Smokeybear's '72 Ranger Shortbed

[SmokeyBear]

I cannot seem to let well enough alone. I picked up a fairly nice '72 a few months ago and starting doing small things just to keep myself busy. Here's what she looked like the day I brought her home.



Very nice old truck. 360/C6, Factory PS, PB, and air. The interior was a little, how you say, "neglected".

So I tore into it and put down two layers of sound and heat insulation and added new carpet, arm rests, built a center console, painted the gauge panel and added some LED lights.

[SmokeyBear]

On to the body, I pulled the fenders to fix a small rustout in the lower corners, welded up the trim holes and POR-15ed the insides.



I welded up all the seams fixed all remaining rustouts and epoxy primer went on.

[SmokeyBear]

While I had the bed off, I cleaned up the frame and bottom of the bed. I also fixed the cab corners and POR-15ed some more and got started cleaning up the inside of the bed.

[SmokeyBear]

After epoxy primer I shot some tinted bedliner in.





That is where she is at the moment. I'll be updating this thread as I go along. More pictures are in my photobucket album here...
http://s210.photobucket.com/user/Smokey ... t=3&page=1

[SmokeyBear]

Oops almost forgot, I can't handle how the original bench seat sits. It's way to straight up. I found a friend with a wrecked 97 F-150 and snagged the seats. After playing around with the mounts, I got them in where and how I wanted them. I ended up using 3 of the 4 original seat mounts and fabbing up the one that goes on the inner driver's side. They feel so much better.

Even though the steering wheel feels ok and doesn't rub , I will be replacing it with a smaller one since I have the PS anyway.

[crazyhorse]

Mr Bear, thanks for the good, interesting post and pictures.
I enjoy seeing these old bumps getting restored.
You sure have made good improvements.

Please keep up updated.

[sargentrs]

Great work! Funny how it seems to snowball doesn't it

[SmokeyBear]

A little custom work on the rear of the truck. The bumper is from a Ford E-series van. Custom fit to the truck.

[fordhillbilly]

Looking great! Work looks great. What kind of tint able bed liner did you use? I'm thinking doing something similar on mine.

[SmokeyBear]

Looking great! Work looks great. What kind of tint able bed liner did you use? I'm thinking doing something similar on mine.

It's called U-pol Raptor, I got it from my local paint supplier but you can find it online too. I'm very happy with it.

[skblixt96]

Where about in Kentucky are you, Smokeybear? My '72 Explorer is parked at my dad's till I get the funds to really start digging in. He lives around Crofton, just south of Madisonville.

[SmokeyBear]

Where about in Kentucky are you, Smokeybear? My '72 Explorer is parked at my dad's till I get the funds to really start digging in. He lives around Crofton, just south of Madisonville.

I'm on the eastern end of the state, in Pikeville.

Here are some more progress pics, I got the jambs cut in last night.

[SmokeyBear]

Since I'm waiting on materials, I stayed busy by doing some work on the aluminum trim. I got the anodizing stripped and worked out all the dents on all three pieces, then I sanded, polished, and painted one headlight door to see the difference.

[Bronco_77]

Looks great I just came up from basement from polishing grill out of my 68. Still learning but figered out if u spray it down with oven cleaner and let it sit for 5 mins rinse then start it make it a heck of a lot easier. It cuts it down to like new raw metal then started with the compound.

[SmokeyBear]

Looks great I just came up from basement from polishing grill out of my 68. Still learning but figered out if u spray it down with oven cleaner and let it sit for 5 mins rinse then start it make it a heck of a lot easier. It cuts it down to like new raw metal then started with the compound.

Yup, I used easy off too. This is the first time I've polished anodized aluminum so I searched this site to see the best way to do it. After I removed the anodizing I started with 320 on a block then went to 600, then 1000 then finally 1500 grit paper, then buffed. It came out very nice. Now I just have to do the rest of the grill. LOL.