"Art of the Flip" Inspired - 2002 Ford Ranger XLT

"Alexander LaRocca" (alexjlarocca) 01/27/2015 at 15:00 • Filed to: None

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I've been flipping cars since I was 16 (only 3 years), but it was only recently when I began reading !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! articles did I ever think about writing about it...so here goes.

Now I'm no writing major, so I'll come right out and say I'm following the format of those articles very closely in an attempt to write something readable.

Part 1: Too nice to be a beater?

So I'd been in the market for a winter beater for a few weeks after scaring myself into selling my NA Miata. I had just found out what a short nose crank was and was convinced my beautiful example of an NA was going to burst into flames within the next ten miles. I still see those innocent round eyes every time I close my own...man, I miss that car. So I sold that to a man in Georgia who bought it sight-unseen (off Craigslist!) for a profit of $100. Now I'm surfing the local CL when I came across this:

Now that is a much nicer picture than the ad's, and also the most most flattering angle for the truck (more on that to come). What I saw was a few pictures with filters on them that didn't show much, but it was located within a few miles of me and had an asking that was well within my budget...so I gave him a call. A kid my age picks up, and after some talking I determine that this is no beater, at least by my standards. The truck was getting up there in the miles, but was a one owner, rust free, clean titled little pickup with a fat envelope of documentation. When was the last time you saw that for south of three grand?!

After setting up a time and meeting him the following day, the Ranger turned out to be what had been promised over the phone...almost. What was described over the phone as a minor touch-up on the bed was significantly more significant; basically the guy's mom had backed into a fence pole, leaving two feet of deep scratches that he sanded down and sprayed with color matched paint. I wasn't upset, the guy did his honest best to make the truck presentable, and I liked that he didn't use any body filler. We settled on a price and I was $2100 lighter and one Ranger heavier.

Part 2: She's seaworthy, captain!

The initial inspection told me I needed new tires, so I opted to go one size bigger in width and height. The stock size for 2wd Rangers just look like car tires, so it needed a truckier look.

It was fair to say those were in need of replacement. While I had the wheels off, I thought it would be prudent to replace the front brake pads and with a quick trip to Autozone and persuading some stubborn pads into their new hardware, the Ranger had some new brakes.

Oh wait, not before I accidentally poked a hole in one of the caliper's piston boots while struggling to retract it and made a mess of brake fluid everywhere. So two trips to Autozone...a new caliper...now it has new brakes. It wouldn't be working on cars unless something went wrong, right?

Now that I had something roadworthy (keep in mind this is my only vehicle) I could now turn my attention to the paint.

Part 3: Get me from my good side

The very amateur bodywork was a top priority, so top that I forgot to take a "before" picture and got right to work. Here was my process, keep in mind I'm learning as I go:

I wet-sanded off the rattle can paint to get a good idea of what I was working with, which wasn't too bad. Some shallow dents and decent scratches, I got this.

I used some good ol' Bondo to fill the dents and blend the lines where metal transitioned to paint, going from a course grit and working to a milder one, I then primed using some primer I had laying around.

So after doing this process probably 5 times, getting more detailed each time and finding more and more tiny dents to fix, the treated area had spread to this:

What exposed green paint that's left has been wet-sanded and the truck's now ready for paint. Now my brother had worked for a custom car shop, and he had the equipment to spray the bed myself...but after a few Youtube videos I decided it was over my head. I went to a local collision shop and told them my situation, that I had prepped the panel and just need a color match and clear coat. The guy was all for it (turns out I already knew him) and was excited to help a kid trying to learn bodywork. He even gave me a discount for paying in cash.

Here's the result:

Not bad, right?!? No longer did the Ranger look nice from only one side.

After bolting the bumper and screwing the tail light and mudflap back in place, we're looking at a respectable automobile, here!

Part 4: What Would Larry Do? Not this...

The Ranger goes, it stops, the paint even looks nice! I finally turned my attention to the interior, which was showing its age, to say the least...

