Back to the 2020 FX4 Salvage Rebuild

[TJC]

The truck looks good! When you finally get it done, you should post a before / after picture.

Sponsored

 

[XionUAV]

The truck looks good! When you finally get it done, you should post a before / after picture.

Thanks. I will, definitely.

 

[OGMix376]

Warranty... That would be nice.

The automotive glass shop I've been going to for years that has always done excellent work did a sloppy job on the Ranger. It's cursed, or I'm cursed. Either way.

Didn't notice the problem until standing in front of it tonight. The top of the windshield on the passenger side is close to correct with the windshield edge just barely above the roof line, but the driver side is sunken down below the roof line almost a quarter inch.

Taking it back in tomorrow morning to schedule another time to have them remove the windshield and reinstall it properly with a request to have their "experienced" people work on it this time. It also looks like there's a lot of space under the top edge of the windshield for water to pool. Can't see the bead at all. Have to do something about that if they don't get the bead closer to the edge.

The lack of quality labor associated with this thing, except for what I've done personally, just keeps coming back to bite me.

That’s just laziness I’ve installed a few pieces of glass before and you don’t have to be that skilled to line up a windshield… ugh… they should be embarrassed they gave your truck back like that.

 

[XionUAV]

That’s just laziness I’ve installed a few pieces of glass before and you don’t have to be that skilled to line up a windshield… ugh… they should be embarrassed they gave your truck back like that.

I think it may have been one of those situations where the tech might have realized something wasn't quite right but didn't want to pull the windshield back out to see what was going on and just hoped the vehicle owner wouldn't notice or wouldn't care. Unfortunately the vehicle owner was me, Mr. Notice Everything.

The tech was saying that there are holes in the frame where pins were inserted to guide the windshield into position. I explained that the placement of the windshield was fine, but the top driver side being a quarter inch deeper into the frame than the passenger side for whatever reasons, was not. That's where the shop manager agreed completely and offered to try again with a different windshield if necessary.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Warranty... That would be nice.

The automotive glass shop I've been going to for years that has always done excellent work did a sloppy job on the Ranger. It's cursed, or I'm cursed. Either way.

Didn't notice the problem until standing in front of it tonight. The top of the windshield on the passenger side is close to correct with the windshield edge just barely above the roof line, but the driver side is sunken down below the roof line almost a quarter inch.

Taking it back in tomorrow morning to schedule another time to have them remove the windshield and reinstall it properly with a request to have their "experienced" people work on it this time. It also looks like there's a lot of space under the top edge of the windshield for water to pool. Can't see the bead at all. Have to do something about that if they don't get the bead closer to the edge.

The lack of quality labor associated with this thing, except for what I've done personally, just keeps coming back to bite me.

I couldn’t help but notice what looks like small scratches in the driver’s side front black trim piece. As you may have read on here, some of these alloy bits have corroded and folks have had to repair and paint them. If they are scratches, you might want to deal with that before they start to blister.

I know, I know, quit trying to find extra work for you to do. ?

 

[got3fords]

After having wireless connection in my loaner Bronco, and my wife's Edge, I realize how handy it is. Just ordered the AAWireless on Amazon.

Got the AAWireless today. I think I am going to send it back. It doesn't work with a VPN, which I have active all the time on my phone.

 

[got3fords]

The truck looks good! When you finally get it done, you should post a before / after picture.

And how much more you paid than just buying a new Ranger...

 

[XionUAV]

I couldn’t help but notice what looks like small scratches in the driver’s side front black trim piece. As you may have read on here, some of these alloy bits have corroded and folks have had to repair and paint them. If they are scratches, you might want to deal with that before they start to blister.

I know, I know, quit trying to find extra work for you to do. ?

Actually I hadn't heard or have read about that. I'll look into it, in the daylight.

 

[XionUAV]

And how much more you paid than just buying a new Ranger...

I'm into it about $26k total and it has 35k miles. That includes the Roush wheels, DuraTrac tires, Eibach Pro-Truck Coilovers and rear shocks, Freedom Off Road upper control arms, BDS rear shackle lift, Husky flares, Rough Country Bumper, Rhino running boards, Vland LED DRL headlights, Ford Performance grill, hard tri-fold bed cover and a few other odds and ends.

If I had a crystal ball 1 1/2 years ago I likely would have gone a different direction. But instead I did what most other people wouldn't or couldn't do, saw the potential in the thing, brought it back from the dead and built a very nice off-road truck for much less than stock used ones where going for at the time.

Next time I'll try harder to predict the future. For now though, I'm good. Thanks.

 

[TJC]

You've got it for ~50% off when adding the additions.

 

[XionUAV]

You've got it for ~50% off when adding the additions.

I figure I saved about $10k to $12K or more over purchasing a similar stock used Ranger and adding what I wanted, minus the bumper. Bought the Rough Country only because the stock one was mangled and has a silly number of components to reinstall. Obviously the Rough Country allows for a better approach angle at the tires as well.

Part of the reason for purchasing the thing in addition to saving some $ was to be a "fun" project. Little did I know that many body/frame shops only accept insurance claims and the one I did select ended up being a joke. Regardless, we're finally very close to the end.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Actually I hadn't heard or have read about that. I'll look into it, in the daylight.

There’s a long thread on it here…

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/roof-trim-deteriorated.9774/post-181141

If they are scratched, you likely just need a paint pen at this point and to keep an eye on things.

 

[got3fords]

I'm into it about $26k total and it has 35k miles. That includes the Roush wheels, DuraTrac tires, Eibach Pro-Truck Coilovers and rear shocks, Freedom Off Road upper control arms, BDS rear shackle lift, Husky flares, Rough Country Bumper, Rhino running boards, Vland LED DRL headlights, Ford Performance grill, hard tri-fold bed cover and a few other odds and ends.

If I had a crystal ball 1 1/2 years ago I likely would have gone a different direction. But instead I did what most other people wouldn't or couldn't do, saw the potential in the thing, brought it back from the dead and built a very nice off-road truck for much less than stock used ones where going for at the time.

Next time I'll try harder to predict the future. For now though, I'm good. Thanks.

I seriously applaud your effort. Yes, it appears you are saving some money, but does that include all your time and effort? Labor isn't cheap. Imagine all that free time you could have had.

 

[XionUAV]

There’s a long thread on it here…

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/roof-trim-deteriorated.9774/post-181141

If they are scratched, you likely just need a paint pen at this point and to keep an eye on things.

Wow, that was a seriously long thread that started with a simple trim issue. Mine do have a couple of nicks in them so cleaning them up would be wise. Thank you for noticing that.

 

[XionUAV]

I seriously applaud your effort. Yes, it appears you are saving some money, but does that include all your time and effort? Labor isn't cheap. Imagine all that free time you could have had.

It isn't just about money. I take personal pride in using my talents and skills to do things others think are too hard or unworthy. That's why I started my own tech companies 30 years ago instead of continuing to work for someone else. That's why I risked everything, and my reputation, to write a novel to which the film industry is showing interest. I'm not one to do typical, average, simple or easy.

Anyone can go buy a new vehicle and stick parts on it. Working to repair something damaged to make it usable and of value again brings a personal satisfaction that makes the labor and time worthwhile, well, except for dealing with the idiots at the first body shop. Could have done without that, and parts issues.

I like to work. "Free" time isn't something I know what to do with. When I die it will probably be while working on or building something. That's just who I am. And it makes me proud to be able to say I rebuilt and built-out this Ranger to the vision I saw for it when it was sitting in a salvage yard with the front corner smashed in, and wasn't one someone else had built that I bought somewhere. It was a blank canvas and I made it into something worthwhile.

Sponsored