Hello all. This is my first post to this forum. Thought I would introduce myself. I learned to drive in my dads '78 Ranger F250 he has owned since it was 3 years old and rolled once. (I'm lucky to even exist after that one). The frame on it is still a little tweaked but it was rebuilt and doesn't even have a branded title . I once owned an '83 Ranger that my younger brother now owns. The 94 Explorer I had soured me on Fords for awhile. The younger brother has also purchased a '79 F150 Explorer and '92 F150. The youngest picked up a '78 Ranger Lariat. Mom has a '89 F350 crewcab. This left me as the only one without a complete Ford, I did have two Clevelands sitting in my garage though.

About a month ago I walked outside the dealership I work at (one of those land of the rising sun companies, don't judge) and see a '78 Ranger XLT sitting in the trade in line. I turned around and talked to my service manager so that I would get the inspection when sales brought it back to him. Blue with white, shortbox, 4x4, 400, c6, cruise, tilt steering and mostly untouched. Someone put some rather inadequate electric fans on it at one point and an aftermarket stereo that doesn't work at the moment. A little rust in the bed and the right rear behind the tire. Lack of maintenance is very apparent. It darted in the ruts on the interstate and I hate the 18 inch rims that are on it. Got the sales manager to knock a thousand off because I went in with a list of parts I would have to buy to make it safe to drive. 2grr out the door. They only made 300 on the deal. Take that boss.

Anyway I'm in the process of rebuilding the steering. I'm replacing pretty much every wearing part. Bearings, seals, ujoints, brake lines, bushings ball joints, steering shaft shocks and springs. The only thing I may do in the future that I'm not doing now is a diff upgrade. Not needing any help at the moment but I decided I should show myself. I will put a pic or two in my gallery when I can.

See you all around.

 

Welcome to FTE. If you ever have any questions, ask away, there are a lot of good, knowledgeable people here more than willing to help.
Your truck sounds good, keep us updated on how it goes with the rebuild.
Congratulations.

 

should be a good Thanksgiving at the homestead

 

Welcome to the madness !!!! Your in good company

 

Well I got it sitting on front springs again. I hope I never have to pack a Dana 44 by myself again. Wouldn't have been as bad if I hadn't put the gears back in it. Still cleaning and painting parts so the tube is mostly bare. I'm kind of neglecting cleaning my house trying to get this thing together. oh well.

 

Well just to let you know that I'm on the flip side... I've been dutifully removed from my car/truck projects (namely my 70 Bump and 73 Dent) to remodel one of my rental homes. So... I've got this room (and now the back of the couch and half of my dining table) filled with new and refinished parts for my projects just waiting to be installed. Meanwhile, I've been painting every square inch and putting up new drywall to replace the 50s-era wood paneling in this dang house and I've haven't even gotten to the floors yet.

I gotta say you've at least put your hand on your project. The closest I've gotten is to look outside of my bedroom window and imagining about new suspension and engine components like a carb, intake, lowering beams, and a set of ceramic coated Sanderson headers... they're doing absolutely no good laying on the floor right now.

 

Well, I'm out of parts for the moment. I'm nearly done. Need to get some new shocks and brake lines.

I keep running into "might as well" things. Oil pan gasket was done with the axle out. The transfer case is leaking from everywhere, need to take care of that. Transmission pan and vacuum modulator leaking. Lighting issues. Someone put negative battery cables in place of positive and positive in place of negatives. Looking at going to a Cougar fan in place of the Dodge Neon fans that are on it (I recognized them from one I am putting a head on at work), and 3g alternator. The tag on my current alternator says it is only 40 amps. I have 6V generators laying around that are rated more than that.

Starting to make a list.

 

That truck looks great! Very fair price in my opinion. Very jealous.

You can post the pic in the thread by copying the second link under the pic (BB code) and pasting it in the post.

 

Good luck with the project.

Mine started out as a "get a few parts and this thing will run" project and has turned into a full "off frame" resto. My basement has tons of parts waiting to be put on as soon as the motor is finished and I can get my floor pans welded in. Figured it'd be a quick "year" turn around to finish the work but it's looking like it'll be finished next year.....I'm about 1 year behind on my work....

 

Thanks everyone.

I know there is absolutely no way I am going to be able to leave it stock. I can't leave things alone. First, though, to stop the leaks. Then I need to get an engine and trans back into my Camaro, and get the '54 GMC going. I know, not blue oval, I don't care. I'm not necessarily a brand guy, other than a general dislike for Mopar.

I might just keep coming back to this tread as a general build thread.

 

Been awhile. I've got the truck back on the road. Of course the fuel pump died the day I got it back together. Changed that out in the snow by flashlight. Waiting on some alignment parts so I can get that all sorted out before replacing the steering gearbox input seal and put on my Borgeson intermediate steering shaft.

I have picked up a 3g alternator and Cougar fan. Those will wait for a little while though, I want to upgrade several things all at once and will be gathering the parts.

I have been helping my brother with his 79. He is doing said upgrade right now.

Mine is in the center of my parents driveway. There is one more 78 out of the pic to the left I couldn't fit in.

 

Sounds like progress is being made. I love your picture of the 'Fine Family of Fords'! I think the old Ford keys used to say that on them. Keep us posted of your progress!

 

Double sided keys: Ford Family Of Fine Cars

 

Nice deal on a nice truck!

 

Thanks. I knew it was something like that.