Now I'm a HUGE fan of Larry Kosilla and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! series, but this interior was made out of a very thick and tough canvas material and was thoroughly soiled and I used some aggressive soaps and brushes that Larry would not have been proud of. But, I mean, it's a truck. Now it was a clean truck, but once I own a car deserving of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! products and methods, I'll be excited to to use them!

Part 5: Much Too Practical For Me

This truck was perfect for my situation. A reliable and respectable truck that would get decent gas mileage (turns out it was FlexFuel, or whatever Ford's version of that is) and would be safe through Metro Detroit's harsh Winter. So naturally, I sold it within 2 and a half weeks of owning it.

Rust free trucks are hard to come by up here in Michigan, so the truck sold within 24 hours of posting for a cool profit that was a little shy of $950. I enjoyed it while it lasted, though; the Rangers have excellent visibility and the practicality of the bed would have come in handy, I'm sure. Heck, I probably could have towed my dune buggy behind it, but I'm 19 and there were too many Ford Rangers in my university's parking lot, so I was ready to move on.

My camera skills could use some work, but here's what I posted:

Here's a breakdown of my costs:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

2002 Ford Ranger XLT ........................................... -$2100

Registration/Taxes ................................................................. -$55

Mechanic's Inspection ............................................................ -$40

Goodyear Wrangler Radials .................................................... -$352

Wiper Blades ......................................................................,..... -$14

Brake Pads/Hardware .............................................................. -$31

Brake Caliper ............................................................................. -$45

Brake Cleaner/Lube/Fluid ....................................................... -$5

Floor Mats ................................................................................. -$25

Paint Shop .................................................................................. -$250

Total Spent: $2917

Sold For: $3850

Profit/Loss: $933

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Not bad for a couple weeks of sanding after school!!

*Special thanks to my dad for letting me use his heated garage, tools, and pretty much everything. Couldn't do this without his help!*

thebigbossyboss > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:07

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Well done. I will be attempting my own very amateur body work this summer. My Cavalier rocker panels will survive this winter, but if I don't do something it might be their last.

Steve in Manhattan > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:14

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How I miss working on a car. And nice job. Best thing you did was having a mechanic look at it (pre-purchase?). Keep the rest of us up to date on your next project.

Mattbob > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:21

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you found that in the metro detroit area for that price??? No way. What time of year was it? All I ever see in that price range is rusted out shit buckets(I'm 40 minutes west/Northwest of Detroit). Nice job.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:30

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Fantastic job on the interior.

Alexander LaRocca > Mattbob 01/27/2015 at 15:30

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I bought it from a kid my age who was selling it for his mom. I like to think that I'm a good negotiator but in reality the guy saw selling the truck as a chore and wanted it gone. You sound close to me, where are you from?

signintoburnerlol > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:30

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Great job!

On Ammo prodcuts. Some of his stuff is great, some of it is meh. His Skin, Hydrate and Spit is great. I'd rather buy another type of car soap, wheel cleaner and wheel soap unless your running like a race pad. Never tried his interior stuff or polishing products yet.

Enjoy!

Alexander LaRocca > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 01/27/2015 at 15:31

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Thanks! The thick canvas was very tough so I was able to really lean on it, but even I was surprised that center console came clean.

Alexander LaRocca > Steve in Manhattan 01/27/2015 at 15:33

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Not pre-purchase, but I try for it whenever possible. I could tell I had to move quickly on this one (rust free truck in MI will go quickly) so I did my best to assess it and then got my professional inspection after I bought it.

MonkeePuzzle > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:43

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damn! that interior came out a treat. very impressive

and nice work on the bondo.

P.V.B. > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:47

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keep up the good work!

Meatcoma > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 15:59

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Huge review. Working my way through it and I see this 'Oh wait, not before I accidentally poked a hole in one of the caliper's piston boots while struggling to retract it'.

How do you retract your caliper pistons that you would put a hole through one?

I'll detail how I do it because I've never done that before. Obvious steps omitted - removing brake res cap for fluid.

Loosen the top caliper bolt.

remove bottom caliper bolt

stick big screwdriver or prybar through access hole in caliper top and pry the pad from the rotor slightly.

