Ranger Chick's Bad Boy Project - 1972 F250 Ranger

[sideoilerfe]

Don't take your truck to Les Swab unless you have a flat tire. They'll charge you a lot of money for crap work. Brakes are easy enough, especially front discs.

As stated above, start asking questions in the appropriate forums and you'll get more responses. There's a lot of knowledgeable members here that know these trucks. Welcome to the forum and good luck with the truck.

[kaptnkaos]

Les Schwab will do a brake inspection free.
I can't really speak about their work, but I would imagine that there are good shops and bad ones as far as quality of work goes.
The only work I've had them do, besides fix tires, was replacing the wheel bearings in my van.
I was in a hurry, they got it done quick and at a fair price and I never had any problems with it.
The idea of having a single project thread is great. in that you can keep track of project progress and post pics etc..
sideoilerfe, is right about specific questions being posted in the appropriate place getting more responce.
That's what I do...

KaptnKA S

[Ranger_Chick]

Guys, guys, guys....let's not get into a hissy fit as to where I post my questions, it's not worth it. Because, I am a woman and I'll post wherever the heck I wanna. So there! LMAO!

Yesterday, I went out and got a new distributor cap, set of spark plugs, air filter and oil. Being a single mom, I am going to have to wait till my sons go back to school tomorrow to get daylight hours to work. But, the first part of this week these are my goals. The distributor cap was black, the spark plugs had a bunch of crap on them and only getting a fraction of contact, and god the air filter was jet black. Wonder when the last time the previous owner ever cared to think about doing something so simple as that. Poor truck!

I also went out and got a notebook to keep in the truck and started making a list now, as was suggested. And, when I get this truck running sufficient enough to ensure a round trip road trip.....it looks like I will be going shopping at someone's storage unit! This way, you will get the chance to see my bad boy, too! I do know the three parts I want right off the bat....one front turning signal lamp (looks stupid with that rigged up round one), grill and front bumper. And, no matter how hard it will be, I will take care of getting the engine running properly first.....but, I am so eager to make my truck look good.

Just to give you background information about me and auto work....I was the only girl of four kids growing up and most of my cousins are boys. From about five years old, I had one of them or the other using me for my tiny hands to help get into areas and do things that they couldn't get their hands into to do. I have been taught by them how to do basic engine care....my first solo oil filter and oil change was on my brother's Ford Fairlane when I was 14 years old....while I was outside doing that he was inside watching football. Around 40 years old, I had the chance to work with a couple of guys to rebuild a tranny for a Camero, which was fun. But, pretty much throughout my life, I have done either car or truck tinkering....I love it and it relaxes me.....unless I smash myself or a freaking car part drops on me somewhere....then, I get bloody pissed off.

I am not into any sort of computerized work......forget it. I have minimal experience in wiring......so, if this truck needs that at any time, I will want someone as a partner to work on that stuff or just pay someone else to do the whole thing. I have helped do several body detailing projects....and that's where I get jazzed. There's nothing more satisfying that taking this what looks like a piece of crap and making it look all smooth and beautiful like new....and depending on what vehicle it is, I love adding bling bling...some vehicles just gotta not have bling on it to preserve the beauty of it's classic look...in my opinion anyway...and you guys should know all about a woman's opinion.....it's always right....right? LOL

I wish it wasn't so cold out.....being 46 years old with arthritis already that kicks in bad when I get chilled.....makes it miserable to work on this truck. My dream is to have a insulated and heated shop with a couch, stereo with sound surround, refrigerator, wet bar, dart board and pool table in it. Oh and a big space for my tools and vehicle, too! Can't forget that, right? Hehe

As far as my other car goes......I own a Ford Escort four door wagon.....that's my lil giddyup and go ride....doesn't take much to get it to go fast in all gears, especially first gear....he's fire on wheels....and he gets on average 50 mpg......and he's a pretty good looking car on the outside and in the interior is still good. Except for a few of the wayward cousins who own Chevs, God and or Goddess forgive their souls....we siblings and cousins are all Ford freaks. My other freak on is Harley Davidsons....anything Harley Davidson....furniture, decor, clothes, jewelry, accessories, whatever...I love Harley Davidson. I want one of my own one day. But, as far as that goes, I am old school....in fact, alot about me is old school....or classics......whatever the term ya wanna use.

And, this all I posted sums me up.........and yes, Fordman....the Avatar I have is me.....but don't make the mistake of letting that angelic look so innocent and sweet fool ya.....I can become a bitch from zero to .01 when I get pissed off....but, it takes a lot to get my temper flying like that. Just fair warning.

