am and drove it the 27 miles to my house, sweet talking it into gears and when I had to stop, get out push and turn the key with it in second. (I know I am terrible to my truck.) Got it home and started the tear down.


Took the cap and bed liners out.




And I started to tear into it.






Then I found the rot....this is the bed by the cab.




Got the bed off. . . .


This is the crack I could see.


Then the shock....




So I have been tearing down.













Took the Lund visor off




My clutch problems....




Tear down was pissing my off to no end and started throwing tools so I cooled down by doing some thing positive.




And this is where I am at. More to come.

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1997 Ranger. 2.3l 4 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, step side bed. *sold *

1997 Ranger. 4.0l 6 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, reg. bed. *frame problems*

nice progress, i see you're from MA that explains the rot on the frame :P mine is just starting to rot, im lucky i caught it in time because near the rear section of the frame it looks as if i can almost punch a hole through it. so just in case i bolted a long piece of 1/8 inch steel up along with some new shackle mounts. and if you are wondering what chassis paint to use just bite the bullet and buy POR-15

good luck!

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Yeah they make the rear section replacements but I am having trouble finding a whole frame from a 97 that has been in a warehouse hahaha. It's alright though. I am going to talk to the dealer tomorrow and see what the newest year I can get is and have it still match up you know?

As for the paint. . . . What Is it and where can I get it? because I was just thinking to rhino line the whole thing.

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1997 Ranger. 2.3l 4 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, step side bed. *sold *

1997 Ranger. 4.0l 6 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, reg. bed. *frame problems*

haha i hear ya. por-15 is an epoxy paint, its a super bubba proof prep system lol. its a 3 step process basically you degrease, convert, and paint and the finish is literally hammer proof. you need a grinder to take the stuff off. i picked mine up from a local auto supply store but it may be cheaper to buy online. 1 quart goes for $40 and it covered my whole rear of my frame. i still have the front to do lol. if you wanted to make the frame near indestructible, you can put the rhino liner over the por 15. and if you want to check out some sleeves for your frame, check out this website http://rangerframefix.com/

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Alright sounds like good stuff. I just looked it up online. That web site would fix the back end but my real concern is where the front shackle is. There is that massive whole and one crack that goes all the way to the bend at the top. So I have no real idea as to what to do with it yet. Been thinking about just swapping the whole frame.

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1997 Ranger. 2.3l 4 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, step side bed. *sold *

1997 Ranger. 4.0l 6 cyl. 4 speed.
Single cab, reg. bed. *frame problems*

frame swap seems like the best option but it is a tooooooonnnn of work if you do decide to take that path, be ready for some bumps in the roads haha. you know what? that rot was similar to my old 89 chevy i had and what i ended up doing was going to a junkyard and having the guys cut a junkers frame in half, give my the whole rear section and i had brought it to a welder friend of mine and he welded up the rear for me, fish plated it and it was good. i would only suggest this if your front half is not weakened. oh i also used my chevy as a plow truck so there was always unique stress on the frame, and it never budged but do what ya want im just giving some options :P

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