Apply more pressure on pad to move caliper pistons back even more.

flip up caliper, grab some big ass channel locks and clamp it on the back of caliper and leave inside brake pad on the pistons

squeeze till it's fully retracted.

I have never messed up a caliper piston using this method Evar.

VillainRising > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 16:00

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Aw man, for that price in that condition, in THIS area?! My pops has one that has about 225k on it, and its still kicking, but the body is disintegrating.

For the body to be looking that good, you sir had quite the steal!

Meatcoma > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 16:03

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Very nice job on the interior.

Alexander LaRocca > Meatcoma 01/27/2015 at 16:09

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When I was pushing the piston back into the caliper, the rubber boot kept folding and when the piston was all the way in the caliper the rubber was folded over it...right where the piston pushes the pad. Can't have that. So I tried to tuck the boot back in place with a flathead as I pushed the piston back in but poked a hole in it very quickly.

Vicente Esteve > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 16:25

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Great job! That truck looked great when you finished and flipping cars is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Mattbob > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 16:29

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I live in South Lyon work in Farmington Hills.

SolamenteDave > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 17:26

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Excellent job. The body work is first rate. And the interior came out very nicely. St. Kosilla would approve.

MysticStick > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 17:34

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Really excellent job, both on the Ranger and on the article. Good choices all around, especially going up one size on the tire — made a big difference in how the truck looked.

One thing I always wonder on these flipping articles is profit-per-hour. I know as enthusiasts we don't really count hours spent messing with cars as work, but if you guys added this it would be interesting. You said you spent a couple weeks after school so I would guess you spent about 40 hours? (profit $23.33/hr)?

Alexander LaRocca > MysticStick 01/27/2015 at 17:45

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Great point, I really should keep track of hours. A rough and generous estimate puts me at about 20 hours. ($46.65). But it definitely isn't a work thing for me, more like I wanted to learn bodywork..so I bought a truck that needed bodywork and had fun learning.

MysticStick > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:03

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Wow, nice! I get that it's a learning experience, and Tavarish seems to have a lot of fun too. Perhaps it's the racing fan in me, I enjoy the stats.

Birddog > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:24

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Beautiful work!

It's hard to lose money on a Ranger if you got it right.

I had Project Scrap Value Ranger over the summer. The first guy to show up didn't even haggle.

AU812 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:46

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Damn, nice job on that interior. What did you use?

SaucyF > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:47

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My favorite part about this is that you sold it for a fair price. Kudos man!

FCV-8311 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:48

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Crank windows FTW.

—-

Nicely done on this truck if I do say so myself!

JamesBob-TX > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:57

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Veyr nicely done, I started doing exactly this when I was 15 and at 29 I own a small restoration and service shop, most of which I owe to flipping cars just like this. Bodywork in the driveway and engine swaps in the garage, long nights swapping head gaskets out on 305s before going to HS the next day, it was all a lot of fun in hindsight. Keep at it, you can go a lot of places with it and nothing anyone can teach you in a school will be as valuable as what you learn in your own!

My British German car wasn't that reliable, is now dead > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 18:59

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fyi auto zone will loan you a caliper retractor for free, which makes doing the brakes impossible to mess up. I've done it on a mini, jetta, and Del Sol and all went incident free (except the snapped bolt on the Sol. Don't use a breaker bar to put the bolt back on).

stacerino > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:09

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Nice Job !!! I'm hoping to do a similar project. Just picked up a 96 Nissan Hardbody XE 3.0L v6 w/ a 5sp & ext cab for $650 (running.)

My pick was a bit rougher, the whole bed needs to be replaced, but hell, 3 people within 1 hr from me have them listed for under $200

I keep seeing these trucks sell for 2k-4k around the Tampa, Fl area.

Thanks for the hope and inspiration :) Keep up the good work

MK6GTI-now with added Miata > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:10

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Looks great! I've said it on some of Tavarish's articles, but I've always wanted to do what you guys do. Not really for the profit; as many have stated it's not necessarily a great return, but for the satisfaction of turning back time and making a slightly battered car look good again. The before/after is so satisfying to see in these articles!