Okay, I am outside for a bit...I at least have to get to all the garbage left behind by the previous owner and get it cleaned inside. Thanks for all the support and advice and welcoming me aboard!

RC

[Ranger_Chick]

Hi again.....thought I would post pics of my other Ford....I'm just as proud of it as I am my truck.



Take note of the three letters on my license plate that our "just say no to drugs" government issued. XTZ = ECSTASY....trust me, I have gotten remarks! LOL



Take note the Harley Davidson outline on the left where a nice purdy sticker once was......that was my punishment for telling a drunk jerk to stop coming to my door. What's amusing and funny as heck, is that his precious Chevy van he used to brag about and put my lil boy down because it is a Ford....well, he was an hour away from home when his van bit the dust....he no longer has it and has to walk. Karma is such a bitch, ain't she? LOL

I got the truck cleaned out and ready to get to work on it tomorrow. Stay tuned for further updates and other ramblings.

RC

[kaptnkaos]

Right on RC...

Getting those new tune up parts installed should help lot...
Unfortunatly, I don't have a turn signal lens for the P.side (it wuz broke) 'cause mine had the same grin yers does...
I know I have a white bumper... I have a couple of 67-69 grilles, but not '71 or '72 style...
The grille and inserts where the only thing that were sold. That pretty much financed the making of my bump trailer.
I'm honestly not sure what's all there... I just started pullin' parts and packin' them in the storage unit.
If there are any specific things you think you might need, I'd be happy to check to see if I have it not.
When I started that project, I put everything in the unit nice and neat...
now, it looks like a cyclone hit it from lookin' for stuff.

KaptnKA S

[Ranger_Chick]

Ha....forgot to show you my trucks back side.



I haven't looked online yet, but I at least hope this is the correct tailgate for this truck.

RC

[Ranchero50]

Poor girl invades a guy forum... Surprised there are only two pages of posts and most of them are yours.

Cool truck, has lots of potential. Just remember, you can't polish a turd. Make sure the frame is ok. Not real happy how the bed looks twisted in your last picture. Unusual. Eyeball the trucks lines and check the cab mounts etc for hidden nasties.

I would suggest (like two-bit) to keep the questions in the appropriate subforums and the trucks updates here (this page will show what's happened to the truck without the clutter of problem discussions).

Have fun,

Jamie

[1971ford]

since the truck is a Ranger, that tailgate is correct.

the bed does look twisted, but i think that is an illusion... because i think i see a dent on the top of the left bedside, making that side look lower.

[Ranger_Chick]

Hmmm, I see what you mean......it's late and snowing outside or I would go out and look. What I am going to do is get my camera out and put it on my tripod that has a leveler.....that way the camera can get a straight shot of that. But, I think before I got it, I did look at it for frame issues and thought it was straight. But, who knows with another person's perception, it might be.

Being the only girl in this club doesn't make me a poor girl....I am used to being the only girl...I was the only girl amongst three brothers and most of my cousins were guys...and my girl cousins thought car work was yukky...pathetic prissy girls they were. LOL And, I thought about how many posts belong to me in comparison....and all ya guys could say what typically gets said about women having bigger mouths than men....but don't.....that wouldn't be nice. It's just cuz I am new to restoring this project and it's going to be my first one....and I am just stoked and need others to share my excitement.

My girlfriends look at me as if I am nuts or act bored when I talk shop talk. So, I had no other choice but to invade a man's territory (here) and I happened to pick yours! Poor guys you! LOL

RC

[BobbyFord]

Ha....forgot to show you my trucks back side.



I haven't looked online yet, but I at least hope this is the correct tailgate for this truck.

RC

'72 Ranger tailgate trim is a non-woodgrain full panel. You can find a pic on the "Body Trim & Insignias" link on the home page of this website.

[sideoilerfe]

'72 Ranger tailgate trim is a non-woodgrain full panel. You can find a pic on the "Body Trim & Insignias" link on the home page of this website.

Not always. My 72 camper special ranger XLT is just like that blue one. And it is in fact the original tailgate.

[fordman]

here is the correct factory non special order trim page. i have also put a pic of the correct "ranger" panel for a 70-72. the "ranger xlt" is suppose to come factory with the woodgrain panel. but special orders could be anything if you think about it. here that link. she has the 67-69 ranger panel. http://www.fordification.com/trim.htm as far as RC being a certtain kind of person we can all be something at times. it is natural. i wasnt trying to degrade you because you have a nice face. you know all beauty and no brains. that is wrong for anyone to think that. i am sure you have any ability that you want to tackle. the reason we suggested posting in the other forums is because not everyone comes in this room to check it out. i usually don't ever come in here. i just got lucky last night. i was bored. and i am really not much of a carb mechanic. we just want you to get the most help you can when you need it. but you can post where you want. we just wont share you with the rest of the forum and keep you all to ourselves. i am not trying to insult you at all. just trying to help.

