1969 Ranger - Project Glory Days!

[FormerMarine1981]

Only you will know if you can tackle that job or not. You may jump in and find it easier than you think it is. If you can get it on a trailer you can haul it around to body shops and get estimates then decide. If you can even find one that tackles jobs like that. Most of the ones around here like to only handle insurance work because it's easy and they don't have to put as much time and effort into the repairs in general.

[67mann]

no problem--helps keep me motivated(but still to busy)to work on mine. You have simalar problems to what most of us have
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... a&start=90

you have any metal skill(welding,cutting,fabing) if so,not that big of a deal(comon sense goes along ways too)to fix--these parts are readily avalible from NPD,Mac's,DC etc.
would have loved to start on a truck in your condition----I might already be getting speeding tickets in it

[tylerb43]

I can weld, I can cut, and I can grind So I think I'm going to just jump in and do my best. It's just a little intimidating because I've never done it before. But hopefully I won't be able to say that for long. Thanks for the encouragement guys!

I have designed and built a couple of cool things for my garage. I didn't want permanent stairs in the middle of my shop, so I created a hinged staircase that folds up and out of the way with the push of a button.



I also fabricated a powered "hatch" door in order to move large parts upstairs into the storage area.



But that's dreaming, designing, and creating. A little different than repairing, but I'll tackle it. Sorry to get off subject a little...

[FormerMarine1981]

Awesome ideas to have in your garage, looks like you will be able to tackle the repairs once you jump in and get the hang of it.

[1968 royal ranger]

how about looking for a nicer cab , in my experience when things are that bad visually its the rust in the seams and areas you cant get to always seems to come back , much better longterm to start w/ better steel , your call of course mike worth a try to find better one???

[67mann]

Awesome ideas to have in your garage, looks like you will be able to tackle the repairs once you jump in and get the hang of it.

and because you'll be able to get the info needed

[FormerMarine1981]

If you want to see someone save a rusted cab check out this thread....


http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=40873

[tylerb43]

Marine - Wow, I've seen that before, that's just crazy!

Here's some pictures for you guys, I started getting the bad spots out of the way. I'm going to visit my parts truck again this weekend and hopefully find a decent section of the channel at the rocker I can cut out and splice in my truck on each side.

[tylerb43]

Well, I've been working on the patch panels, Sooo tired of this already, definitely not my favorite part of the project and I'm really looking forward to it being done, but I'm not even near finished. I got the C-channel part of the rockers welded in, and the the middle cab supports as well. I'm really struggling finding the correct setting on my MIG for this. I'm using a Lincoln Power-mig 140c with .025 wire. It's getting there, just takes more practice I guess.






I noticed a lot of you guys tend to cut out the entire floor pan when you replace them. Is that really necessary? Is there a certain advantage to doing the whole thing? I'm planning on just replacing the areas that have significant rust or holes, and leave as much good original metal as I can.

And what's the consensus on the welding joint technique on the floor pans? A small overlap, plug well, and seal, OR butt weld and seal? Right now I'm leaning toward a small overlap, just seams like more structural integrity to me, and this is not a concours restoration.

[67mann]

Understand what your saying about a small overlap when welding,but it also leave an area for moisture to get trapped----where as butt welding doesn't.....more of a PITA to do

Looks good so far(been there)on the cab patch Floorpans.....mine despertly needed the whole thing--if ya got alot of patching ya may be father ahead just to replace

[tylerb43]

I decided to take a break from the sheet metal work on the bottom of the cab because honestly it was stressing me out. So, I tore apart the chassis and prepared it for sand blasting and painting. I stripped it over the weekend, it was blasted Monday morning, and I painted it Monday afternoon, it was back home by Monday night. Pretty busy weekend for sure!

I'm now tearing into the disc brake front suspension from the '73 donor, getting it cleaned up and ready to install.

[Mancar1]

Looking good. You are doing great. Something about the feeling one gets when you can say I did it. I look forward to following your progress.

[67mann]

I'd give my left... for that shop you have Frame looks good--nice job

[dcbullet]

yeah, you have a great place to work!

Project looks like it's coming along well!

[ta TACO]

I'd give my left... for that shop you have Frame looks good--nice job

I prob give both of them. No need for kids when you have projects and toys . Great work!