Xan1765 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:12

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Man, good looking truck! This is the kind of stuff I'd love to have the capacity to do, but unlike you I don't really know anyone with a garage full of tools for this sort of thing. That is probably the #1 barrier to this sort of thing for most, it requires some fairly specialized tools.

I've been collecting over the years, but I'm still nowhere near having the tools or equipment to do much past basic maintenance. It's compounded when you go back and forth between American and metric vehicles. One day though.... One day

Wacko > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:14

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congrats your post is now officially inPOSTception

Shared by Tavarish, which was then shared by Damon Lavrinc to the FP

trunkmonkey > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:15

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Good article and nice results.I have to say I'm especially impressed by the body work you did.

Cavalcanti Martins > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:21

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willmederski > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:26

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key words: "One owner."

good purchase. good work. good sale.

blackhawk > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:30

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I don't completely understand your post but I think you are asking how to compress the caliper piston when changing brakes pads?

I use some Irwin quick clamps. In this case it's a 1 pot rear brake caliper so I just used 1 clamp.

I thought I had a picture of me doing the fronts which are 2 pot but in that case I use one of the old (or new) pads and use 2 clamps to compress it.

It's worked fine for me every time. I've never had issues with the boots. Something else nice about it is you can do it very gradually

DavidHH > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:31

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Alexander

Great work, and it's good you sold it before finding out how weak the auto trans on the Ranger was. The trick is to find out which engine, trans and year are best for picking out a really good used car. With Rangers it's not the automatic [metric 200 or 300?] as they fail. When you find something good, don't flip it, keep it until it dies.

If you want to learn more about how modern cars work, and make some serious money, break a lame model for parts. If you pick out a lame unreliable car like the range rover, video the parts that work well, break it for the commonly needed used parts, and ebay them, you can double or triple your money. All you have to do is sawzaw the car into parts in a weekend, clean said parts, and use the same skills you used in your post here on ebay.

DavidHH > Meatcoma 01/27/2015 at 19:40

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Actually you want to change :

"stick big screwdriver or prybar through access hole in caliper top and pry the pad from the rotor slightly.

Apply more pressure on pad to move caliper pistons back even more."

To:

"Use a screw driver to pry just enough to free the caliper, then remove it from the hub or spindle.

Use a large C-clamp to compress the caliper. hang it with coat hanger so the brake hose does not get damaged, then use a second C-clamp on the other caliper and repeat."

Note you need one C-clamp per piston.

E92M3 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:42

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Wow good job man! I failed miserably on my last attempt at flipping.

vondon302 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:49

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Damn good job. That's a great find in metro detroit. All the scrappers are driving prices up. He'll I would of bought it for that.

Dr_Outback > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:50

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Nice work. Paintless dent repair may have reduced the size of the area you had to refinish.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan, M.D. > MysticStick 01/27/2015 at 19:54

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Yes

greenagain > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 19:57

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Good job. Keep it up. If you can make at least $ 500 every time you'll be plenty motivated.

Keep writing, and you can be the next Mike Brewer

e2w226 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:04

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Awesome article and great timing for me. I plan on doing something similar. I want to buy a car out here in CA and drive cross country back to my parent's place in suburban Philadelphia. Then either sell or donate the car. What did you look at mechanically when you first checked out the truck? Since you flipped it so fast, and being unfamiliar with Michigan DMV laws, were there any hiccups with the paperwork?

David Tracy > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:05

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Hmm. I have a 5spd rust-free Jeep Cherokee that I was planning on keeping. But based on your sale price, I might be able to sell it for some serious coin. It's got 175k on it, and I need to swap out the head, but otherwise it's clean.

I already have a lifted XJ, and I'm in the market for an old Mercedes Diesel, or Jeep Grand Wagoneer, or Miata... so who knows. Maybe I'll let her go...

soundman98 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:09

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Kidos for a job well done!

I've given up the idea of ever trying to flip a car for a profit.. every car i buy, i come up with all sorts of reasons to keep it once i detail it...

