So, lil background for you all... (im basically interested in what redneckstone has to say) My buddy picked up this ranger for $400. needs some minor work, nothing major. the plan is to fix whats broken, and resell it. The paint hasnt seen soap or wax in quite a long time, and just from my messing around I have some pretty decent results. Anyways, I pulled it into the shop today, and washed it. o my amazazement its still somewhat shiny! Anyways, I tried a few spots on it with 3M Rubbing compound(by hand) and got some pretty decent results. brought the color right back. However this stuff is made for use with a buffer, which I have. However I have never used one. Any tips on how to properly buff a vehical would save me tons of time and work.

Also. the interior smells like cheap fruity car incents. Personally, Id like to pull the seats, clean em up and clean the floor. Its got a grey interior... grey rug, however its black with dirt. alil OB and a scrub brush should work well...

The wheels are a combination of ground in dirt and corrosion.... Any ideas on cleaning them? I dont wanna spend too much time on this, basically clean it up for resale. But I also know a vehical that is clean, and looks good will get more money than one that is just 'washed' Ill have pics later....


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Depending on the buffer you have to watch you speed and dont sit it in one spot very long you will burn threw the paint. also be carful on the edges of things like hood fenders, there is less paint there and its really easy to burn threw really fast...

I have used the 3M compounds many times. i personally think the Meguires step process makes it come out far better and with less scratches. if you dont remeber my splash....

when it comes to the carpet there is 2 ways to attack it.. if it is really really bad and it gets kinda warm out take it out and power wash it then steam clean anything else thats left..let her dry and reinstall... if its just so so just steam clean.... and steam clean the seats... for the plastic i just make a bucket of water with like dish soap and a rag and go to town....


have to see the wheels to tell really.. are they Mag wheels or chrome?

 

Steel wheels if they aren't chrome you can paint and if thier aluminum there are good products to get them looking really nice.

 

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those are clear coated alum.. the only way to fix them is have them bead blasted and have all the clear coat removed then polish them.. pretty much get new wheels

 

Ya the rims had clear coat but you can take that off with chemicals and then polish the bare aluminum, I've actually done that with my older bmw rims and they looked 100 times better than they did from the factory.

 

Well, I dunno if it's just me but in the picture of the truck outside, it looked like the tires were leaning in a little. Anyone else notice or is it just me?

 

also just saw that carpet throw it away it will never be perfect agian i would get replacedment off line with how that looks... **** that must smell bad...


the fronts need an alignment but they also lean like that with an I beamtruck when the wheels are turned...

 

Yeah get that front end problem fixed, and if you still got those stickers in the cab remove those as well and any stickers you have around the truck. If the license plates are all beat up you can get new ones for under $15 at dmv. If you can't afford a carpet kit just clean it as best you can and get some decent mats. Clean the engine bay as well and change all the fluids or atleast the oil and water because you know they will be pulling the dipstick out and it better be clean. Remove that christmas tree incense it makes it look like your trying to hide the smell. Also, don't have a bunch of personal items in the car when your showing it. Make sure all the lights work all around, turn signals etc.

 

mine has been like that ever since my dad had his hands on it, i just assumed the springs were shot, so i think im just going to get a lowering kit and be done w/ it.

 

with a lowering kit the camber will be worse you still need and alignment...

 

As for the wheels, there is no saving them. You can clean them, but due to neglect, they will never look "new" again, too much corrosion. Looks like the passenger side bedside is way out line with the cab lines in that front on pic...but anyway...lol! As for the interior, I would pull the seats and break out a heavy duty carpet shampoo machine. Auto carpet can usually come amazingly clean and fresh after a few passes but judging by how dirty that is, it may take some work and it may not ever come completely clean again. It aggrivates me to see how people neglect vehicles. As for the paint, it looks salvageable and really not too bad for being 13 years old. I don't see any peeled or missing layers of clearcoat.

 

If he gets Lowering Ibeams it wont affect his alignment at all unless he changes the springs. Hell have to get a alignment regardless after he drops it but just changing the beams you wont need to have to get alignment bushings or anything.

 

its got rust spots that im not even gonna bother fixing. juwst gonna wax it and be done with it.

 

$400...Awesome...new carpet from online or JCWhitney...seat covers...aluminum wheel cleaner and a toilet brush to use it with...general cleaning and if it runs ok you should triple your money...I've seen worse go for $2500 locally in TN...