[Ranger_Chick]

I am so frustrated tonight. I went to go fill up both tanks in my truck tonight. Filled up the main one and it went nice. I go to fill up the second one and after five gallons worth, I started smelling gas really strong. I keep pumping like a dumbass......and then it becomes stronger after another five or less. I happened to look down on the ground and here is all the freaking gas I was pumping in a big puddle.

I yelled out, "What the F!?!?!" So, I get in the truck and pull it forward and look....all the gas I just got done pumping was now on the ground. I called up my son in law and told him what happened.....and he says, "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you it doesn't have that tank." Great! No freaking gas tank....so, I guess Mother Earth is going to be so pissed off at me now. Not to mention, the money I just dumped, just to piss her off. I just wanted to go wring that boy's neck so bad. But, I love him!

Oh...forgot to tell you how I got the truck. I had been helping out my son in law and my daughter from them being laid off from Boeing. He's being hired on at this job on the 12th of February and they found a nice place to live and moved in. So, as a thank you they gave me this truck, that I didn't even know they had, all because they knew how bad I wanted a restoration project and how much I loved classic Ford trucks. So, that's how the beginning of this project started.

So, on to this debate between you guys about my panel.....I have googled till my brains are tired and I haven't found too much information about it as much as I have here....but still...looking at everything I could and reading your posts....I can pretty much conclude that I am not only going to have to shop for a gas tank, but now I have to shop for the correct tailgate? I just went out and got a big scrap book tonight, so that I can just print out photos of the parts and glue them into the book and keep notes and journals as I go.

i wasnt trying to degrade you because you have a nice face. you know all beauty and no brains. that is wrong for anyone to think that. i am sure you have any ability that you want to tackle. the reason we suggested posting in the other forums is because not everyone comes in this room to check it out. i usually don't ever come in here. i just got lucky last night. i was bored. and i am really not much of a carb mechanic. we just want you to get the most help you can when you need it. but you can post where you want. we just wont share you with the rest of the forum and keep you all to ourselves. i am not trying to insult you at all. just trying to help.

I'm sorry. Except for my family, whenever I dared go into the manly man's world in the past, I wasn't taken serious about my interests in automobiles and bikes. All because of me being a female. Not to mention, some guys have been threatened by me for whatever stupid reason. I worked for this company called Car Tek...the first day I showed up for work, this one mechanic looked at me and told me, "Get your pretty dress back on and go back home where you belong." That marked the war line and it was my goal to prove to him I could do just as good of a job as any of those guys on the floor that were hired to do the same thing as I was hired to do. Grrr!

I may have been everyone's go get this or go get that girl....or basic mechanic work....minor tune ups, oil chages, break fluid changes, changing brakes, tire installer, etc.....but, I am out to prove I can do everything with this truck to myself. Yes, this is a huge project. Do I know everything? Hell, no. Is a lot of this out of my league? Yaaaaaah. Does a lot of this feel overwhelming? Yes. Am I scared of this big adventure? Noooooooooooooot. I am so new to restoring a truck. This is my very first huge project. I don't know all there is to know and I am still not sure of the questions I need to have answers to.....hell, I don't even know what the term BUMP means yet. Still trying to figure that one out, so if anyone wants to enlighten me, please feel free to so so.

All this to say, if you guys don't mind....I would like to stay in here for a little while until I get the hang of the ropes. I will venture out into other places as I get more familiar with things. I promise. And, as long as guys here try to remember to acknowledge my brains and accept me as deserving of acceptance in the world of mechanics and body work...I promise not to bite if guys her verbalize their appreciation for my femininity, too. After seven kids and reaching 46 years of age and being single...it does feel good to get noticed. So, thank you. And, not sharing me feels good, too. LOL We all need special attention at one time or the other, right?

Thanks guys for jumping in to help me...I am going to be counting on y'all a lot at first.
RC

[71PA_Highboy]

Ranger Chick said:
"...but now I have to shop for the correct tailgate? "

No, you have the correct tailgate, you just need the right (correct) trim piece(s).

I assume you are on the wet side, not trying to pry, but if you are I may be able to make some recommendations of Junkyards that (the last time I was there) have bumps.

If you are on the dry side, I can ask around....

hth,

eric

[fordman]

unless you want that tailgate panel to look factory correct you don't have to do anything. it is all a matter of wheather or not you like it.