Jumbojeepman > DavidHH 01/27/2015 at 20:10

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A large pair of channel locks works very well for piston compression (except with phenolic pistons, use the old pad to prevent damage to the piston in this case.) If they won't compress with these, you probably need new calipers anyway. The large screwdriver through the access hole method also works very well as the pad even distributes the pressure. I actually don't like the C-Clamp method because you can't quickly release pressure and it takes awhile to screw the clamp in and out. I've never had an issue with the caliper on one side extending when compressing the other side, so you don't really need 2 of whatever tool you are using.

TommyK154 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:11

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don't you have to re-calibrate the speedo after changing the tire size to a bigger wheel?

Magic Beef Cruiser GT > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:30

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Maybe it's just me, but... Why would you restore a Ford Ranger when you could restore like a Ferrari or a Corvette instead?

DavidHH > Jumbojeepman 01/27/2015 at 20:32

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And the scars on my hands tell me that I done way too much wrenching on others peoples junky neglected cars in the rust belt. Except for the battery acid burn, the acid burn is from my criminal neighbor who put it on my door handle of my house.

Seriously, I use the sears quick release C-clamps and they are great for pushing the pistons back. If they are sticky, place the Caliper back on the spindle, bleed the calipers using the master cylinder, take the caliper off and use the C-clamp again. I don't buy rebuilt calipers very often.

Needless to say, a C-clamp per piston is necessary to do the procedure above, but it sure beats buying a crappy rebuilt caliper and finding out it is a crappy rebuilt.

protodad > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:33

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Awesome project but one question. One thing I didn't see listed was your materials for detailing. Not that these add up to much but you specifically stated (sorta) that you used AMMO products which are definitely on the high side.

I started detailing my cars a while back and used several different sites to build up my arsenal of cleaning products but I find many cheaper products (especially in bulk) are far cheaper and do just as well as the AMMO line. Detailing products add up, so track those expenses as things like cheap clay bar and wax can easily add $50 to a project.

C-Rod > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:36

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Nice work. Rangers are great trucks and that green is sweet. I probably would have kept it for myself. Do you have a car you are working towards now that you are truck-less?

CPT Speedbump > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:57

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You made profit off of a automatic ranger....known for being the same thing as a Eplorer..which is known for its transmission going poop.. You are a winner at life by pulling that off, lol. I made 500 dollars off of my 97' Explorer, after breaking the transmission, 4wd, and heater, haha :D

BusPass > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 20:59

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Truck Yeah, bud! I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thanks for sharing.

Alexander LaRocca > protodad 01/27/2015 at 21:03

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I mentioned AMMO but I didn't use it on this truck. I didn't add any cleaning supplies in the costs because I really just used half a can of "Tuff Stuff" I had laying around.

Alexander LaRocca > TommyK154 01/27/2015 at 21:07

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I checked it with my GPS and it wasn't significantly off, maybe 1 or 2mph. I think I only went up 5mm in the sidewall height.

Alexander LaRocca > C-Rod 01/27/2015 at 21:31

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I want to get into some AWD Subaru madness for this northern winter, but most of those around here are priced out of my range.

Nomind > Jumbojeepman 01/27/2015 at 21:46

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To comment on the C-clamp issues, the one that I use has a quick release button. Press it in, and it disengages the threads on the screw, allowing you to push it in quickly, or pull it back out. I wouldn't use it for any high clamping loads (I have other C-clamps for things like that), but it works really well for compressing calipers.

BNC92781 > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 21:48

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I came here to say this exactly. I was gonna ask if you went to the junk yard and bought a new console because it looks new.

The Gray Adder > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 22:24

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Aw, man! Automatic on the tree! I would have so bought that truck.

duramax > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 22:24

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I actually just bought almost the exact same truck, & im in need of tires. Those tires look great! I'm curious about how the perform? Was there a lot of road noise? & did you need new rims with the upgrade in width?

