1969 Ranger - Project Glory Days!

[elgemcdlf]

I suddenly regret mentioning the brand of muffler I am using.

Back on track men...

Don't even sweat it Tyler. It's your truck, your decision. As long as you are happy with it that's all that matters. Since I have a 460 & they are so restricted on the exhaust side I am probably more sensitive to restriction on that side of the engine.

[The Big Bear]

Looks awesome and thanks for posting all of your before and after photos so rookies like me can "Borrow" from the experts. I really like many of your solutions to the issues presented to you with your ride. Keep up the posting of the photos and all of your hard work. I have nothing to say but AWESOME OB on everything---keep it going and keep posting! I am going to do what you did to my doors for your mirrors on my 1967 Crew Cab. Great Job!!

[Calfdemon]

I have nothing to say but AWESOME OB on everything---keep it going and keep posting! I am going to do what you did to my doors for your mirrors on my 1967 Crew Cab. Great Job!!

Both CNM67 and I used your mirror mount idea as inspiration and we both now have these same brackets for our mirrors. I am running the west coast style like you, and CNM67 just mounted the small sport style mirrors on his truck. But your brackets have been made for both and are the way Ford should have done it in the first place! Thanks!!

[1972hiboy]

That a/c bracket is awesome! If you ever make a couple to sell let me know.

[tylerb43]

Okay, I'm going to do one of those massive "reply to everyone" posts I've seen other guys on here do!

Awesome job Tyler! You're my hero. I really like the A/C bracket. Looks like your doors and hood had the same issues mine has. Thanks for the before, during and after shots!

Thanks, Randy! I've repaired both lower corners on both doors, which was much more of a PITA than I anticipated, but I'm definitely on the downhill side of it now, and it feels nice. The hood is the same one from "back in the day", but it's from a '70, (when I got the truck in '92, the original hood was toast) so this time around I decided to weld up the trim holes across the front to conform to the '69 design, and the fact that it came back from the chemical strippers with creases and waves (still ticked about that ), it has required a lot of hours too!

That air conditioning bracket is sweet. How does the exhaust look from the side? It appears you have it tucked up pretty good. What are you gonna do after the mufflers? I'm thinking about either just going up and over the axle on mine and then dumping it or trying to tuck it and turn it down behind the wheel. I don't really want much to show.

Thanks, man! The exhaust does tuck up there, I don't like the look of a system hanging down below the frame rails either. Forward of the X it obviously does not, but then running aft as the frame raises, about half the muffler height will hang down below the edge of the frame rail. I also don't like the exhaust straight out the back on trucks, and they turned out behind the tires back in 95, so I'll probably do that again, but keep them tucked up to the bedside so it's not easily visible, it that makes sense.

That is for sure. I'd love to buy one.

That a/c bracket is awesome! If you ever make a couple to sell let me know.

Hmm, well I guess I could do that, pm me and we'll talk maybe.. The design is obviously protected by Intellectual Property laws.

Don't even sweat it Tyler. It's your truck, your decision. As long as you are happy with it that's all that matters.

No problem, my decision was more based on the fact that they were "free"! Came on a parts truck I bought for $250. And it's one of those things I can change later if I hate it, not worth loosing sleep over.

Big Bear and Calfdemon - You guys using my mirror bracket idea is a huge dose of flattery, thanks for the kind words and I'm happy we could help each other out!

[tylerb43]

Hey Guys - quick update - I got the doors and hood finally ready for the Slick Sand (spray poly) and shot them over the weekend. I'm using a 2.0mm nozzle and it sprayed pretty well. Next time I use it I may try to thin it a bit, just to get it to lay down more, but I think it'll be great. Now this gets blocked with 180 and 400, and then sprayed with the 2K Urethane primer along with the fenders, and then blocked again.

So much blocking....the payoff had better be worth it!

[71PA_Highboy]

I see a problem... Your shop is too clean... Nothing good ever comes from that!

As another aside.... I want one of your AC Brackets too!

Thanks!

Eric

[tylerb43]

I see a problem... Your shop is too clean... Nothing good ever comes from that!

Clean?? Did the pictures not work? Did you not see the paint bench or the piles of junk lining the walls? It's driving me nuts, I can't wait to clean house a little when the thing goes to the paint shop! I have a 30x46 shop and right now it feels like a 20x20.

[FormerMarine1981]

Man it must suck to work in Those conditions Look how much room I have to work with! Actually this is my wife's car at a buddy's house.

[tylerb43]

Man it must suck to work in Those conditions

I realize I'm very fortunate to have this shop to build my truck in, and I do not take it for granted. It's been a very long time coming, and now that I finally have it, I want to do what I can to keep it from getting all cluttered up. Keeping a decent work space can be a difficult task when your restoring a vehicle bolt-by-bolt, as I'm sure a lot of you guys can attest to. So I'll take your sarcasm in stride , but I really am looking forward to some of the big pieces going back together to give me some more room. This truck is not the only thing going on in the shop, it's constantly being pushed to the side for higher priority (money making) tasks.

Oh- and thanks for posting pictures of your car in my truck thread. (now that's sarcasm)

[FormerMarine1981]

I bet you have had your fair share of time under a shade tree so you know where I am coming from. I also know that you worked very hard for your shop and earned it, hopefully I can have one of my own one day but I live in an apartment for now and have to sneak around the apartment complex employees

[tylerb43]

Great news, guys - The truck is heading to the paint shop this Friday, August 3rd!

It's not the whole truck, the bed will not be getting painted yet, and the door panels and steering column will be staying back too, just because I haven't decided what color to paint them yet. But the cab, doors, fenders, hood, and valances will be hopefully getting sprayed next week!

It will be the same blue we used the first time, back in Mom's garage in '93 And most likely, my brother will once again be pulling the trigger!

So needless to say I'm exicted, but that means I have quite a few last minute things to do this week to get it trailer-ready by Thursday night, wish me luck!

[tybob81]

can't wait to see it shinny!

[sargentrs]

Good luck Tyler! Looking forward to seeing some blue.

[FormerMarine1981]

Congrats. Look forward to the pictures!!