Kinja'd Again > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 22:30

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When I buy a castle, this might be the cheap offroader I need to hold my guns and catches of the day.

punksmurph > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 22:51

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A great way to do it, as I need to learn new IT skills I take to it at home with used equipment. I have been doing it since I was 12 years old and it is a great way to learn. From the pictures the work looks good and someone purchased happily so I am sure you will be able to do it many more times for more profit.

RobisRanting75 > MysticStick 01/27/2015 at 22:56

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It destroys gas mileage and towing capabilities though.............without changing the rear end gearing.

dreygata > Jumbojeepman 01/27/2015 at 23:00

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they actually make c clamps with a quick release button. You may have to release some pressure by unscrewing of its tight, but that button works wonders

fivepointnine > DavidHH 01/27/2015 at 23:04

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My stepdad had Rangers all through the 90's, all V6 auto 2wd's Never had any transmission problems, well over 100k on each truck with basic oil changes every 3500 miles. Actually I cannot recall him every having any significant issues with any of them.

Chef Goldblum > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 23:15

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Impressive low-budget restoration. Most restorations are focused on cars with an enthusiastic following, meaning workaday cars and trucks like this just continue their slow, sad decline into obsolescence and waste. That makes a project like this all the more unique and interesting to me.

ki-ki-ki-kia > Alexander LaRocca 01/27/2015 at 23:52

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Heck, I probably could have towed my dune buggy behind it, but I'm 19 and there were too many Ford Rangers in my university's parking lot, so I was ready to move on.

This just makes me feel like the biggest failure.

DavidHH > fivepointnine 01/28/2015 at 00:11

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The problem is when they are used for work, the Ranger Auto is weaker than the S10 Auto. But then in my book, I a trans should last the life of the car, so I buy standards only.

OdinThe1337 > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 04:37

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Nice job, well done and a very readable article too!

CaptainBoss > MysticStick 01/28/2015 at 07:16

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I had a 1986 Monte Carlo SS in high school which I bought to restore as my senior project. Between mechanical repairs like a steering box and exhaust and tons of bodywork and interior improvements I spent 120 hours on the car. I made a huge profit (for a high schooler), though, which worked out to $8 an hour, which was exactly what I made at my high school job.

It went from this:

To this:

And finished like this:

Dy-no-mite Jay > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 07:20

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Great work! A tip for your next article (I hope you do more!): Maybe do a more instructional format, you obviously have skills that many of us could benefit from learning!

Alexander LaRocca > CaptainBoss 01/28/2015 at 07:32

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Wow, very impressive! I know I couldn't have done that kind of a build in high school.

Rykros the Disdainful - Supposed Petulant Capitulant Junkie > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 07:36

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It's nearly impossible to get a decent Subaru in Metro D, at any price range, aside from new-to-2 years old (due to their very recent rise in popularity). They were never that popular around here, because 'Murica. The ones you do find, are either rough condition examples at shitty BhPh lots, or are private owner sales that are quite overpriced because they know their real value.

Despite the problems I have had, my 2001 Forester was a garage-kept special out of Troy. At the time of purchase, it had very little rust and the paint was (and still mostly is) in such good condition, many people I knew thought it was brand new.

For the most part, you'll have to drive down to Ohio to find a decent one, and of course, further still if you want little rust to rust-free.

Dr. Strangegun > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 07:39

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Ah, center armrest pad grime... I deal with that occasionally in my Sonoma.

The thing about it is that it looks absolutely horrible, and actually kinda *is* horrible, but in reality it's just (bleh) dead skin cells from your elbow, and any decent soap will wash it out. Mine goes in the washing machine, because the cover's removable by unscrewing the inside liner of the lid.

I've bought and "restored" questionable cars in my time too; the amount of 'restored' depends on the purpose. I bought a '91 shadow america for $2000 in '98 or so, IIRC it only had 80k miles on it. Screaming deal, got it from the back lot of a big used car dealer where it had sat for a *long* time because the detailer didn't want to touch it. The driver had been a painter and the inside of the car was covered in paint smears and spatters, and soaked from having been parked with the windows open through a few rainstorms. It was *NASTY*. Since I was after a reliable beater.... out went the carpet and floor liner, scraped out paint, and washed plastic interior parts with a garden hose (out of car) and so on. Eventually the headliner came out too, and then (for lightening purposes) the entire dashboard, leaving the cluster and controls zip-tied directly to the firewall, but that's way beyond restoration and well after the purpose changed :)

Few years ago I got a sweet deal on an ex-fire department '94 shadow coupe.... not quite the same thing though, it was dirt cheap because it had *nothing*.... a heater, that's it. No options at all. Got another cluster off ebay and combined two together and added a wire to the harness to get a tachometer, installed a radio and 4 speakers (harness was still there), vacuumed a pound of bark chips and clay flecks out of the hatch, and replaced the headliner. Voila, new-looking Shadow to grace the driveway for when the truck malfunctions or I want to drive something capable of seating 4... or managing a fast corner. $1250 + $300 in mod parts + time.

MrBlah > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 07:50

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no sales tax/tag/title fees where your at?

I wish I could do this more often, but NC title fees & taxes really take a bite out of any meager profits

Dr. Strangegun > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 07:50

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oddly enough there's a tire size calculator tied to a Miata forum, don't have the URL on me but googling "Miata tire size calculator" will get you there, been up for years.

I took my Sonoma up +0 on tires with great results. Stock size was 205-75/15, where 225/70-15 is almost the same exact diameter, so no speedo miscalibration; the tread to bead angle got a little more favorable, there was 20mm extra width in the contact patch, and I got a decent set of LT tires so the sidewalls weren't floppy messes. It was an amazing change in the truck's dynamics, literally an improvement in everything but road noise.

Unfortunately, today is almost 70,000 miles later on the same tires and I've come to discover that Michelin and everyone else with an LT tire worth a damn has pretty much given up on that size of 15" tire, and I've been down the "cheap tire" route and refuse to go back there. Saved quite a bit of money to have a truck that occasionally felt unsafe and tires that were bald in a little less than 25K miles. Hrmm, spend $500 for great tires that go 70K+ or spend $320 for crap tires three times to get the same distance while having *no* joy in the vehicle. Smells of false economy, right?

Traction > MrBlah 01/28/2015 at 07:59

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

2002 Ford Ranger XLT ........................................... -$2100

Registration/Taxes ................................................................. -$55

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Alexander LaRocca > MrBlah 01/28/2015 at 08:11

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Those are filed under registration/taxes in the cost section. ($55)

Jimbobway > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 08:18

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not badatall!

Jimbobway > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 08:19

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no before pic?

Meatcoma > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 08:36

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gotcha!

Meatcoma > blackhawk 01/28/2015 at 08:37

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If you leave the used pad against the pistons it works even better. Especially for multiple piston calipers.

Dr. Strangegun > fivepointnine 01/28/2015 at 08:41

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That maintenance schedule is what saved you. The Ranger's auto trans has almost always been some version of the C3 trans (C3, A4LD, 4R44, 5R44, 5R55). They're very sensitive to bad fluid and general gunk. Mechanically they're fine, but when you stop paying attention to them you're going to be hosed in a surprising hurry.

Millertyme > CPT Speedbump 01/28/2015 at 08:49

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Once you rebuild those transmissions and replace the 'weak' component that causes failure., they last till that cologne engine fails.

Crentist > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 09:28

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Great job man! Looks awesome!

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 09:41

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I read this yesterday and didn't get around to commenting.

Congrats on the FP share. You did a lot of work in only a short time. You definitely made that truck much better than it was before. I think you might have been able to even squeeze out a little bit more money.

CaptainBoss > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 09:43

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Thanks! It was a lot of work, but it was a valuable "learn as you go" experience. What I learned is that I'll never do my own bodywork again. Lol. Completely miserable, tedious, and time consuming. The results were great, though. I really enjoyed that car.

MrBlah > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 10:40

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now I'm really jealous, here in NC they tax you on the clean full retail, the 540i I just picked up for 3700 valued at 7000 for taxes, 218 $ for tax, tag, title. We also have to have a notary stamp the title at time of sale, another pain. Thankfully my wife is now a notary and can stamp as long as her name is not on the title or paperwork

Alexander LaRocca > MrBlah 01/28/2015 at 10:59

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That's a bummer. In Michigan, you only pay tax on the purchase price and for tags and plate transfer. Congrats on that 540i, though! Love that car.

Captain_Overboost > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 11:11

2

"Tuff Stuff" is the cat's ass! I LOVE that stuff (no pun intended). You can take the nastiest, most neglected, grungy car interior around... mats, cloth seats, carpet, heck even things like vinyl door panels, arm rests, dash panels, etc. (Just ensure that you test an inconspicuous area to guarantee to yourself that the materials being cleaned are colorfast.) Not much else to say really. I swear by Tuff Stuff.

No, it isn't some $65.00/2 oz. bottle magic elixir made from the tears of orphan babies and the finely powdered bones of unborn unicorns. It's, uhhh, best described as "industrial". BUT!!! - if it's dirty, really dirty... and it needs to be cleaned, Tuff Stuff has NEVER let me down and I've cleaned some REALLY gnarly interiors with it. Boom! Clean!

Ok, I'll cut this off before I start sounding like an infomercial but seriously, this crap works. I highly recommend it. Oh, and just as an aside... no, I don't work for Tuff Stuff. lol But, I am partners in a company where we have a small fleet of company cars and, the only cars that can be abused, beaten and just generally neglected worse than rental cars, are company cars driven by a bunch of women. Tuff Stuff cleans 'em.

Regards ~ Captain Overboost

gokstate > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 12:05

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Very impressed. Good job young man!

Lestonian > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 12:23

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What did you use to clean the inside?? i have the same gross greasy build up on my arm rest in the middle..

thancr > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 12:28

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Rangers and Mazda pick-ups go for a lot here in Puerto Rico regardless of condition. I'd guess that this one would end up around $6000. I've seen trucks that would be scraped in any state sell for $2000. A small pick-up truck = low operating costs and the opportunity to do odd jobs.

Coty > CaptainBoss 01/28/2015 at 12:30

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God I love those.

Sixray > Alexander LaRocca 01/28/2015 at 12:56

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My buddy managed to "restore" a junkyard-bound early 90's model Ranger and get it back on the road. It has a screwdriver for the ignition, the only anti-theft device is a padlock-protected light switch on the dash to turn on the fuel pump. You can hear the transmission whine from a mile off. 280k miles strong and still hauling hardwood logs and furniture!

MC20 > CaptainBoss 01/28/2015 at 13:02

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G body......... hngggggggggggg.... soiled myself

fivepointnine > DavidHH 01/28/2015 at 14:06

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Yeah he did not use them for heavy work, just commuting to work and doing parts runs, the heaviest thing the bed ever saw was a few forklift motor's, never any towing.

DavidHH > fivepointnine 01/28/2015 at 14:20

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That makes all the difference as work trucks can have cruel and short lives, or be like my 78 Econoline and just refuse to die. My understanding of many Ford automatics is that they need the optional trans cooler, even if they don't two. I told a friend about the Taurus, and he got the extra trans fluid cooler installed, and his wife's car didn't blow the trans, despite being a former airport rental car.

CaptainBoss > MC20 01/28/2015 at 14:52

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Thanks! It was a lot of fun, I'll definitely get another one sooner or later. T-tops are tough to find though.

MC20 > CaptainBoss 01/28/2015 at 15:16

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T-tops fucking suck, my car is the exact twin to the one in your pic. Its not a matter of if they leak, its whether or not theyve rusted the floor out or not. If I could go back in time id stop myself from buying my car, and I love my car. Seriously fuck ttops

AeroStang > protodad 01/28/2015 at 15:31

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He specifically said he DIDNT use AMMO products, as this car was not worth it. He looks forward to one that does. I imagine stuff his father had, or sitting around from the post. I imagine we will be resupplying with better stuff from the profits, and as a kind of gift for the loan.